The new Switch Online Expansion Pack service launches today, and as part of this, Nintendo has released some new (but old) controllers. For the Nintendo 64 library of games, it's re-launched its classic three-pronged pad as a wireless controller. We've seen a number of promotional shots of this new version of the controller, found out it won't require a Rumble Pak, and even discovered a few extra buttons on it, but what about the underside of it - is the slot still there?
Australian Nintendo website Vooks.net has managed to get some shots of the controller in real life - confirming the controller's slot has been filled in. It's presumably the compartment for the battery, wireless features and rumble feedback. It's also confirmed the controller will need a firmware update before it can work and noted how the small little hole in the top of the analogue stick is no longer present.
So, there you have it - you won't be able to plug in a Rumble Pak, Controller Pak or even a Transfer Pak. Have you ordered one of these controllers to enhance your Nintendo Switch Online experience? Leave a comment down below.
[source vooks.net]
Comments 51
Awww... I was hoping to have double rumble...
What a shame. Would have been a great way to retrofit this to the original N64
That was going to be obvious. Aside the fac tha this version of the controller already has built-in rumble, I do not hink that Nintendo is officially selling those Paks anymore.
@Wyatt006 : You’ve got to wait for the Switch’s successor to experience Ultra HD Rumble.
There's no were to put it anywhere else.
I’m shocked Nintendo isn’t selling a rumble pak, transfer pak or controller pak as separate accessories to work with the Switch version of the N64 games.
It’s a bit of a shame there’s no Controller Pak because you can’t actually save ghost data at all in Mario Kart 64.
No controller pak - how will you bring save data to others ?
Still, a lovely replica.
Ohhh no transfare for my Pokemon?
And i bought Perfect Dark for the GBC last Week
@Link-Hero Not only that the game used emulations, chances are any game that would required the use of those add-ons would had settings for those via the emulation options.
@nessisonett Pretty sure you can just use the Switch internal storage for that. Emulation doesn't need memory card or memory pak, they save directly to the OS just like Project64 and Mupen64.
Missed opportunity to play your controller pak saves and transfer GB(C) Pokemon to Home.
Is it weird that I wish rumble packs cost extra?
@Specter_of-the_OLED
I don't think so, although that would make perfect sense.
Really wanted to get 2 of these but can't even get 1! Sad times! As soon as they are back in I'm getting them though. I just wished that they did them in all the colours you used to get them in.
p.s. Would have been a nice touch to have the bottom of the pad cast to look like it had the memory card inserted though!
It costs more than the original did just to add wireless, seems like once again the Nintendo tax takes advantage of the ignorance of fanboys.
I assume no Pokémon Stadium then
Can't wait to play Dragon Ball Kart 64 on it 😄
It wouldn't really make sense for them to include the Gameboy transfer paks because the batteries in virtually every copy of Pokemon Red/Blue and Mario Tennis/Golf are long dead.
Mines been dispatched and I can't wait. Just can't decide what to play first.
Now I’m sad 😢 I have all those accessories 😅
Just need to get one as they are out of stock, like normal
@Gravitron
Red/Blue should be ok in many.
Silver/Gold drains very fast because of the Clock Feature.
But, you can exchange the Batteries.
I have made backups of my Savegames with Help of the Retrode.
It is even possible to put those saves on your 3DS and to bring your Pokemon up to the newest Versions of Pokemon.
Everything can be possible
I might still buy this, but I won't be buying the ripoff expansion pack. So no yearly rentable N64 roms for me.
Just give me a nudge when these come back in stock in the UK yeah?
@bound4earth
It costs “more” than the original did, not just because they added wireless, but because £25 in 1997 (what the originals cost) is the equivalent of £47 now. It’s called inflation. Should probably have familiarised yourself with that before you accused others of ignorance.
@yuwarite
That’s what I’ve done. Controller on the way (be nice for Mario and Doom 64) but not the Expansion Pak. Way too expensive.
@Silly_G 4K switch? nah, 4K rumble is what we need
Being able to use the Transfer Pak would have transfered my life!
All the stuff the controller uses would be in the emulator, so no surprise the slot does nothing
@Grabitron
Last time I checked, the batteries are working in Mario Golf and Tennis on the GBC.
When did they even go on sale???? I checked the store constantly and when they went up I only saw them as out of stock. The MyNintendo Store didn't even give me a notification even after signing up for one....
Actually desperate for one of these now, restock when pls??
Friendly reminder footage recently leaked of Mario kart 64 online which has the same frame rate problems as Mario maker 2/3D world
https://fxtwitter.com/ActualAero/status/1452830535202615301
Nintendo wants you to pay upwards of 70$ yearly for this
No HD rumble is a huge letdown.
/s
@Funneefox FYI, I tried online quickly this morning and it was fine. Don't believe everything you see online.
@Funneefox Looks like they have 0 bars of Wi-Fi. Not that this isn't still a scam.
Have no interest
I guess it will be impossible to unlock the extra GBC characters & courts in Mario Tennis without the transfer pak, and no more Pokémon Tower or any other GB Pokémon content in Stadium 1 & 2 either, how unfortunate.
Not gonna lie, I really want this controller, if not for use on Nintendo switch online, but so I can use it on my PC on emulators. Other Switch controllers are detected and compatible with Windows out of the box (Steam even has button layouts specifically for those pads), so surely this one would work too?
I have a USB adapter for original N64 controllers, but all of those I own are a bit long in the tooth at this point. Hopefully the stick on those new ones is more reliable than back in the day.
So no Transfer Pak for Mario Tennis's unlockables and custom character feature, and no Controller Pak for any game that saved through that instead of on-cartridge memory.
That seems like it could be an issue for third-party titles.
I just need to get one for regular price so I can use it on PC with my emulators. Until Nintendo gives us a content roadmap that pricing is unacceptable.
I still don't know if I'll get the expansion pack, but I really want that controller for Switch games. Mario Maker 2, Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros especially, but it should be great with a lot of stuff. Those 6 face buttons should be good for Street Fighter as well.
@bound4earth of course it’s more than the original. One it adds wireless which is always more expensive and two it’s freaking over 20 years later.
@IronMan30 it has rumble built in.
I don't know why it's a surprise. I imagine the logistical headaches trying to implement a way for 25 year old hardware working in tandem with the Switch over wireless, on emulated games, would have been considerable. But I'm not a tech expert, I'm sure someone on Reddit has told everyone exactly how they would've done it.
So no pokemon stadium.
@Dirty0814 I assume your sarcasm detector doesn't work...
@Gravitron Working for me in my (beautiful translucent) GBC, remarkably enough.
@NotSoCryptic The base game would work just fine. It's kinda better without you're own Pokemon if you want a more difficult run
NINTENDO LIFE. Why do you insist on reporting none news news. Nintendo clearly advertise this on their site as having rumble functionality between this and so many other of your articles. I used to read your site regularly even though I wasn't registered but now you are just reporting things that don't need to be reported. Its very disappointing
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...