Defy Gaming Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con Review: ‘Custom Nintendo!’

DEFY GAMING CUSTOM NINTENDO SWITCH PRO CONTROLLER AND JOY-CON REVIEW.

When looking at a console manufacturer’s special edition controller designs, Nintendo has to be one of the sloppiest, especially when it comes to the Pro Controller. While the Joy-Con redeems itself somewhat with various colors, there’s definitely still room for improvement. This is where the folks over at Defy Gaming come in, offering a range of Pro Controller and Joy-Con designs that can be as subtle or over-the-top as you like.

The freedom to customize

Using the website builder, it’s possible to tweak every little detail to your liking. For the Pro Controller, there’s the ability to choose the front and rear shell, handles, the left and right analog sticks, right buttons, D-pad, Start/Select buttons, and triggers. For the Joy-Con, users can customize the left shell and buttons and the right shell and buttons separately, mixing and matching.

I opted to pair a Sky Blue Soft Touch Pro Controller with the Sky Blue Soft Touch Joy-Con, which is one of the options over on the “Pre-Designed Controllers” section of the website. This section is nice for those who just want to pick a color and checkout, though I would encourage folks to at least have a play with the Builder, as it’s pretty fun!

The custom Pro Controller experience

I should make it very clear that the custom Pro Controller offered by Defy Gaming is mostly a cosmetic upgrade. There are no extra buttons or rapid-fire mods hidden beneath the good-looking outer shell. No, it’s all about aesthetics with this custom Switch lineup.

It’s worth mentioning how much better the soft touch material feels over the standard plastic. It’s not just a great-looking controller, but a great-feeling one, too.

As expected, the custom Switch Pro controller boasts all of the usual features. There’s the HD rumble, built-in accelerometer and gyroscope for motion controls, Amiibo support, and impressively long battery life. None of those features are compromised by the design improvements on the outside.

What about the Joy-Con?

It’s a similar story for the Joy-Con, as they too enjoy a purely cosmetic upgrade with a range of color choices. Though you can create a wild concoction of outer shell and button colors, there are no back-buttons or mods hidden within.

Just as I found with the Pro Controller, the soft touch material used for the Joy-Con shell is a marked improvement over the standard plastic. They feel great!

Controllers come with a 6-month warranty as standard, but it’s possible to bump that up to 12 months by paying $22.29. This is in line with other custom controller companies and so isn’t a surprise. While both of my samples have been perfect with no issues whatsoever, I was sure to be thorough in my testing when it came to “Stick Drift” and I advise you to be cautious of that, too. That is more of a Nintendo issue, however, rather than Defy Gaming’s problem.

Defy Gaming Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con Review: The final verdict

With prices starting at £89.99 ($100) for the Joy-Con and £99.99 ($111.50) for the Pro Controller, there’s a premium of $20 and $31.50 for the build job over RRP, respectively. That means the Joy-Con works out as a better value buy, which is unexpected. For both products, the price bump is competitive.

My experience with the Sky Blue Soft Touch Pro Controller and Joy-Con has been faultless so far, throughout many hours of Splatoon 3 play. They add a lovely bit of flair that Nintendo itself has failed to incorporate, despite the many years since the Switch’s 2017 launch.

Assuming the shipping cost to your region doesn’t blow your budget, Defy Gaming is well worth considering when looking to buy your next set of Joy-Con or Pro Controller.

Custom Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con review units were provided by Defy Gaming.