JSAUX's latest Switch gadget adds new features to your old Pro Controller, but it is a year too late or right on time?
Back buttons and a battery boost
Not quite made the leap to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller but still eyeing up those back buttons? JSAUX's latest launch might be for you.
The brand teased its Voidjoy Elite Extender alongside its new controller wing last month, and the brand has just made the $39.99 accessory available for purchase today. It's essentially a hug for your original Switch Pro Controller. A wraparound buddy that sits on the main body of the gamepad, adding 1,800mAh of extra battery life and a suite of additional controls to the best Nintendo Switch controller on the market.
Two back buttons are positioned between the grips, with additional shoulder clackers up top as well. The brains of the operation also handles button remapping, turbo, and up to 42-step macros, with support for Android Touch Mapping for all those gaming phone fans as well.
It's a risky move, releasing a brand new accessory for the previous-generation controller (this one's for OG Switch Pro Controllers, rather than the newer Switch 2 model), but when prices are climbing as they are, gadgets that breathe new life into old tech are quickly growing in popularity.
While the same kind of mobile functionality, shoulder triggers, and battery boost would have been appreciated on the newer Switch 2 Pro Controller, then, I'm keen to see how the Elite Extender does in the wild. Ninty's official gamepad comes in at a whopping $89.99 - a fifth of the price of the handheld. Yes, it's the best Nintendo Switch 2 controller on the market, but those after some newer features no longer need to abandon old faithful.
At first glance, it doesn't look like those back buttons are going to feel as buttery intuitive as the ones on the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. They're positioned right on the back panel of the gamepad, after all, whereas Ninty's full release has them neatly tucked in under your fingers on the grips. It's a necessary repositioning to make sure everything sits on the same panel, but it might take some getting used to.
Competitive players will be keen to get their hands on the sturdy macro controls, though, while racing fans will be eyeing up those analog triggers up top instead. These detachable paddles want to bring your Switch Pro Controller to the PC, with pressure-sensitive actuation offering a wide range of movement down the stem compared to the stock triggers on the gamepad itself.
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So who is the Voidjoy Elite Extender for? If you're only interested in those back buttons for Switch and Switch 2 play, just know that they come with an (admittedly currently unseen) caveat. We'll know a lot more about how these buttons perform once we get them in-hand, but at first glance they look just a tad more fiddly than the built-in options on Ninty's grown-up pad. However, anyone looking to outfit their original gamepad with some new features, whether it be for more sophisticated Switch controls, or to migrate their hardware to PC and mobile, should be investigating the brand's new gadget further.
That's not all JSAUX launched today either. The Voidjoy SkyLark S1 Pro is a full TMR controller with optical triggers, a compact form factor, and quick-switch pairing. The pocket-sized clackers are up for $49.99 at JSAUX's official site.
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Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.
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