Sorry, not sorry, but I think the Switch 2 should be more like a GameCube. Thankfully, I'm not the only one who wants to give one of the best gaming handhelds right now early 2000s console vibes, as Retro Fighters just teased its "battle dock" with integrated GameCube controller ports and swappable faceplates.
In a new teaser clip, accessory maker Retro Fighters shows off the GameCube battle dock in action. Rather than serving as seperate unit, the Switch 2's official docking station slides between, arming the front with colorful faceplates and functioning controller ports. Effectively, it looks like a cradle with what I'd call one of Ninty's best retro consoles slapped on the front, which at the very least makes for a nice setup conversation starter.
Battle Dock coming soon! pic.twitter.com/hRdu7zI6IVJanuary 19, 2026
The teaser is short, but it does fully demonstrate why you'd want to use GameCube pads with your Switch 2. I've already shared older adapters by the likes of Mayflash ($18.99 at Amazon, FYI) that are cheap wired ways to play Nintendo's Switch Online collection authentically, and I even used the setup to play Wind Waker with a Dualsense and Donkey Kong Bananza with a set of bongos.
Of course, a less unhinged reason to pick up the Battle Dock is simply to play the likes of Super Smash Bros Ultimate with a GameCube gamepad. It's far from the only option out there if you're partial to the old console's pad, as there are plenty of modern remakes of the controller that even feature 2.4Ghz wireless, like the BattlerGC for $49.99 and the official Switch Online remake for $69.99. But, Retro Fighters will also make your docked handheld look like the boxy console, and there's something special about plugging a wire straight into the front like it's 2001.
A previous trailer confirms that the colorful face plates do come with the Battle Dock, so you won't have to pay extra to pay homage to the magnificent Japanese Spiced Orange GameCube. That said, the new teaser actually shows the real Nintendo Switch 2 accessory in action, and while I'll provide an ultimate verdict once I've had some hands-on time with the docking station, I'm now more hyped to try it out.
My only real concern with the Battle Dock at this stage is whether it'll be easy to yank it off your TV unit when using a wired GameCube controller, and Nintendo also has a habit of messing up accessory compatibility with updates. Still, the latter isn't really anything new, and it's not going to stop me from hooking things up to my poor Switch like some sort of lab experiment.
Looking for more accessories? Swing by the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD cards for more storage and the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras for Game Chat. If you're looking for a different way to play classics on the go, take a peek at the best retro handheld options for emulation devices and more.
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