Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Screenshot from Ratcheteer DX, showing a GBC-style cave with four pixelated characters finding warmth around a fire.
The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda-esque game mimics the GameBoy to GameBoy Color transition, goes from retro handheld to PC and Switch
Original GameCube with Blueretro Wireless Adapter in port next to Sony PVM CRT with hand holding Switch 2 GameCube controller in front.
Retro I've finally found a way to use the Switch 2 GameCube controller with an actual GameCube
A reviewer holding the PDP Riffmaster guitar controller
Gaming Controllers The Riffmaster Guitar controller is a great vehicle for your gaming nostalgia, but it already feels like it's in its "greatest hits" era
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild blood moon in a red sky
The Legend of Zelda A total lunar eclipse will cause a real blood moon tonight, exactly 9 years after Zelda: Breath of the Wild's blood moon
Image of the Hori Princess Rosalina Switch 2 controller on a wooden table.
Gaming Controllers Move over Mario, this Rosalina Switch 2 controller is so stellar that it deserves its own day too
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Games The 25 best GameCube games of all time
Image of the PowerA Mario Kart World Switch 2 controller sitting on a pink GamesRadar+ background.
Gaming Controllers PowerA is rolling out a Mario Kart World Switch 2 controller in time for Mario Day, and I wheely like it
Photo of the NSO N64 controller sitting in front of a Switch 2.
Gaming Controllers The NSO N64 controller isn't the most authentic option, but its made me feel like a kid again in the best possible way
Hand holding Zelda Game and Watch handheld with gameplay featuring Link in white outfit in backdrop.
Retro I have 100 different ways to play The Legend of Zelda, but I'm still using the Game and Watch ahead of the 40th anniversary
Image of a pile of Legend of Zelda collectibles sitting on a white desk.
Hardware Building the ultimate Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary setup
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?"
Figma Link action figure from Tears of the Kingdom stands with a bow at the ready against a woodland background
Toys & Collectibles I've found the perfect Legend of Zelda action figure, and it's not even close
Image of the F4F Hylian Shield sitting on a pile of plastic leaves.
Toys & Collectibles It's not a full-scale replica, but the F4F Hylian Shield now takes center stage in my Zelda collection
A patented Sony controller design next to the PS5's DualSense controller
Gaming Controllers The PS6 controller might not even have buttons on it as a new patent hints Sony is going all-in on haptic feedback
A scene in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U showing Link talking to Midna before the Triforce
The Legend of Zelda Princess Zelda actor "started practicing" Twilight Princess' Hylian language "over coffee" and is now fluent
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. The Legend of Zelda
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Scrapped Twilight Princess controller finally surfaces

News
By Brett Elston published 16 February 2011

Proposed Zelda controller revealed by Nubytech designer

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Thought we were done with Twilight Princess stories? Sure the game's over four years old, and is about to be supplanted by the nextconsole sequel in just a few months, but sneaking in at the buzzer is asurprising revealof a proposed (but unaccepted) design for a Twilight Princess GameCube controller. The special edition pad was designed by Nubytech (famous for its RE4chainsaw controller) but never made it out the door.


Above: Looks like a Hylian shield in the center, plusornamental straps on the right handle


Above: The alleged package said controller would've shipped in

You may like
  • Photo of one of the Zelda Effectones sitting on a Zelda heart plate. The top 5 pieces of Zelda merch I wish I could still get my hands on
  • Hands holding 8Bitdo N64 controller in gray resting on woodgrain desk. My favorite N64 controller in the color I actually want is weirdly hard to find at Amazon, but it does exist
  • Image of a close-up of the Switch EVA cases featuring art from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Frieren is back, but where are those official Hyperkin Nintendo Switch accessories?

Nintendo's pretty picky about using its characters on third party controllers, so that's one strike. The looming launch of Wii and general disinterest in GameCube probably sealed the deal, especially when you consider how hard Nintendo would try to distance itself from "complicated" controllers in the early Wii months. Even if it HAD shipped, it would still be one of the extremely few Zelda-themed controllers. The only other one that comes to mind is the N64 gold controller that launched alongside Majora's Mask in 2000.


Above: Zelda usually shipped inside gold carts, so a gold controller made sense

With hindsight as your guide, would you have picked this up? I would've bought one on principle alone. Though that strap looks like it'd be a pain to work around.

[Source:Gamerzines]

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

February 15, 2011

CATEGORIES
Nintendo Platforms
Brett Elston
Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE. 

Read more
Photo of one of the Zelda Effectones sitting on a Zelda heart plate.
The top 5 pieces of Zelda merch I wish I could still get my hands on
 
 
Hands holding 8Bitdo N64 controller in gray resting on woodgrain desk.
My favorite N64 controller in the color I actually want is weirdly hard to find at Amazon, but it does exist
 
 
Image of a close-up of the Switch EVA cases featuring art from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
Frieren is back, but where are those official Hyperkin Nintendo Switch accessories?
 
 
Image of the Hori Princess Rosalina Switch 2 controller on a wooden table.
Move over Mario, this Rosalina Switch 2 controller is so stellar that it deserves its own day too
 
 
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword screenshot
Challenges in emulating Zelda titles demonstrates the series' knack for reinvention
 
 
Image of the PowerA Mario Kart World Switch 2 controller sitting on a pink GamesRadar+ background.
PowerA is rolling out a Mario Kart World Switch 2 controller in time for Mario Day, and I wheely like it
 
 
Latest in The Legend of Zelda
Screenshot from Ratcheteer DX, showing a GBC-style cave with four pixelated characters finding warmth around a fire.
The Legend of Zelda-esque game mimics the GameBoy to GameBoy Color transition, goes from retro handheld to PC and Switch
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild blood moon in a red sky
A total lunar eclipse will cause a real blood moon tonight, exactly 9 years after Zelda: Breath of the Wild's blood moon
 
 
A scene in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U showing Link talking to Midna before the Triforce
Princess Zelda actor "started practicing" Twilight Princess' Hylian language "over coffee" and is now fluent
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Sorry, ZeLink shippers, Zelda actor still thinks the 40-year-old pairing is better left "ambiguous"
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?"
 
 
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword screenshot
Challenges in emulating Zelda titles demonstrates the series' knack for reinvention
 
 
Latest in News
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 designers say developers have a "responsibility" to make games intuitive
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave winces
"The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dev confirms it was filling your ears with spoilers
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force
 
 
A close-up of Grace talking with someone through glass in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem leads let actors re-do "technically" perfect scenes if it made them happy, says Grace actor
 
 
Kratos approaches Aphrodite's bedchamber in God of War 3
"The God of War sex mini-games were designed by women," which is why Aphrodite's bed looks "like a labia"
 
 
Alan Ritchson in Reacher season 3
Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave winces
    1
    "The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs confirm they were filling your ears with spoilers the entire time
  2. 2
    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveals Donald Glover as the voice of Yoshi and more new casting in a star-spanning trailer that sends the entire Mushroom Kingdom to another planet
  3. 3
    Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
  4. 4
    Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force: "Because it was a JRPG, we tried to find a mix"
  5. 5
    "The God of War sex mini-games were designed by women," former Sony Santa Monica writer says, which is why Aphrodite's bed looks "like a labia"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...