If you have considered the idea of creating your own retro console with a Raspberry Pi , you may have also thought that you will need a gamepad to be able to play comfortably. For the latter there are many possible options, but you still wonder if it is possible to use the Nintendo Switch Joycon . So you would not have to buy more controls. Let’s see it.
Gamepads for the Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is one of the best devices you can buy today, if only for a specific use or to experiment with the thousands and thousands of projects that exist around this development board.
Of course, if we had to highlight a specific and very striking utility for everyone, it would be to be able to play retro games on 8- and 16-bit consoles, such as Nintendo or Sega, or all those arcade machine titles that would drive you crazy , like Kings of Fighter, Metal Slug and many others.
For all this without a doubt it is an incredible device and with which it is very easy to create a casing as a recreational machine or easily take it from one place to another thanks to its size, low consumption (it works with a simple Power Bank) and economical price.
Well, for this use as a retro console it is almost mandatory to purchase a game controller. Because you can play with your own keyboard and mouse that you connect, which may be a good idea for certain titles, but for most games nothing better than a gamepad.
The Raspberry Pi and its different operating systems already offer support for USB and Bluetooth game controllers as standard . All those that work clearly on Windows PCs will also work on it. However, what about the controllers for consoles like Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch?
Well let’s see, in principle the Xbox One controls, the new Xbox Series X and S as well as those of PS4 can be used since they are usually recognized without much problem. But there are others where it is necessary to install an extra controller that allows them to be identified in order to correctly assign the actions to each of its buttons, D-Pad and control levers.
Thus, if you have one of these controls, you can use them and the connection procedure is not very different from the one followed on mobile devices or a computer. When they are USB, it is enough to plug them in and in the case that they are wireless controls, you will only have to put it in pairing mode through its Bluetooth connection and then go to the system settings installed on the Raspberry Pi, search for a new Bluetooth device and connect.
But what about the Nintendo Switch controls . Well, it must be said that you will also be able to use them, although you will need to install the driver or make use of one of the distributions that have already added it. This way, the whole connection and configuration process is easier.
These operating systems for Raspberry Pi designed to play and with support for the Nintendo Switch JoyCon are basically two: RetroPie and Recalbox . Both facilitate the whole process and offer much clearer and more intuitive menus to be able to configure the buttons of these controls to your liking as you need or prefer. In addition to an interface that is more optimal for emulation.
How to connect the Joycons to the Raspberry Pi
Assuming you already have RetroPie or Recalbox installed and working without any problem, now it would be the Joycons’ turn. How do I connect and configure the controllers of the Nintendo handheld console with the Raspberry Pi? Well, the process is quite simple, you just have to follow these steps:
- Disconnect the Joycons from your Nintendo Switch
- Access the Bluetooth settings within the RetroPie or Recalbox configuration menu
- In the new screen that appears, go to the first screen that appears and indicates Register and connect Bluetooth Device
- The Raspberry Pi will start searching for all available devices. Remember that if you have a Raspberry Pi model that does not include integrated Bluetooth, then you will have to resort to a USB adapter
- When the Joycon you want to connect appears, select it
- In the next screen select the first option DisplayYesNo , in case of receipt of a failure, try NoInputNoOutput
- Done, now you just have to open the menu again and select the Configure Input option
- Press a button on the Joycon and wait until the screen with the different controls appears so that you can press each button to configure the action they will perform
- Now yes, process finished. Hit Ok to save the changes
From now on you can play the games you have available with RetroPie or Recalbox and the Joycon controllers for Nintendo Switch.
Why use Joycons with a Raspberry Pi
Good question, although the answer may still be why not. The truth is that the controls of Nintendo Switch can become as good option as any other. It is true that by size the Xbox or Playstation controls are much more comfortable during long periods of play and if you want something more compact there are proposals such as 8Bitdo that you could later take advantage of with other devices.
Anyway, if you want to use the Joycons because you have a Switch or when your friends go to see you without having to invest more money in more controllers, go ahead. Connect the Joycons to the Raspberry Pi and enjoy all those classic games, for two or up to four players, etc.
Of course, there may be another much more interesting reason still: to make your own “Nintendo Switch” with a Raspberry Pi . And it is that there are cases that together with the use of screens of different inches and touch support can be used together with this plate and the Joycon. The result is logically not as aesthetic as the Nintendo laptop, but it is not bad at all and it can be interesting if you are looking for a console that can take you wherever you go.
