Nintendo Switch’s Sega Genesis controller has six buttons only in Japan

When Sega Genesis games arrive on Nintendo Change On the internet upcoming thirty day period, Switch entrepreneurs in most areas will have to enjoy them with a few-button Genesis controllers. Nintendo is producing a six-button edition of the Genesis controller — but it will be obtainable solely in Japan, Nintendo verified to Polygon on Friday.

Nintendo announced the controller Thursday as part of an upcoming expansion to the Nintendo Swap On the net services that will carry a handful of Genesis and Nintendo 64 game titles to the Change for an extra price tag on best of the present subscription. The enterprise is earning present day wi-fi variations of both the Genesis controller and the Nintendo 64 gamepad, to be made use of with games these as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Mario Kart 64.

Each and every controller will cost $49.99 in the U.S., and will be offered only to Nintendo Change Online subscribers. Nintendo has however to announce a concrete release date for them. (Of study course, retro online games on Nintendo Switch Online perform just wonderful with Switch Joy-Downsides or the Pro Controller.)

“Different locations make distinct conclusions based on a wide range of variables,” a Nintendo of The usa agent instructed Polygon by way of e mail. “For the U.S. and Canada, a replica of the unique SEGA Genesis controller is the available model. This was by much the a lot more extensively made use of and effectively-regarded SEGA Genesis controller in these areas.”

That’s certainly genuine. The Genesis launched with a a few-button gamepad, and it was not right until 1993 — a lot more than four decades just after the console’s debut in Japan — that Sega introduced a six-button model of the controller. That product was timed to the early ’90s combating game growth, considering that its layout (with two rows of three buttons just about every) was a better in good shape for the set up of buttons for arcade video games these as Road Fighter 2 and Streets of Rage 3. Individuals titles took gain of the more buttons and designed it a lot easier to do numerous moves.

Continue to, it’s peculiar that Nintendo would make a more able controller in 2024 and limit it to just one area of the entire world, primarily given that the Change is location-no cost. (It’s truly worth noting that Nintendo does not promise compatibility concerning Change consoles and add-ons acquired in diverse areas.)