You know that feeling when you finally get your hands on a piece of gear that just looks right? Not just okay, but like it belongs in a museum or at least on the most prominent shelf in your living room. That’s the vibe with the Legend of Zelda Joy Cons. Specifically, the Skyward Sword HD edition ones. Nintendo has a habit of doing the bare minimum with hardware colors—looking at you, Neon Red and Blue—but they actually went all out on these.
They’re gorgeous.
But beauty is usually skin deep, especially with Nintendo’s hardware history. If you've spent any time on Reddit or gaming forums over the last few years, you’ve heard the horror stories. Drift. Connectivity drops. Cheap plastic. So, are these Zelda-themed controllers actually worth the premium price tag they still command on the secondary market? Or are they just a pretty coat of paint on a fundamental design flaw? Honestly, it’s a bit of both, but mostly it's about the soul of the franchise.
The Royal Blue and Hylian Purple Aesthetic
Most special edition controllers are lazy. They slap a logo on the shell and call it a day. Nintendo did something different here. The right Joy-Con is a deep, royal purple, modeled after the Master Sword’s hilt. The left one is a rich blue, meant to evoke the Hylian Shield.
Look closer at the buttons.
The "plus" and "minus" buttons aren't just plastic nubs; they have tiny icons that match the theme. The golden trim around the Home button? Pure class. It’s subtle enough that it doesn't look like a cheap toy, but distinct enough that any fan of Link’s adventures will recognize them instantly. I've used mine for hundreds of hours in Tears of the Kingdom, and even after all that friction, the finish hasn't rubbed off. That's a win.
The Elephant in the Room: Let’s Talk About Drift
We have to go there. No discussion about Legend of Zelda Joy Cons is complete without addressing the Joy-Con drift issue. It’s the dark cloud hanging over the Nintendo Switch’s legacy.
For the uninitiated, drift happens when the sensors inside the analog stick get gunked up with debris or just wear down from friction. Your character starts walking off a cliff in Breath of the Wild while you aren't even touching the controller. It’s infuriating.
When these Zelda editions launched alongside Skyward Sword HD in 2021, fans hoped Nintendo had quietly fixed the internals.
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They hadn't.
Under the hood, these use the same potentiometer technology as the launch-day controllers. Does that mean yours will definitely break? No. I know people who have used their Skyward Sword controllers daily for three years without a single hiccup. I also know people whose controllers started drifting three months in. It’s a literal lottery. However, Nintendo’s official repair program in most regions (like the US, Canada, and parts of Europe) now covers drift repairs for free, even out of warranty. It’s a hassle to ship them off, but at least you aren't stuck with a $100 paperweight.
Motion Controls: The Secret Sauce
If you’re actually playing Skyward Sword HD, these controllers are basically mandatory for the intended experience. The game was built for the Wii’s MotionPlus tech. Translating that to the Switch meant the Joy-Cons had to do some heavy lifting.
The gyro sensors in these specific units feel remarkably snappy. Calibrating the sword swings—flicking the right Joy-Con to slash horizontally or poking forward for a thrust—feels intuitive in a way a standard Pro Controller just can't replicate. It’s one of the few times where the hardware and the software feel like they were birthed in the same room.
Why Collectors are Obsessed with These
The market for Legend of Zelda Joy Cons is weird. Go check eBay right now. You’ll see listings for brand-new boxes hitting $120, $150, or even more. The original MSRP was $79.99.
Why the hike?
Nintendo is the king of artificial scarcity. They produced these for the launch window of the game and then effectively stopped. Unlike the Splatoon or Pokémon editions, which seem to get occasional restocks, the Zelda ones have become a "get it while you can" item.
There's also the "TotK" factor. When Tears of the Kingdom launched, everyone expected a new set of standalone Joy-Cons. Instead, Nintendo bundled the gold-themed controllers exclusively with the Special Edition Switch OLED console. If you wanted Zelda Joy-Cons without buying a whole new console, the Skyward Sword ones remained your only official option. That drove the demand through the roof.
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Spotting the Fakes
Because these are so valuable, the market is flooded with "shells." These are third-party plastic casings that look almost identical to the real deal. People buy cheap, broken Joy-Cons, slap on a $10 Zelda shell from AliExpress, and sell them as "refurbished originals."
Here’s how you tell the difference:
- The Logo Crispness: Official Nintendo printing is razor-sharp. Fakes often have slightly blurry edges on the Hylian Crest.
- The "NFC" Test: The right Joy-Con must have an NFC reader for Amiibo. Many cheap knockoffs skip this component entirely.
- The Rail Information: Slide the controller off. Look at the black rail. Real units have a very specific serial number and "Nintendo" branding etched into the metal/plastic.
- The Weight: Authentic controllers have a specific heft due to the HD Rumble motors. Fakes feel like hollow toys.
Durability in the Real World
Let's get practical. If you buy these, are you going to ruin them by actually playing games?
The matte finish is surprisingly resilient. Unlike the "soft-touch" coating on some third-party controllers that turns into a sticky mess after a year, Nintendo's plastic holds its texture. Sweat and oils from your hands will eventually make the buttons a bit shiny—that's just physics—but the color doesn't fade.
The real danger is the rail. If you’re a handheld player, the constant sliding on and off the console wears down the locking mechanism. Eventually, they might feel a bit "wobbley" when attached to the screen. If you're worried about preserving the value, use them with the Joy-Con Grip or as separate pointers while the Switch is docked.
Beyond the Official: The World of Custom Shells
If you can’t stomach the $100+ price tag for the Skyward Sword editions, there’s another path. The modding community.
Companies like eXtremeRate sell shells that mimic the Zelda aesthetic perfectly. You can get gold, ancient stone textures, or even transparent emerald green. It requires a steady hand and a tiny tri-wing screwdriver. You’re basically performing surgery on your controller.
Is it worth it?
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If you already have a pair of gray Joy-Cons gathering dust, a $20 shell swap is a great weekend project. Just know that you lose the "official" feel. The plastic won't be quite the same grade, and you won't have the custom-colored icons in the Switch’s "Controllers" menu (unless you use software like Joy-Con Toolkit to change the internal color ID).
The Verdict on the Legend of Zelda Joy Cons
Are they the best controllers Nintendo has ever made?
No. That title belongs to the Pro Controller. The Joy-Cons are small, the buttons are clicky rather than tactile, and the ergonomics are... questionable for anyone with adult-sized hands.
But as a piece of Zelda history, they are essential. They represent a specific era of Nintendo—the bridge between the motion-control gimmickry of the Wii and the refined hybrid nature of the Switch. They look stunning. They make the act of playing Zelda feel a little more special, a little more "legendary."
If you find a pair at a reasonable price, buy them. Just keep your receipt and a can of compressed air handy for the inevitable dust.
Your Next Steps for Upgrading Your Zelda Setup
If you've decided to pull the trigger on a pair of these controllers, don't just stop at the hardware. Here is how to actually maximize the experience and protect your investment:
- Update the Firmware Immediately: As soon as you sync them, go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. Nintendo often releases minor patches that improve Bluetooth stability and battery reporting.
- Invest in a "Hori Split Pad Pro" for Handheld: If you have large hands and want to play Zelda in handheld mode without cramping, use the Hori controllers. Keep your official Zelda Joy-Cons for docked play or motion-controlled sessions. It saves the sticks from unnecessary wear.
- Check the Serial Number: If buying used, go to "Settings" on your Switch and check the "Controller" section while they are attached. Ensure the color displayed on the screen matches the physical shells. If the screen shows Gray Joy-Cons but the shells are Blue/Purple, you've bought a reshelled fake.
- Get a Glass Screen Protector: This has nothing to do with the controllers, but if you're upgrading your Zelda gear, don't let the Joy-Con rails scratch your screen. It happens more often than you'd think.
By following these steps, you ensure that your Legend of Zelda Joy Cons remain a centerpiece of your collection rather than a frustrated memory of hardware failure. They are a premium product that requires a bit of premium care.