The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for around eight months now, and while it's a solid console overall, its stock controllers still struggle with ergonomics and the looming shadow of stick drift.
There's also been a distinct lack of third party Joy-Cons designed specifically for the console — until now: the NYXI Hyperion 3 has officially arrived as the first true alternative to the Switch 2's official Joy-Cons, offering a Pro-controller experience for those who primarily play in handheld mode.
Now available for pre-order from NYXI's official website, the Hyperion 3 is admittedly far more expensive than Nintendo's official Joy-Cons, priced at $170 / £126 / AU$252, though there is an early-bird price available for those who order before the January 23, 2026 deadline, bringing the price down to a more manageable $119 / £88 / AU$177.
NYXI Hyperion 3: Key features
In discussing the things I love about my Nintendo Switch 2, I praised the console's "larger, more comfortable Joy-Cons" as one of its big improvements over the original Switch. And while that still holds true, there's no denying that they can still feel a bit cramped during extended gaming sessions.
Thankfully, the NYXI Hyperion 3 addresses that with a more ergonomic design that should prove significantly more comfortable to hold, while still magnetically attaching to the console.
Additionally, the Hyperion 3 sports larger micro-switch face buttons, along with both faceted and cross-style D-pads, programmable rear buttons, dual-stage linear triggers and adjustable turbo functionality. There are also dedicated buttons for screenshots, GameChat and waking your Switch 2 from sleep mode.
Of course, the biggest selling point for many will be the Hyperion 3's Hall-effect sticks, which use magnetic, contactless sensors to effectively eliminate stick drift from occurring — an issue that plagued the original Switch's Joy-Cons.
The Hyperion 3 also comes with its own version of Nintendo's official charging grip, dubbed the 'Rechargeable Mid-Bridge', allowing you to use it like a regular gamepad while playing in docked mode.
NYXI Hyperion 3: One major flaw
The most significant drawback of the NYXI Hyperion 3 compared to the official Nintendo Joy-Cons (apart from its exorbitant price) is the absence of an optical sensor. This means you can't turn the right half of the Hyperion 3 on its side to use as a mouse.
While this might not concern every user (I personally found the mouse controls too laggy in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and opted not to use them), players who rely on a mouse pointer for shooters and real-time strategy games will need to look for an alternative solution.
If you can overlook that one flaw, you may find the NYXI Hyperion 3 to be the Switch 2 controller you've been waiting for. We will hopefully get to check the Hyperion 3 out for ourselves once it starts shipping on March 1, 2026.
