Daily Archives: December 22, 2021

Jason Silva is an Emmy-nominated and world renown TV personality, storyteller, filmmaker, and sought-after keynote speaker and futurist.

Jason is known for hosting 5seasons of the Emmy-nominated, global hit TV series Brain Games, on the NationalGeographic Channel, broadcasted in over 171 countries.

His inspirational videos, Shots of Awe, have received over 100 million views across social platforms. The videos exploretopics such as futurism, technology, creativity, the science of awe, disruptive innovation,relationships andmental health.

Most recently Jason hosted the global miniseries ORIGINS: The Journey Of Humankind, on the National Geographic Channel, seen in 171 countries.

A global keynote speaker, Jason has given talks at events for Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Oracle, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Cannes Lions, TribecaFilmFestival, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, 20th Century Fox, Cosmopolitan, PHD Worldwide, Google Zeitgeist, TED Global, The Economist, and more.

A Timothy Leary of the Viral Video Age was howThe Atlanticdescribed Silva, partTimothy Leary, part Ray Kurzweil, and part Neo from The Matrix.

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Jason Silva | Storyteller, Futurist, Keynote Speaker

While 2022 may throw a few curveballs, the beginning of the new year is always a perfect time to focus on career growth.

According to the Department of Labor, the economy is rebounding and some industries have recovered their job losses from the early days of the pandemic.

As a futurist and business strategist who's trained thousands of executives to navigate booming markets, I've identified five skills that can make you an especially valuable professional in 2022 and free online courses that teach them.

In the future, it will pay to think critically and creatively about your work and to add unique skills, experiences and connections to your professional toolkit.

Your efforts to exist outside-the-box will not only help you come up with novel solutions, but will give you the tools to communicate that you are capable of solving new and exciting problems.

For example, time spent analyzing a different kind of business or connecting with folks in a different industry may help you find new ways to think about a problem or new tools for your team to use. That's what employers and customers are looking for in a rapidly changing market.

Recommended free course: Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success

Highlights: Learn how to pick a type of brainstorming alphabet brainstorming, grid brainstorming, morphological chart to apply to a challenge.

Futurists don't predict the future. We identify trends in society or a market and consider the impact that these trends might have.

By using "what if" scenarios to role-play different strategies and their outcomes, we help people determine which strategic direction to take and plot alternate strategies in case of a sudden, unexpected turn in the future.

You can apply that same technique to your own career or business. Learning how to consider the different directions that your industry or career path may take in the future can help you intentionally map your future moves, come up with a plan B, and protect yourself against uncertainty.

Recommended Free Course: Strategic Planning Skills

Highlights: Learn how to create a compelling mission, gather key business intelligence and assess potential opportunities to chart a winning course forward.

We will all be called on to make fast and impactful choices in 2022. This is true even if we don't have the same level of information or the time to plan as we did in the pre-Covid era.

Feeling unqualified to do that? Join the club: Making mistakes was the biggest fear in the workplace even before the pandemic.

Ninety-nine percent of leadership is a willingness to keep making decisions. Coach yourself on how to exercise good judgement and trust your instincts, and you'll stand out from those who are too nervous to be decisive.

Recommended Free Course: Critical Thinking for Better Judgment and Decision Making

Highlights: Learn how to absorb and rationally analyze data in the face of uncertainty.

A recent study published by McKinsey & Company found that companies who scored in the study's top-quartile for ethnic or cultural diversity on executive teams were 33% more likely to have industry-leading profitability.

People who will achieve business success in 2022 and beyond will know how to draw on a wide range of talents, perspectives and skills. That requires the ability to really listen to other people and their opinions.

Recommended Free Course: How to Listen

Highlights: Learn how to gather insights from others and deepen connections through active listening.

If your day-to-day schedule looks like controlled chaos, you're not alone and you may need to mentally prepare for 2022.

Deadlines are getting tighter and job responsibilities are getting greater. In the next few years, you'll be called upon to think like a project manager, even if that just means finding more effective ways to cram in after-school activities with your kids on top of a hectic remote work schedule.

The secret to success here is mastering the art of logistics. If you can manage to get to grandma's house this year for the holidays through crowded airports, travel restrictions and all you've got what it takes to efficiently prioritize your time and other resources.

Recommended Free Course: Introduction to Project Management

Highlights: Learn how to apply the fundamentals of project management to your work and life.

Scott Steinbergis a futurist, keynote speaker on business trends, and bestselling author of"Fast >> Forward,""Think Like a Futurist,""Make Change Work for You"and"Becoming Essential."He is also an award-winning strategic consultant and has been named by Fortune magazine as a leading expert on innovation.

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These are the 5 most valuable skills to learn in 2022, says futuristand where to find free online courses - CNBC

You know the old saying: the only thing constant is change.

But wed wager most people dont think that line applies to the actual rules of the universe itself. As it turns out, though, researchers at Microsoft, along with scientists at Brown University and even one expert who consulted for Disneys Wrinkle in Timethink the laws of physics might actually be slowly changing, complicating our quest to understand the cosmos.

Popular Mechanics published a lengthy explainerthis week about a paper, titled The Autodidactic Universeand published earlier this year, in which the team argued for that precise mind-bending hypothesis. An autodidact, of course, is someone who learns without a mentor or teacher and,these researchers say, the universe itself may be one.

We ask whether there might be a mechanism woven into the fabric of the natural world, by means of which the universe could learn its laws, the authors wrote in the paper, which has not yet been peer reviewed.

Over time, the theory goes, the universe has sought stability. PopMechdraws parallels to animal evolution, too. There are no trilobites or dinosaurs anymore, but cats and dogs have survived because they adapted to the environment around them and the cosmos may have done the same.

In an early version of the universe, for example, Newtons laws of gravity that all matter in the universe attracts other matter with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers might not have been true yet.

Over time, that system will teach itself, and some fundamental laws will arise, and thats really what theyre talking about [in the paper], Janna Levin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia Universitywho wasnt involved in the research,told PopMech. If the universe can compute with a given set ofalgorithms, then maybe it can do the same kind of thing we see in artificial intelligence, where you have self-learning systems that teach themselves new rules. And by rules, in cosmology we mean laws of physics.

The papers authors also acknowledge their own skepticism and wrote their conclusions with caution, warning that their work is only a baby step in the formation of a new theory and requires additional research.

Of course, this is just a first step, the authors write. There are varied potential spin-offs from our approach.

Its mind-bending to imagine that the laws of physics might learn and adapt over time. But it reminds us that the universe is stranger than well ever know.

More on the wide world: Heres Everything You Wanted to Know About the Cosmos

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Scientists Say the Laws of Physics May Be Changing - Futurism

GMC is looking to be the first automaker to sell not just one but two electric pickup trucks. The 2023 GMC Sierra EV is set to join the existing GMC Hummer EV soon, and we now know what its front end will look like thanks to this teaser photo. With a blocked-off grille and a futuristic lighting setup, the electric version of this pickup is likely to look far more futuristic than the gas-powered Sierra.

Like the Hummer EV and the closely related Chevy Silverado EV that's also scheduled to debut in 2022, the electric Sierra will use GM's Ultium battery packs that should provide up to 400 miles of range. Many of the tidbits about the Silverado EV that Chevy has sharedsuch as its fixed glass roof and rear-wheel-steering setupshould apply to the GMC model as well. Predictably enough, the GMC EV will offer a range-topping Denali trim level.

We don't have an exact reveal date for the Sierra EV yet, but look for it to debut within the first half of 2022. GMC plans to build it alongside the Hummer and Silverado at its Factory Zero plant in Michigan.

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2023 GMC Sierra EV Reveals Its Futuristic Front End - Car and Driver

She may look like a preteen, but Shauna Rae is legally old enough to drink and soon the world will know her story, or at least the TLC version of it.

Next month, the channel is airing a docuseries called I Am Shauna Rae, which its billing as a look into the life of the 22-year-old who looks like shes about eight, due to complications from surgery she had as an infant.

Rae was just six months old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Although the chemotherapy she got for it saved her life, she says, it also resulted in damage to her pituitary gland.

My pituitary gland was rendered almost dormant because of the chemotherapy, Rae says in a trailer for the series, scheduled to be released January 11. The doctor told me I was done growing. My bones were fused, and my height is three feet and 10 inches.

Indeed, though scientists say there is no strong direct evidence to implicate chemotherapy as a cause for a huge risk of pituitary deformation like Shaunas, it does occasionally happen, and chemo has been known to cause other endocrine problems in cancer patients who receive the treatment.

Nevertheless, Rae is an adult which means that, yes, she drinks, dates, gets tattoos and even attends poledancing classes. Her childlike appearance, however, seems to cause her immense social difficulty.

Even though physically I cant grow up, I desperately want to be treated like a grownup, Rae says in the trailer. I am working on my independence.

In other parts of the trailer for the series, Rae and her mother describe how hard life has been for the petite 22-year-old in ways that hopefully wont come off as exploitative as Rae luridly describes of the kinds of creeps, assholes, and idiotsshe encounters when dating.

With a network likeTLC being the one to tell Raes story, it might be overly optimistic to imagine both a sympathetic treatment of her condition and a science-based look into the rare cancer she had as a child and her resulting pituitary issues as an adult.

But were holding out hope. And if nothing else, the series has the propensity to allow someone who suffers from a rare and fascinating disorder to tell her story in her own words.

READ MORE: I Am Shaunna Rae: New Reality Show Stars 22-Year-Old Who Looks 8 [ScreenRant]

More on cancer therapies: New Treatment Eradicated Tumors in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

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The Fascinating Saga of the 22-Year-Old Woman Trapped in Body of 8-Year-Old - Futurism

The original stars and creator of The Matrix were joined by famous friends and co-stars on the green carpet (Pictures: FilmMagic/Rex/Reuters)

The Matrix Resurrections premiere saw star power galore as franchise leads Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss walked the green carpet alongside plenty of futuristic fashion choices from Hollywoods finest.

The event, at Castro Theatre in San Francisco,California,on Saturday reflected the location of Keanus iconic Neo character, who starts the new film living a seemingly ordinary life under his original identity of Thomas A. Anderson in San Francisco.

Keanu, 57, looked sharp in a dark suit, white shirt and a striped red, blue and white tie, while co-star Carrie-Anne, 54, who plays Trinity, pushed the boat out in plunging black gown with sheer floor-length cape and silver embellishments dripping down to the hem.

Franchise creator and the films writer and director Lana Wachowski also walked the carpet in an eye-catching ensemble, sporting a black mini-dress with latex bust and her trademark multi-coloured neon hair.

The series consists of four feature films, starting with The Matrix (1999) and continuing with back-to-back sequels, The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003), all of which Lana helmed with sister Lily Wachowski, who opted not to return for The Matrix Resurrections.

Star Jada Pinkett Smith, who features as Niobe in the films, opted for a stunning red gown with a dramatic train, which she paired with red tights and red stilettos.

The 50-year-old also sported an intricate silver earpiece.

She posed alongside son Jaden Smith, 23, who she brought as her plus one and posed in both a puffer jacket and overcoat over his black suit ensemble, which he paired with fresh white trainers.

The franchise has also welcomed a number of new stars into the family, including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who replaces Laurence Fishburne as a new version of Morpheus and wore a leather trench coat and black boots.

Priyanka Chopra also joins as Sati, and rocked up in shimmery style in a silver fishtail gown with a fanned embellishment of red across one shoulder, in a nod to her character.

The star recently shared her enthusiasm for being cast in the movie, writing on Instagram: They had me at Neo and Trinity are back! The Matrix trilogy defined my generation of cinema. It was the gold standard something we all role played and referenced all our lives. So, here I am a small, excited little fish in the huge cinematic pond that is THE Matrix!

She added, Needless to say, I am honoured and thrilled to be a part of this legacy and to have had the experience of working under the tutelage of Lana Wachowski and alongside this incredible, iconic cast.

Other new additions include Mindhunter star Jonathan Groff as Agent Smith, who attended the event in a black suit and mesh shirt with his boyfriend, and Neil Patrick Harris who plays The Analyst and almost stole the show in a green, purple and pink double-breasted suit with matching polo neck and purple nail varnish.

Doctor Who actress Freema Agyeman wore a metallic black draped dress, with her hair in braids and gold eye make-up, while Jessica Henwick also chose black for her gown, which featured a dramatic one-shoulder ruffle.

The Matrix Ressurections is in cinemas from December 22.

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If youve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page wed love to hear from you.

MORE : Keanu Reeves returns to Toronto for a stylish appearance at Canadian premiere of The Matrix Resurrections

MORE : Keanu Reeves once wore Dolly Partons iconic Playboy bunny outfit as Halloween costume because why not?

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Keanu Reeves and futuristic stars at The Matrix Resurrections premiere - Metro.co.uk

It's finally here. The Analogue Pocket ($219) a gorgeous new portable console that can play old Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advanced games in really high definition was announced more than two years ago but, because of mostly pandemic-related production delays and supply chain issues, it's only now being released to the world.

If you pre-ordered the Pocket this past summer, you should be receiving the console very shortly (shipping started December 13). If you preordered early on December 14, your Pocket will arrive sometime in Q1 of 2022. If you preorder now, there's a chance your Pocket won't come until 2023. Demand is very high.

I've been lucky enough to test several of Analogue's high-end retro consoles over the last few years, including the Nt mini and the Super Nt, but the Pocket just feels different. Maybe it's because it is company's first portable console, or that it looks so damn sleek, or that it hits home more because I spent so much time playing Game Boy and Game Boy Color when was a kid, but after spending the last two weeks with the Pocket I can say that it's easily the coolest retro gaming console I've ever tested. It's fucking awesome.

Tucker Bowe

The Pocket does exactly what Analogue's other retro consoles do: it plays old games, but upscales them so they look and sound way better. According to Analogue, the Pocket is plays games at 10x the resolution of the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color and 6x the resolution of Game Boy Advanced (although there's a slight difference in screen aspect ratio). And it really does make a huge difference.

When comparing the Pocket side-by-side with my old Game Boy Color it's night and day. The Pocket's screen is a bigger and way more pixel rich, so games are so much more vibrant and colorful. It's also way brighter and, thanks to its backlit LED panel, you can easily play games in the dark. In fact, I found myself wondering how my kid-self was even able to see the screen of the Game Boy Color, which, even in the wrong light, becomes almost impossible to see.

Tucker Bowe

Admittedly, I never owned a Game Boy Advance so I'm not as well-suited to make a comparison, but Analogue did send over some old GBA cartridges (Mario Kart, Castlevania and Advanced Wars 2, specifically) and they worked without a hitch, even if I was frustratingly bad at each. Turns out, old games are hard.

But the Pocket isn't just special for its ability to make old games look good. Analogue gave it a bunch of new features and abilities that make it kind of feel like a new portable console. It has a USB-C charging port, loud stereo speakers, re-mappable buttons and 3.5mm headphone jack so you can play games with sound in private. There's even a built-in synthesizer, which is a cheeky wink to the modding and music communities who have turning original Game Boys into chiptune synths for years.

Tucker Bowe

The most convenient new feature, at least for me, is the Pocket's new sleep/wake feature. It allows you to quick press the power button and put the Pocket in a low power mode instead of turning it off; that way you can quickly boot up and pick up the game right where you left off, like in the middle of a Bomberman level or in the middle of Pokemon battle, without having to reboot the game. So it's a huge deal if you forget to save your game before turning it off, either.

Additionally, Analog is releasing a number of accessories for the Pocket, including various cables that will allow you trade and battle friends, as well as cartridge adapters for Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket and Atari Lynx games as if there weren't enough game options. However, maybe the coolest thing is a dock ($100) that, just like the Nintendo Switch, allows you to play games on your TV with wired or wireless controllers.

Tucker Bowe

The Pocket costs $219, which doesn't actually feel that much considering its cool factor and how well made it is. The only downsides, as far as I can tell, is that the Pocket doesn't have built-in Bluetooth (so no wireless headphones, unless you get an adapter) and it's 6-hour battery life isn't sensational (it takes about two hours to charge its 4,400mAh battery).

The biggest cost will probably be buying the game cartridges, which can be tricky because some of the most popular games can be difficult to find (and there are a lot of fakes out there). But if you have a lot of games already, you're good to go and you've probably ordered the Pocket months ago.

Due to component price increases, Analogue has increased the price of the Pocket from $200 to $219, meaning if you were on the first wave of Pocket preorders you saved $19.

Analogue Pocket

$219.00

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This Is the Futuristic Game Boy You've Been Waiting For - gearpatrol.com

At least someone in the universe isn't alone. But Bestie!

Oh my god, yall the supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies like our Milky Way may have BESTIES.

As researchers at the University of California Los Angeles announced today, theres new evidence to suggest that Sgr A* the supermassive black hole at the center of our home galaxy may have a friend, or neighboring black hole that orbits it.

But first, lets back up to a larger astrophysics theory to get the full picture of this galactic bromance.

Nobody is exactly sure, UCLA astrophysicist Smadar Naoz wrote in the announcement, why most galaxies revolve around supermassive black holes like Sgr A*. Noazs and her teams theory is that they do so because we are orbiting not one but two black holes that may be in similar formations to binary star systems.

The prevailing concept behind galaxy formation is that way back, around 100 million years into the universes existence, when the first stars began dying, their deaths also created the first black holes, whose gravitational pulls were so densethat they became the center of modern galaxies.

Galaxies evolved, Naoz wrote, by colliding and merging with each other and those collisions resulted in supermassive black holes that are exponentially denser than our Sun.

But what if, instead of just creating one black hole around which galaxies formed, these intergalactic mergers and acquisitions resulted in two one supermassive, and one smaller?

Naoz wrote that theres no way our galaxy is host to an orbiting pair of supermassive black holes because, as they study a star called SO-2 that orbits the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way every 16 years, the scientists whove been studying supermassive black holes since their existence was confirmed more than 20 years ago would have found it by now.

But that doesnt mean that a smaller companion black hole cannot still hide there, she wrote, adding that its possible Sgr A*s smaller friend may not alter the orbit of SO-2 in a way we can easily measure.

While its just a theory for now, this insight into galactic formation and its symbiotic relationship with these gigantic atom-eating celestial bodies could change the game when it comes to how we study black holes, both supermassive and otherwise.

And if nothing else, its nice to know that even black holes may not be alone in the universe.

READ MORE:Supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may have a friend [UCLA]

More on black holes: Uh Oh, Turns Out the Universe Might Be Making Black Holes Even Bigger

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Astrophysicist Says That Supermassive Black Holes May Have "Friends" - Futurism

Offering unprecedented versatility, the Nintendo Switch has enabled you to take your game room into the wilds (or the subway) since 2017, and then bring it home to finish up on the TV. A handheld gaming consoles controls have never been so multifaceted. The Switch gives you many ways to play right out of the box. You can attach the Joy-Con controllers to the devices sides for hand-held mobile play, link the device to a television and use the Joy-Cons as two separate controllers, or combine the Joy-Cons into one linked controller.

However, even with all these options, some Nintendo Switch games call for a level of precision that just isnt available with Joy-Cons. The small flat construction of Joy-Cons also might not fit every hand size. Thats why its worth considering pro-style controllers.

With so many ways to play, its not surprising that the Nintendo Switch platform has also inspired an extensive library of available game controllers. Along with pro-style controllers, the market is also rife with often excellent controllers modeled off older systems, like the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), or arcades. In this guide, well steer you through some of the spike-traps and point you to the best Nintendo Switch Controllers out there.

Best Overall: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Best Budget: PowerA Wired Controller Best Retro: 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad Best Joy-Con Replacement: Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro Best For Switch Lite: 8Bitdo Lite Bluetooth Gamepad

Nintendo Switch controllers come in lots of shapes and permutations. For this list I researched controllers from the most popular makers, comparing them for numerous quality and novelty points, and stacking them up against each other.

Nostalgia: With gaming nostalgia as one of the clearest selling points of the Nintendo Switch, the competition includes lots of controllers that hearken to designs from older systems, while usually updating them with the buttons needed for modern Switch gaming. These legacy designs compete with high performance models like the proprietary Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Longevity: While all controllers have the capacity to wear down over time, Joy-Con control sticks have an unusual propensity to drift over time, when compared to the proprietary controllers of other console systems. With lots of use, these controllers sometimes cease tracking the stick as well as theyre supposed to, either from mechanical wear, or issues with digital sensor longevity. This drift can be helped by using a second controller as your main when your Switch is plugged into the television and saving your Joy-Cons for hand-held mobile play.

Precision And Ergonomics: Some of the more nostalgia-oriented controllers, as well as included Joy-Cons, dont offer the best ergonomic precision for every hand type. Pro-style controllers are often the solution to this problem. Modeled after the classic designs found with Xbox and Playstation controllers (as well as Nintendo controllers past, like the GameCube controller), these ergonomically designed performance units yield a level of precision and comfort unavailable from the flat and relatively-squashed bodies and button configurations offered by Joy-Cons.

Bluetooth Connections: Bluetooth connections are always nice when it comes to gaming controllers, but with the Switch Lite they are especially nice. Some of the Bluetooth-compatible models also work with the Nintendo Switch Lite, which doesnt feature detachable Joy-Cons or TV play, and wont connect to most line-based controllers without aftermarket adapters. These Bluetooth-compatible controllers open up the Switch Lite to new types of play.

Related: The Best Gifts for Gamers

Why It Made The Cut: With excellent ergonomics and a tuned button array, this controller feels and works great.

Specs: Connection: Wireless Battery: Charges with USB-C to USB-A Features: HD Rumble, Motion Controls, Amiibo Reader

Pros: Ergonomic design Accurate controls Wireless connection allows it to sync with Switch Lite

Cons: Expensive

Theres a certain precedent thats come to feel like the gold standard in precision gaming controllers. Its that style of controller design that the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller hits on the head so well. For adult hands, this controller just feels good, and with its long-lasting control sticks and performance button builds, it works just as well as it feels which is why this controller is the best Nintendo Switch controller overall. Using Bluetooth wireless technology, this controller is an excellent supplement to your out-of-the-box Joy-Cons for cross-room play when your Switch is hooked up to the TV, but it also functions beautifully as a supplemental controller to the Switch Lite. With the Switch Lite you wont need to buy any sort of aftermarket controller line connection like the Switch Dual USB Playstand By HORI, instead the Pro Controller seamlessly links to your device.

The one downside to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is that it is expensive, and its often on backorder. Sometimes it can be hard to get one of these from a reputable seller. The available stock is often bought up online by scalpers who charge exorbitant fees. Meaning youll have to wait for the next release to get one at a good price.

Why It Made The Cut: This no-frills wired controller still does an excellent job where it counts.

Specs: Connection: Wired 10 ft USB Battery: N/A Features: Lots of fun color options

Pros: Cheap Get one with your favorite Nintendo character on it Good functionality and feels good

Cons: No rumble No Bluetooth Wont work with Switch Lite

Looking for a controller that fits in your hands better than your Joy-Cons? Want to save money on some secondary controllers for multiplayer Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Game Night? This wired Switch controller from PowerA doesnt come with special features like HD Rumble or Motion Controls, but it does do its job, and it does it well making it our pick for the best budget Nintendo Switch controller. With a 10-foot cord, wired doesnt have to mean on the floor at the foot of the TV. The buttons and stick controller work well, and the controller feels good. That means that this controller is situated at the perfect position between price and function to make it an excellent pick to fill out your controller collection without having to empty your wallet. We also love the fun print designs on these controllers, that make it truly yours.

If youre attracted to the lower price point of the PowerA Wired Controller but you want a little more, the PowerA Wireless Enhanced does most of the things we love about the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for a price thats substantially lower.

Why It Made The Cut: This retro controller is packed with features, like Bluetooth compatibility, solid rumble, and motion controls.

Specs: Connection: Wireless Battery: Charges with USB-C Features: Rumble, clickable joysticks, motion controls

Pros: Classic D-Pad Connects to Switch Lite with USBCompatible with PC, Mac, Steam and others

Cons: Might not have the best build quality for great longevity

Miss the glory days of SNES gaming? Some game classics just feel better on the types of controllers they were built for, whether you experienced playing them back in their heyday, or your Dad did. The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad takes you back to 1990 while still delivering the functionality you expect today. Capable of syncing with your Switch Lite with a Bluetooth pairing, or delivering great control wirelessly for a multiplayer session on the home theater, this retro controller is also pairable with PC, Mac, Steam, and Raspberry Pi. The controller charges with a USB-C connection. It serves up powerful rumbles, delivers motion-detection support, and even includes a screenshot button.

8Bitdo isnt constrained to one SNES design port, however. They also offer an incredible arcade-style controller in the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Switch & Windows, which makes a beautiful fighting game controller thats as fun to play on as it is impressive to look at. It might have the best design as a (somewhat) novelty controller of anything on the market. The company also offers an excellent retro option with handles in the 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller, which does everything the Sn30 does with a slightly different design.

Why It Made The Cut: With its ergonomic design, these Joy-Con replacements make your Nintendo Switch more comfortable than ever in handheld mode.

Specs: Connection: Plug in Battery: N/A Features: Larger buttons, assignable rear triggers

Pros: Great ergonomics for larger hands Less drift issues with control stick

Cons: No rumble No motion support

If youre like many of us and the Nintendo Switch with Joy-Cons is just a little too small for long gaming sessions, then the Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro is a solid ergonomic solution making it the best Joy-Con replacement. These large Joy-Con replacements can revolutionize hand-held gaming on the system for those with larger hands. With rear triggers, solid control sticks unmarred by some of the drift tendencies youll find in out-of-the-box Joy-Cons, and mappable buttons, this controller makes your Switch feel like a Pro controller even in handheld mode.

That said, these do come with some drawbacks. Unlike the Joy-Cons, these arent removable for play when your device is connected to a television. The lack of rumble and motion support can also be an issue, as many games make motion support a critical part of how theyre played. However for shooters, and twitchy fast-paced games, these responsive Joy-Con replacements can really make the difference.

Why It Made The Cut: With a remarkably clicky D-pad control, this controller is meant as a supplemental SNES-style controller that does a sincerely great job at that.

Specs: Connection: Bluetooth Battery: Rechargeable USB-C Features: Clicky D-Pad, rear triggers

Pros: Optimized for 2D play Works with Switch Lite Bluetooth compatible

Cons: No joy sticks Missing some of the higher end features

Often on the road with the kids? Like 2D party games? This is a controller meant for specific situations and types of gameplay. While the 8Bitdo Lite Bluetooth Gamepad will never compare to a pro-style controller for shooters, its not meant to. This retro controller is Bluetooth compatible and perfect for group play on any of the Switchs 2D multiplayer games. Pairable with a Nintendo Switch Lite, this works great for multiplayer sessions in the back of the car. Its also an excellent choice for anyone who simply misses the feel of old SNES controllers and wants to experience some classic platformers on the controller type they were meant for. With an excellent clicky D-Pad, this will live up to your memories of SNES controllers past.

For something even more portable, the Zero 2 brings an even tinier controller. At an extremely low price point for a USB controller, its a perfect solution when youve got lots of hands crowded around the Switch Lite.

While some controllers like the PowerA Wireless Enhanced will work well for most any type of game, there are others that excel at specific genres. If youre a platformer fan, or 2D-party-game connoisseur (and Nintendo Switch is the right place to be if youre either), the 8Bitdo Lite Bluetooth Gamepad has one of the nicest clicky D-Pads weve seen. In some games, a clicky D-Pad might be more important than all the rest. If youre a fan of high-end shooters, you should consider investing in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with its excellent build quality.

Right out of the box the Nintendo Switch comes with some excellent controllers. The Joy-Cons are innovative. Compatible with so many modes of play, youll be ready for lots of genres and play situations without investing a dime more. However, Joy-Cons do present limitations with their small size and their propensity for joy-stick drift. For certain games, you might want something more.

With the Switch OLED hitting the market in October 2021, the platform now has three main families. That said, most controllers that work on any Nintendo Switch will work on all, with the Switch Lites limitations being the exception. The Switch Lite only connects to USB controllers or controllers connected via the Switch Dual USB Playstand By HORI.

Q: Do you need extra Joy-Cons for Switch?No, the included Joy-Cons work perfectly well and even work for multiplayer. However, you can always add more or sub in a different type of controller for other play options.

Q: How much does a Nintendo Switch controller cost?Most Nintendo Switch Controllers cost between $20 and $100. For most users, it shouldnt be necessary to spend more than $100. Youll be hard pressed to find a really good controller for less than $20.

Q: What controller is best for Fortnite Nintendo Switch?We love the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for Fortnite. Its perfectly calibrated for shooters with its quality control sticks and its ergonomic design makes it fit the hand excellently. Alternatively, the PowerA Wireless Enhanced is a great option that has many of the same features as the Pro.

Q: What controller is better for small hands?For really small hands we love the 8Bitdo Zero 2 which makes for an excellent Bluetooth compatible group controller for the Switch Lite. The performance 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro is also a solid choice that updates a classic SNES-inspired design with modern features.

Q: Is a Pro Controller or GameCube Controller better?GameCube controllers do make excellent controllers; they even have motion controls and rumble. The PowerA Wireless GameCube Style Controller also makes a nice contemporary alternative. However, the Pro is still our pick as the best overall controller for Nintendo Switch, and thats because of its top-line ergonomics, excellent button and control stick design, and special features that bring it up-to-date in a way that a classic GameCube controller just isnt quite.

With its emphasis on versatility and nostalgia, the Nintendo Switch remains one of the most exciting platforms in modern gaming. Its community of controllers comes with a breadth of options that sails beyond the competition. No matter your play style the Switch has something for you. With the OLED edition updating the systems visuals, the platform just keeps getting better. For the best performance Joy-Con controller alternative out there, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is our overall favorite. However, we cant help but love the interesting retro-inspired updates that 8Bitdo keeps dishing out, and the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad is no different. Whether youre into high-end shooters, or 2D classic platformers, theres a Nintendo Switch Controller out there for you.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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Dominate the Competition with the Best Nintendo Switch Controllers - Futurism