### UPDATE 13/08/2021
As somehow the Switch Up Game Enhancer gained notoriety for its game enhancing properties, I thought it necessary to give it another go. So, without further ado, let’s update the device! V2.1.9 is the latest firmware with support for the new XBOX and PS5 controllers among other improvements. Updating was quick and painless and the device was ready to go.
How does the Switch Up Game Enhancer work? Well, it’s actually pretty simple:
- Connect a controller to the Switch Up.
- Activate one of these modes on the device:
- Pokemon Sword/Shield
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Fortnite
- Mario Odyssey
- The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
- Macro Mode
- Activate the mod you want to use.
- Enjoy!
The Switch Up device will now send controller inputs to your Switch. Depending on the game, this will make movement easier, e.g. swimming in Mario Odyssey or remove a tedious process like egg breeding in Pokemon Sword and Shield while you do something else.
Since the number of shiny Pokemon in my possession is still low, I tried out egg breeding.
Well, I’m happy to report that it does indeed work as advertised. While I enjoyed reading a book, the Switch Up took care of taking eggs out of the nursery, hatching them and placing them into a box. And kept doing that continuously until I interrupted the Switch Up. This is a total game changer for busy people. I’m impressed!
What’s really got me swooning, however, is the fact that the Switch Up now offers a macro mode where you can record controller input and then replay it. This way, you can use the device to automate things in other games, too. This opens up a myriad of possibilities!
Updated verdict
While other dongles let you connect non-Switch controllers at a cheaper rate, the game enhancements offered by the Switch Up are alone worth the price!
### Original article continues below
Introducing: Switch Up Game Enhancer
Sometimes things sound very good on paper. That sentiment directly applies to the central concept of the Switch Up Game Enhancer: use your older or non-Nintendo controller on your Nintendo Switch. That isn’t all the device claims to do, though. It can use mods to give you an advantage in your favourite games. That’s what the Switch Up Game Enhancer promises.
To elaborate, the cute device promises to connect your Wii U Pro controller, PS3/PS4 controllers and your Xbox 360/ Xbox One controllers to your Switch. Your Joy-Con and Pro Controller are also supported. As an added benefit, Collective Minds claims that the Switch Up also helps you play Pokémon Sword and Shield, Fortnite, Breath Of The Wild and Super Mario Odyssey by automating certain button presses and navigational inputs (aka mods). Curiosity killed the cat and I ended up ordering the device to breathe new life into my Wii U Pro controller.
First impressions, first problems
Before connecting the device to your dock, you have to enable “Pro Controller wired communication” in the settings. Then, simply plug in the Switch Up, press the sync button on it, press the sync button on the controller and that’s it. It’s that simple!
That done, I wanted to play a few minutes of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I loaded up the game to run around a bit and catch some bugs or fell some trees. However, running was out of the question. My island inhabitant crawled along even with the B-button pressed.
I decided to switch games and loaded up Trine. Here movement was fine, but controlling the shield, bow or magic with the right stick was totally off. Something was definitely wrong!
What’s up with the thing?
Let’s test everything in detail. The D-Pad worked fine as did all the buttons. No problems there. Both sticks, however, gave me grief and a look into the calibration option of the Switch directly showed why. Even when moved all the way, the Switch registered only a halfway movement. That would explain the crawling in Animal Crossing. I tried calibrating the sticks, but that proved to be impossible.
A quick look on the Collective Minds website showed that there was a new firmware available. Perhaps this would help? Updating the Switch Up is done with the help of a firmware update tool which is available for Windows and Apple computers. The small program will automatically install the latest firmware on the device once it is connected. In my case the firmware went from v2.0.2 to v2.1.3, being the latest one available. For the record, my Switch is at v10.
New firmware seals the deal?
So, did updating the Switch Up help? Yes and no. The sticks on my Wii U Pro Controller worked better, but a maximum input was still not registered as a maximum movement on the Switch. Recalibration was also still impossible. What a bummer!
As even the basic functionality of the device didn’t work sufficiently, I did not go on to test any of the further enhancement claims (aka mods). The Switch Up Game Enhancer claims a lot, but does not deliver on the most basic functionality. That’s truly a shame.
I think your post is real trash, I have this thing running perfect and shiny hunting for me on pokemon sword as we speak. It’s a godsend
Thanks for your comment. If you could articulate your thoughts a little, we’d love to hear what you did differently.
Thanking him for his comment and then criticizing him for being passive aggressive is passive aggressive.
Anyways, the device works fine for me too. It took a little bit of figuring out at first too as positioning and requirements have to be very precise or it would not work. Also, patience is required at time as developers will sometimes try to patch out devices like this meant to exploit games. So sometimes you just have to wait for another update as it won’t work until then depending on the game you’re using it on.