Skip to main content

Nintendo Switch controllers will soon be compatible with Google Chrome

Nintendo Switch controllers, namely the Joy-Cons and the Pro controller, will soon be supported by Google Chrome, showcasing Google’s future plans for gaming.

A new commit titled “Improve support for Nintendo Switch gamepads” was spotted in Chromium’s Gerrit source code management by 9to5Google. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller had early support on Linux, but the new code looks to expand compatibility by adding the Joy-Cons.

Instead of just improving support for the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, which may be connected through USB and Bluetooth, the commit also seeks to add Chrome support for Bluetooth connections with Joy-Cons, both as a pair and as separate devices, and even the Joy-Con Charging Grip through USB.

Chrome’s support is possible through the standard Gamepad API, which means that developers will be able to easily enable Nintendo Switch controllers in their games and apps. There is no definite timeline yet as to when the support for the Nintendo Switch Pro controllers and Joy-Cons will be added to Google Chrome.

The addition of support for the devices to Google Chrome is not really a groundbreaking move as of now, as there are a limited number of online games and apps that will offer an improved experience through Nintendo Switch controllers. The importance of the code lies in Google’s future plans in gaming.

Google is set to be part of the Game Developers Conference, where it will reportedly reveal its gaming hardware for Project Yeti, which includes the Project Stream game streaming service and a console that will utilize it.

Project Stream ended its three-month demo in January, in which gamers played Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on their Google Chrome browsers. The commit for Nintendo Switch controller support is likely tied to future iterations of Project Stream, to allow games to use the controllers on the game streaming service.

The code for Nintendo Switch controller support on Chrome comes after the discovery of patent for a controller that may come with the rumored Google gaming console. The document, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, reveals a design that looks similar to the PlayStation 4 DualShock controller, with Yanko Design editor Sarang Sheth creating unofficial renders on what the Google gaming controller may look like.

Editors' Recommendations

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is getting a very red Nintendo Switch OLED
An image of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition.

Nintendo is launching a Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition in October. The news capped off the company's Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct today, which shared new details on the upcoming platformer.

This new themed version of the latest Nintendo Switch iteration is completely red across the system and Joy-Cons. On the back of it, players can find a silhouette of Mario and hidden coins. It's not as detailed as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's OLED model, but it does look very sleek. This Mario Red Edition system will come out on October 6, two weeks ahead of Super Mario Bros. Wonder's release.

Read more
All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Two squads of heroes clash in an Overwatch 2 trailer.

Cross-platform support is becoming more important in the world of video games. Multiplayer hits like Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite have pushed crossplay into the limelight, and now most AAA multiplayer games release with at least partial cross-platform support. Finding every cross-platform game is no easy feat, though, so we did the hard work to bring you a comprehensive list of games that support crossplay.

Unfortunately, there aren't any rules when it comes to crossplay, so each game handles the feature a little differently. To make matters more confusing, certain backward-compatible games on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still support crossplay on the most recent hardware, even if there isn't an official release for that hardware.

Read more
Pokémon Stadium 2 and Trading Card Game are now on Switch with online play
Ash holds a Pokeball while a lot of iconic Pokemon stand behind him.

Nintendo Switch Online just added two retro classics, as Pokémon Stadium 2 and Pokémon Trading Card Game are now available on the service. Both games have been updated to feature online multiplayer.

Both announcements come from today's Pokémon Presents stream, which primarily focused on updates to mobile games and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Nintendo Switch Online got a small block during the presentation, when it was revealed that the two games were dropping on Switch shortly after the stream.

Read more