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I recently picked up the CRKD Nitro Deck, an accessory that promises to make Joy-Con drift a thing of the past. But what exactly is it, and how well does it live up to expectations?
Introducing the CRKD Nitro Deck
The Nintendo Switch hasset the gold standard for handheld gamingsince its release in 2017. In that time, however, one flaw has persisted: Joy-Con drift. Although there areways to mitigate Joy-Con drift, there is no good solution to the problem. But there is another great workaround in the form of theNitro Deck from CRKD.
The Nitro Deck retails for $59.99. It’s a big plastic dock that houses your Switch tablet; i.e. what’s left when you remove the Joy-Con. WithHall effect joysticks to combat stick drift, the Deck upgrades your basic Switch experience.
You can buy the Nitro Deck in various colors, including a basic black and various retro editions that echo controllers of the past. There’s also a newer revision, the Nitro Deck+, that launched in June 2024.
What’s So Good About the Deck?
The Nitro Deck has reignited my love for handheld gaming, rescuing my Switch from a permanently-docked life. The main draw, of course, is those joysticks which promise zero stick drift. They certainly feel solid and the replaceable tops are a nice touch.
The Hall effect sensors use magnets to detect the position you push a joystick in, rather than using physical components that are prone to wear and tear. Drift can easily render a joystick unusable as it automatically registers false inputs, ruining your gaming sessions. Anything that even reduces drift, let alone eliminates it completely, is a massive win.
There’s no doubt that the Nitro Deck is a big unit; after all, it’s getting towards the gigantic size of the Steam Deck. But most of the extra volume is in its thickness, and this is due to the larger, sculpted sides that house the controls. It’s maybe not quite as ergonomic as the Pro Controller, but the improvement over the stock Switch is huge.
With more comfortable grips, a proper d-pad, and larger buttons and triggers, the Deck is a joy to hold and use. It adds a bit of weight, but not as much as you might think; those Joy-Con that it replaces are surprisingly heavy for their size.
What Else Does the Deck Have to Offer?
The Deck’s core job is to provide a more comfortable, lasting experience and it more than delivers. But there are a few nice additions that provide even more value.
On the reverse of the Deck are four additional buttons, within easy reach of your middle and index fingers. You can configure these buttons to produce any other input, including combinations and sequences.
The Deck connects via your Switch’s USB-C port, which restricts that port’s use. But the Deck provides a throughput port so that you may still charge your Switch. It also provides an output port so you can use the Deck as a wired controller with a docked Switch.
If you want to register your Deck, you can use the official Android app to scan the device. A nice touch is that the app will give you information about the specific Nitro Deck you register, including its rarity. This might come in handy if you ever consider selling the device on.
I won’t be selling mine, though, that’s for certain. The Deck has not just made handheld gaming possible for me once more, but it’s made the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable.
