CRKD Nitro Deck+ brings new features. It’s worth it?
Nitro Deck+, from Embracer-owned CRKD, follows the original Deck, a popular controller option for the Switch. That one-piece Joy-Con replacement stick has the Hall Effect stick, a more Steam Deck-like look, and an entire line of aesthetics for style or nostalgia. We has reviewed in the first model, but now CRKD is looking to address some of the shortcomings with this new revision.
Let’s start by talking about the new controls! Nitro Deck+ swaps the position of the joystick, using a symmetrical layout. Obviously this is a big ask, but ultimately it’s a matter of choice. It’s true that many games prioritize analog controls, and all the extra programmable buttons are there to let you keep your thumbs on the joystick at all times, but this change also differs from the default scheme. of Switch and can lead to some strange things. The Switch’s basic configuration gives players some scope to hold it in different ways, allowing you to position your hand to comfortably reach the buttons regardless of layout or hand size. The Nitro Deck+ wants you to hold it a specific way, and that’s higher than you’ll want when you need to use the D-pad and face buttons.
There are two new inputs, which CRKD calls “secondary buttons,” on the side of the analog stick. They can be used, in addition to the four paddles on the back, and that mobile app allows you to rearrange them as desired. Honestly, we think we’ll have a hard time finding a use case for the new side buttons! They are in a strange position and don’t make much sense in the course of action. But combined with the stick swap button on the right and the general heft of the Nitro Deck, we felt comfortable using them to cycle through menus and prompts between takes.
While testing this feature, we are also researching Super Monkey Ball: Banana War review, and it’s a great test of control precision. For context, we’re currently using the Switch Lite and Pro Controller, both of which have been around for a few years, so comparing the others might not be entirely fair. That said, the Nitro Deck+’s buttons also feel stiff in a way that could use some breaking in, so maybe things will balance out in the end. However, even without the hassle of app settings, Deck+ still offers more granular and precise control, and makes navigating the panel a little easier, but noticeably so. easier.
About half of the inputs – A, B, X, Y, ZL, ZR and menu buttons – are glossy, while the D-pad, bumpers and secondary keys are matte. It’s definitely a priority, but we’re fans of the matte material for long-term use. It’s certainly a little strange to see the device splitting the difference like this. The first model was the same so that’s what CRKD was committed to doing.
The Bluetooth functionality added in this new version may not be what you expect. It won’t let you use it as a proper Pro Controller, separate from the console, which might be in case you need another pad for multiplayer. There’s no internal battery so you Maybe use it, but you will need to plug it in with a cable. What it does doHowever, it does allow you to connect it to the company’s app. This is for firmware updates and custom control mappings, and with so many extra buttons, easier remapping could be a nice thing. (There are also instructions for remapping buttons without the app in the online manual, which reminds us of the good old days of universal TV remotes.)
Our experience with the app was a little spotty—it would lose connection with the device pretty quickly—but it worked to remap inputs. Of course, to get there, you have to either get past the company’s nearly unbearable “collection” strategy, register your device to an account, and log your “responses” with the device’s serial number, or say no to about 12 system prompts trying to access your microphone and camera. Oofa doofa, this is an option.
The Nitro Deck+ also adds a “docking mode,” which again comes with some caveats. You’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter, which the company sells separately. And theoretically, can you still use the controls while doing that? But that really depends on the length of your cables. The HDMI and power cables need to be plugged in at all times, so that doesn’t seem ideal. And in our testing, even when we were sitting right next to the monitor, small movements of our hands would jostle the cables and momentarily lose the connection.
In fact, we actually call it more “dock mode.” Doubling as a dock replacement, so you can continue assembling the Nitro Deck+ or so you can plug in a secondary display without buying another first-party display, might be useful! But in those cases, we’d probably still recommend using another controller. The more sturdy kickstand on the back of the device is also a significant help for such a use case.
Now there’s an eject button too? It doesn’t push the system out of the Deck the way you want it to, but that’s probably not something they could design. Instead, it’s a latch that you pull to hold the Switch tighter, so it fits snugly and lets you take the system out when you need it. Since it just plugs into a USB-C port and acts like a wired Pro Controller instead of clicking the Joy-Con stick, it’s likely that CRKD had to come up with some sort of scheme like this to be safer.
Nitro Deck+’s aesthetic choices have a “where do we go from here” section, after all the choice options of the first model. There are two colors available for the new device at launch, with our review device having a clear white front, solid white back and black buttons. The base of the analog joystick is also metallic purple, for some reason? These options could absolutely work for you, but they aren’t the top picks for nostalgia or safe one-color options.
CRKD’s approach has its benefits, but it comes at a cost: weight. It felt comfortable for a while, but having spent so much time in recent years with the Switch Lite, it’s become a great platform for longer sessions. Whether it’s the Steam Deck or the Ayaneo Slide, a heavier portable is still in our rotation! And this feels a lot like those, with good grip and greater control. But our wrists often weaken before the battery runs out. If you’re playing a game that focuses more on face buttons, you’ll need to use a grip which makes the device heavier on the top, which adds to the effect a bit.
CRKD Nitro Deck+ is available through The company’s web site for $69.99 or a bundle that includes an HDMI adapter for an additional $10. For more information about the Nitro Deck line of accessories, check out Look at the original model.
