The dongle has earned a well-earned reputation for being a nuisance. These are often expensive and annoying to deal with, but for gamers, there’s one thing I like to recommend, which is to do neither. 8BitDo’s $20 USB Adapter 2 lets you wirelessly link controllers to the Switch 2 that would otherwise be unsupported, like the Sony DualSense (complete with rumble and motion controls), Microsoft’s latest Xbox gamepad, and more. You can plug it into the Switch 2’s dock or use a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter to connect directly to the console.
This is great for saving money, because I can just use the controller I already have instead of buying a new one. And I sometimes forget I’m using a PS5 controller in games like sniping 3 Because its motion controls feel exactly like the controller made for the Switch.
There is another similar dongle available which is slightly cheaper and much smaller. The Gulikit HyperLink Gen 2 USB-A Adapter comes with the company’s TT Pro and TT Max controllers, or you can buy it alone for $16.99 on Amazon. It is compatible with Xbox controllers and PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers. Similarly, you can plug it into a Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Steam Deck, or other handheld PCs and Android devices. But GullyKit’s list of supported controllers isn’t as extensive as 8BitDo’s, which dates back to the PS3 and Wii era and also includes a fleet of wireless controllers.
Which is nice, it has a few features that neither dongle offers: remote console wake-up (you have to manually turn on the console first to pair the controller) or wireless audio (the 3.5mm headphone jacks in the DualSense and Xbox controllers are useless when paired with either). Finally, you can only connect one controller to each dongle at a time (you’ll need to buy two to add a second controller). I don’t think any of these are deal breakers, but they’re important to know about before buying.
Then there are things that only 8BitDo’s dongle can do. For one, you can customize many non-8BitDo controller models with its free Ultimate software, including button remapping, macros, vibration intensity, trigger range, and stick sensitivity. Currently, Gulikit does not offer any such software, although its PR manager, Olivia Chen, told me that the company aims to release Android and iOS apps with similar functionality in the second quarter of 2026. Additionally, 8BitDo models let you choose input button combinations that trigger different connection modes, including Xinput, Dinput, Mac mode, and Switch mode.
What Gullykit does for it is to allow rumble in some games (i.e. Hollow Knight: SilksongThe game I’ve been playing lately) EZSMX feels like the HD rumble offered in good Switch controllers like the S10. By comparison, 8BitDo makes this game’s thunder feel like an afterthought. However, other games rely on the dongle to provide a better-feeling rumble effect. Donkey Kong BananzaThe intense rumbling at even the slightest movement feels like garbage on the DualSense, no matter which dongle it’s connected to.
If you ask GullyKit, the Hyperlink Gen 2’s biggest feature is its PC-exclusive low-latency wireless connection. This can increase the controller polling rate (or how quickly your controller input is sent to the gaming device) beyond what the console can handle, and it’s also supposed to reduce input latency. The improved latency didn’t have as much of an impact as I’d hoped, though I did enjoy the easier setup and better connection overall — something that both dongles (and countless Bluetooth dongles made for PCs) can offer.
For some people, buying a new controller that’s guaranteed to work well with your Switch 2 is worth the extra cost. If that’s you, allow me to direct your attention to my buying guide full of good but relatively affordable Switch 2 controllers. But if you’re keen to repurpose hardware you already have, these low-cost dongles are worth trying out.
Photography by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge
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