Nintendo kicked off the new year with a double announcement that blends hardware flair with first‑party excitement. The company revealed the first alternate color variants for its Nintendo Switch 2 Joy‑Con controllers — Light Purple and Light Green — and confirmed that both will debut alongside the upcoming sports title Mario Tennis Fever on February 12, 2026.
The announcement marks the first major accessory refresh since the Switch 2 launched in mid‑2025, and it signals Nintendo’s intent to re‑embrace the vibrant, collectible hardware aesthetic that defined the original Switch era.
🌈 Pastel Aesthetic Arrives for Switch 2
The newly announced Joy‑Con 2 set features a pastel Light Purple (left) and Light Green (right) pairing, complete with matching wrist straps. The controllers are priced at $99.99 and are available for preorder through the Nintendo Store and major retailers.
While the color palette is soft and playful, the design includes an unusual twist: the color accents are placed on the inner rails of the controllers rather than the outer shells. This means that when the Joy‑Cons are attached to the Switch 2 console, only subtle hints of color remain visible around the thumbsticks.
Despite the cosmetic update, the hardware remains functionally identical to the standard Joy‑Con 2 set. Features include:
- Motion controls
- HD Rumble
- The dedicated C Button for GameChat
- Mouse‑style pointer controls for compatible titles
Nintendo’s decision to start with pastel tones mirrors the early accessory strategy of the original Switch, which saw a steady rollout of themed and seasonal Joy‑Con colors throughout its lifespan.
🎾 Mario Tennis Fever Serves as the Launch Companion
The timing of the new Joy‑Con colors is no coincidence. Nintendo confirmed that the pastel controllers will launch the same day as Mario Tennis Fever, the next entry in the long‑running Mario sports franchise.
While Nintendo’s social media announcement (referenced via the provided link) was not retrievable through automated tools, the search results confirm that the company is positioning Mario Tennis Fever as a major early‑2026 release, likely aiming to replicate the success of Mario Tennis Aces on the original Switch.
The pairing of a sports title with new hardware colors is a familiar Nintendo strategy — one that historically boosts both accessory sales and game visibility.
🛒 Pricing, Availability, and Market Context
The Light Purple/Light Green Joy‑Con 2 set:
- Price: $99.99
- Release Date: February 12, 2026
- Preorders: Live now at Nintendo Store and major retailers
Notably, the Switch 2 Joy‑Con line saw a price increase in 2025 due to “market conditions,” raising the standard MSRP from $94.99 to $99.99. The new pastel variants match this updated pricing.
With only two official Joy‑Con 2 color options available so far in 2026, this pastel set represents the first expansion of the accessory lineup since launch.
📈 What This Means for the Switch 2 Ecosystem
Nintendo’s accessory strategy for the Switch 2 has been more conservative than the original console’s early years, likely due to the system’s redesigned controller architecture — which is not backward‑compatible with first‑generation Joy‑Cons.
Introducing new colors now suggests:
- Nintendo is ready to broaden the accessory ecosystem
- More themed or game‑specific Joy‑Con variants may follow
- The company is aligning hardware refreshes with major software beats, starting with Mario Tennis Fever
Given the Switch brand’s history, fans can expect this to be the first of many color drops.
