The Poké Ball Plus is a

video game controller A game controller, gaming controller, or simply controller, is an input device used with video games or entertainment systems to provide input to a video game, typically to control an object or character in the game. Before the seventh generation ...

based on a

Poké Ball Poke ( Hawaiian for "to slice" or "cut crosswise into pieces"; sometimes anglicised as 'poké' to aid pronunciation) is diced raw fish served either as an appetizer or a main course and is one of the popular dishes in Hawaii. Traditional form ...

, a device used in the ''

Pokémon (an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise. In terms of ...

fictional universe A fictional universe, or fictional world, is a self-consistent setting with events, and often other elements, that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed, or fictional realm (or world). Fictional universes may ...

to catch Pokémon. It was developed and manufactured by

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

and released on November 16, 2018. The controller is compatible with the video games ''Pokémon GO'', '' Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!'', and ''

Pokémon Sword and Shield and are 2019 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. They are the first installments in the eighth generation of the ''Pokémon'' video game series ...

.'' It substitutes the ball's button for an analog stick that can be pressed inwards to function as the A button, while a hidden button atop the ball acts as the B button. It also contains

motion sensors Motion detection is the process of detecting a change in the position of an object relative to its surroundings or a change in the surroundings relative to an object. It can be achieved by either mechanical or electronic methods. When it is done by ...

to simulate throwing the ball,

HD Rumble Joy-Con are the primary game controllers for the Nintendo Switch video game console. They consist of two individual units, each containing an analog stick and an array of buttons. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch con ...

feedback, and

LEDs A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (cor ...

and speakers to mimic a Pokémon being caught. It has further functionality as a '' Pokémon GO Plus'', allowing players to catch Pokémon without using their phone directly. The legendary Pokémon Mew is included digitally with every Poké Ball Plus. The controller received positive reviews from critics, who highly recommended it to fans of the franchise due to its high quality, despite its lack of functionality elsewhere.

Features

Each controller contains an

accelerometer An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is accele ...

, gyro sensor,

, speakers, and LEDs. They can function in a similar manner to a

Joy-Con Joy-Con are the primary game controllers for the Nintendo Switch video game console. They consist of two individual units, each containing an analog stick and an array of buttons. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch cons ...

while being used with the

Nintendo Switch The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...

games. While it can be used as a full one-handed controller in ''Let's Go'', its compatibility with ''Sword and Shield'' is more limited, with the player able to use it to unlock Mew, as well as load Pokémon into it and take them for a walk to earn bonus item rewards.

Release

The Poké Ball Plus was initially priced at $50 USD, and bundled with copies of ''Let's Go'' for $100 USD. It later dropped to a price of $40 USD for a limited time.

Reception

Damien McFerran of ''

Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...

'' rated the Poké Ball Plus 7/10 stars, calling it part of Nintendo's unique legacy to link players and software in new and lucrative ways, citing the

DK Bongos GameCube accessories include first-party releases from Nintendo, and third-party devices, since the GameCube's launch in 2001. First-party and licensed Controllers GameCube controller The GameCube controller was released alongside the console ...

as another example. Calling it one of the most perfect realizations of any ''Pokémon''-based device, he said that it made players really feel like a trainer. However, he criticized its lack of precision compared to the Switch's Joy-Con controls, saying that even a single Joy-Con was more precise, and said it was only truly useful if players were also using it for ''Pokémon GO''. Sam Loveridge of ''

GamesRadar+ ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...

'' rated the controller 4.5/5 stars, calling it a "must-buy" for fans, and saying that it was everything his "inner child" imagined it would be. He praised its matte finish, calling it a "tactile joy". Allegra Frank of ''

Polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...

'' called the controller "charming", but "not as fun as it looks", calling its inputs "awkward" and "limited", and remarking on its small size. She nevertheless called the idea "rad", and the controller's design "very, very pretty".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poke Ball Plus Pokémon Nintendo controllers Products introduced in 2018 Nintendo Switch accessories