Nintendo Switch's Pro controller looks like an upgrade from the Wii U Pro

In the reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch, the newest console from the company, we got a few glimpses of the Pro controller that players can use while gaming at home. The Nintendo Switch will come with two detachable controllers by default, but the Pro is another option for people who prefer a more traditional gameplay experience. Although it looks similar in shape and size to the Wii and Wii U Pro controller, there are a couple of differences to note.

The Body

The image below is of the new pro controller that will accompany the Nintendo Switch. It's black, has average-sized grips, and features a D-Pad, two analog sticks and assortment of buttons on its face. It's pretty average-looking, but compared to the Wii U Pro controller, there are some noticeable upgrades.

For one, the side grips where you'd rest your hands actually look like grips. The Wii U Pro controller, pictured below, has shorter, curvier arms to grab onto that kind of melded into the rest of the controller's body. It's also a little bit wider than the narrower grips that can be seen on the Switch controller. While the Wii U Pro controller has a funkier design — a core part of Nintendo's history — the Switch Pro controller kind of looks like a hybrid between an Xbox One and a PlayStation 4 controller.

Nintendo

The Analog Sticks

Unlike the Wii U Pro controller, the Nintendo Switch has moved one of the analog sticks down to the right part corner of the body on the Pro. Again, because the grips appear to be a little more defined and separated from the actual body, the controller should be a little more comfortable than playing on the Wii U Pro. This isn't the first time that Nintendo has thrown a stick in the bottom right corner of a controller, though. The GameCube features a yellow "C" stick that sits underneath the A, B, X and Y Buttons.

The A, B, X and Y Buttons

On the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, the A, B, X and Y buttons have been moved from where they are on the standard Joy-Con controllers. The Wii U Pro controller had a similar set up to the PlayStation 4's controller, which features two analog sticks side by side. Unlike the DualShock 4, however, the analog sticks are placed at the top of the controller, with the A, B, X and Y buttons just underneath it. On the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, an Xbox One approach has been taken, as seen in the photos below. The A, B, X and Y buttons have been moved to the top right corner of the controller's body, with the right analog stick moving directly below it.

The Face

The Wii U Pro controller features four buttons on its face, with three sitting side-by-side and a fourth button below it. The top row contained the select, home and start buttons, and the power button was featured below in between the D-Pad and the A, B, X and Y buttons. On the new controller, the start and select buttons, which are represented by the plus and minus symbols, are separated with one on each side of the controller. Directly underneath those buttons are two more, which are presumably the power and home buttons, but it's difficult to say which is which from the images we've seen.

One thing that appears hasn't changed on both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers is the placement of the lights that inform players which controller they're holding in multiplayer scenarios. Both are on the bottom of the controller's face.

The Trigger and Shoulder Buttons

The Wii U Pro controller features right and left shoulder buttons as well as right and left trigger buttons. Although it's difficult to tell for certain based on the image above, it looks like that will be the same case with the Nintendo Switch Pro controllers. In the .gif below, the player can be seen playing a version of Splatoon and resting his hand on the right trigger used to shoot while running. We can also glimpse the shoulder buttons from the close-up on the controller.

Nintendo didn't release much more information about the Switch, including a specific release date for the console or how much it will be. More information is expected to be released ahead of the March 2017 launch.