Super Smash Bros. Ultimate supports up to eight players in a local battle on one Nintendo Switch. That is the number of players in the match—not a promise that eight separate wireless controllers can always be paired. You can use a single Joy-Con per player, a Joy-Con pair, a Pro Controller, or wired GameCube controllers with the required adapter.
How many players can play on one Switch?
Nintendo says, “Up to 8 players can use one console to battle.” This limit applies to a local Multiplayer Smash Battle on a single console. Nintendo Support explains how to start a local or online game.
Which controllers can each player use?
Nintendo’s local multiplayer setup supports these controller arrangements:
- One Joy-Con: A single Joy-Con works horizontally for one player. Register it using the SL and SR buttons.
- A pair of Joy-Con: One player can use a left-and-right pair. Register the pair using L and R.
- Nintendo Switch Pro Controller: One Pro Controller can be registered for one player using L and R.
- Wired GameCube Controller: Use a GameCube Controller Adapter; Nintendo’s setup instructions describe the adapter requirements below.
For Nintendo’s controller registration steps, see its Super Smash Bros. Ultimate multiplayer instructions.
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Do Joy-Con count as one controller or two?
It depends on what you mean by “controller.” A left-and-right Joy-Con pair can operate as one player’s controller arrangement, but Nintendo counts the two wireless Joy-Con as two controllers when describing how many controllers the Switch can connect—even when they are attached to a Joy-Con grip. A Pro Controller counts as one. The eight-player game limit is about players in a local battle, so it is distinct from the console’s paired-controller count. Nintendo notes that the number of wireless controllers the console can connect can vary with controller type, features, and local communication. See its controller pairing guidance.
Do the limits change for local wireless or online play?
Yes. The one-console local limit is not the limit for every multiplayer mode. Nintendo’s official US listing gives these mode limits:
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| Mode | Player limit | What the limit refers to |
|---|---|---|
| Local Smash Battle | 2–8 players | Players battling on one console, per Nintendo Support. |
| Local wireless | 2–8 players | The overall mode count on Nintendo’s official US game listing; this is separate from an eight-player battle on one console. |
| Online | 2–4 players | Overall online player count on Nintendo’s official US game listing. Nintendo Support says each console can contribute 1–2 players. |
For online play, Nintendo says a Nintendo Account and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership are required. The limits above are from Nintendo’s US Super Smash Bros. Ultimate listing and its multiplayer support instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do you need to connect eight wired GameCube controllers?
Nintendo says a GameCube Controller Adapter is required for wired GameCube controllers. One adapter connects four controllers. To connect up to eight at once, Nintendo describes using two adapters with a self-powered USB hub. This is an option for a wired GameCube setup, not a requirement for ordinary multiplayer.
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Which setup makes sense for your group?
- Use one Joy-Con per person if you want to share the Joy-Con you already have and play with simple horizontal controls.
- Choose a Joy-Con pair or Pro Controller per player if you want each player to have that controller arrangement. A Pro Controller is supported, but it is not required to reach eight players.
- Choose wired GameCube controllers if you already use them and have the adapter hardware. Reaching eight wired controllers requires the two-adapter and self-powered-hub arrangement Nintendo describes.
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