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Yes—Super Smash Bros. Ultimate supports one Joy-Con per player in multiplayer. Hold the Joy-Con sideways and press SL and SR when the game asks you to choose a controller. Nintendo’s instructions confirm this for local and online multiplayer; they do not separately confirm the same setup for solo play.
How to use one Joy-Con in Smash Ultimate
- Start a local Smash battle and go to fighter selection, or enter an online mode and choose the player setup.
- At the controller-selection prompt, hold one Joy-Con horizontally.
- Press the SL and SR buttons on the top edge of the controller to register it.
- Choose a fighter and continue to Ready to Fight.
Nintendo’s multiplayer setup instructions for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate specify this horizontal setup for a player using a single Joy-Con.
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Nintendo Neon Purple/Neon Orange Joy-Con (L-R) - Switch | $87.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nintendo Joy-Con (L/R) - Neon Red/Neon Blue (Renewed) | $60.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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If the game does not recognize the sideways Joy-Con
On the Switch HOME Menu, open Controllers > Change Grip/Order, then press SL and SR on the Joy-Con you want to use horizontally. Nintendo notes that controller position can depend on the game and mode; see its guide to holding Joy-Con for single and multiplayer use.
What the one-Joy-Con confirmation covers
Nintendo’s game-specific instructions confirm a single Joy-Con for multiplayer, including local and online play when more than one person is playing on the same console. They do not separately establish that a solo player can use the same one-Joy-Con layout in every context, so the documented answer is yes for multiplayer.
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- Two Joy Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as 1 game controller when attached to the Joy Con grip
- They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two player action in supported games
- Each Joy Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible
Other controller options
At the controller-selection screen, Nintendo also lists paired Joy-Con, a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and a GameCube controller. Wired GameCube controller use requires a GameCube Controller Adapter.
| Option | Setup |
|---|---|
| One Joy-Con | Hold horizontally and press SL and SR. |
| Paired Joy-Con | Use the two Joy-Con as a paired controller setup. |
| Pro Controller | Select the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller option. |
| GameCube controller | Use a GameCube Controller Adapter for wired play. |
Nintendo lists local battles for 2–8 players on one console. That is the game’s stated local multiplayer range, not a claim that each player needs a particular controller type.
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