HORI Arcade Classic Pro Combines Stick, Trackball, Paddle and Loop Lever in One Switch 2 Controller

HORI unveils the Arcade Classic Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, an officially licensed modular desktop controller uniting an 8-way joystick, illuminated trackball, rotary paddle, and loop lever.

HORI has announced one of the most unusual officially licensed retro-focused controllers in years. The Arcade Classic Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 combines four interchangeable arcade control systems inside a single large desktop unit: an eight-direction joystick, trackball, rotary paddle and loop lever. The control modules can be moved between the left and right positions to suit different games and player preferences. The device is specifically designed around fighting games, shooters and Hamster's Arcade Archives catalogue, where reproducing unusual original controls can make a significant difference to how older arcade software feels. The controller will also work with the original Nintendo Switch family and Windows 11 PCs. HORI's Japanese specifications place the main unit at roughly 50 centimetres wide, 29 centimetres deep and 11 centimetres high, with a weight of around two kilograms before the interchangeable modules are installed. USB Type-A provides the connection and PC support uses XInput and mouse-style input where appropriate. The product is priced at 39,980 yen in Japan and is scheduled for release on 28 February 2027, with an initial made-to-order period running from 14 September through 2 October 2026. The hardware is significant because arcade preservation involves more than accurately emulating processors and ROMs. Many games were designed around unusual physical interfaces that cannot be replicated convincingly with an ordinary gamepad. A trackball is fundamental to games such as Centipede and Missile Command. Paddle-style controls are important to early games descended from Pong and Breakout. Rotary and loop-style levers were used by arcade machines where players needed to control direction independently from conventional movement. Enthusiasts currently solve these problems by maintaining multiple specialist controllers or building custom control panels. HORI is attempting to consolidate several of those interfaces into one licensed product. The Arcade Classic Pro also highlights how important Hamster's preservation work has become. Arcade Archives now contains hundreds of historic machines, and the software catalogue is broad enough that unusual controls increasingly matter. A properly emulated game can still feel wrong if the input method bears little resemblance to the cabinet. HORI's solution is expensive compared with a standard arcade stick, but for collectors wanting one device capable of moving between fighting games, trackball titles and spinner-based classics, it may become one of the most versatile commercial retro controllers available.