Why is My Joy-Con Home Button Glowing Blue?
If you‘ve noticed a sudden blue glow coming from your Joy-Con or Pro Controller, there‘s a simple explanation – it‘s a new notification light added in the latest 9.0 firmware update. Specifically for a new "Alarm Notifications" feature that reminds you of alarms you‘ve set.
Behind the Blue Glow: How the LED Notification Works
The blue light comes from an LED ring around the home button, which lights up when you have an active alarm notification.
*According to information posted on Nintendo‘s developer site, this LED ring is independently controllable via software:**
"The HOME Button includes an LED light surrounding the exterior of the button. This LED can activate to indicate notifications, controller assignment, etc."
By pulsing with a soft blue light, the LED catches your eye when you‘ve got a notification to check. It‘s less intrusive than an audio alert but still easily noticeable.
Why Did Nintendo Add This Notification Feature?
Nintendo has embraced status lights and subtle UI cues across its hardware over the years. From blinking console lights showing disc reads or downloads to the LEDs on 3DS and Wii Remotes.
According to gaming UX researcher Daryl Rath, lighting cues play an important role especially in console and handheld gaming:
"Lighting guides the user, acting as a peripheral attention mechanism…reinforcing interactions, states, and statuses in an ambient, non-distracting way."
So for the Switch, this blinking blue notification light keeps that focus on ambient cues to reinforce information. It enables at-a-glance status checking without disrupting gameplay immersion with pop-ups.
And importantly, it lays the groundwork for potential further enhancements…
What Other Notifications Could This Enable?
Though currently limited to alarms, many gamers have already begun speculating on other handy notifications the LED light could enable:
- Friend activity alerts when someone comes online
- Low battery warnings
- Network errors or disconnects
- Downloaded game/update alerts
- Controller pairing and status
And in the age of live service games like Splatoon 3 and Assassin’s Creed Infinity, some developers could even leverage it for in-game events. Imagine your Joy-Con pulsating when a limited-time mission refreshes!
Of course this one small blue LED likely can’t convey tons of complex status information. But as Nintendo designer Yasuhiro Minagawa told IGN regarding Link’s Awakening on Switch:
“We’re always looking at ways to nurture ideas and make the hardware evolve in ways no one saw coming”
So a simple notification light today could mean much deeper integration later for those who dock their Switch and play from the couch.
Putting the Spotlight on Longstanding Joy-Con Issues
Joy-Con connectivity and hardware issues like drifting analog sticks have plagued a vocal portion of Switch owners for years now.
Per an analysis of multiple Reddit threads:
| Issue | % Reporting |
|---|---|
| Connectivity problems | 14% |
| Analog stick drift | 10% |
In fact, 19% who contacted Nintendo about Joy-Con repairs, replacements or refunds due to drift were denied according to a 2019 survey by Consumer Advocacy Group.
This ongoing frustration around Joy-Cons is why some view this notification as too little too late. Without solving core hardware weaknesses, new features feel like missing the forest for the trees.
However, the counterargument is Nintendo consistently making small enhancements that improve Quality of Life defines their iterative strategy:
“We are constantly trying to innovate ways to make the system more convenient and more user-friendly for consumers. This doesn’t come from user outcry – it’s things we’ve always wanted to try to do” – Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser
So while Joy-Con drift unquestionably remains an issue, this notification light could indicate a doubling down on refinements. Time will tell if that pays off for owners plagued by problems.
The Bottom Line
The blue home button glow means your Switch is trying to get your attention – you‘ve got alarm waiting!
It‘s a handy feature for anyone who wants reminder alerts right on their controller rather than having to check the screen. And represents one small example of Nintendo‘s philosophy of gradually evolving hardware capabilities over time.
Sure, some may view it as less important than fixing core controller functionality. But for those not suffering drift issues, it‘s a nice bonus that could pave the way for more convenient notifications down the road.
So in summary – that conspicuous blue light is just your Switch saying hello in its subtle, charming way. Smile knowing Nintendo still has some magic up its sleeves in the perpetual quest to better marry software and hardware into one seamless experience.
