HANDHELD NEWS – On the outside, it resembles the Wii U GamePad released in 2012, which was a huge flop. However, on the inside, it has the functional hardware of its successor.
A modder turned a Wii U GamePad into a working Nintendo Switch. Kouzex posted a video on YouTube showing the modified GamePad running Switch hardware. Kouzex created the mod because he saw many people online saying that they liked the Wii U GamePad’s ergonomics and wished it had the Switch’s portability. After seeing someone say that they wanted someone to put a Switch inside a Wii U GamePad, but they didn’t know if it was possible, Kouzex took on the challenge.
He set five rules for the modification to ensure that it would be a worthwhile project: all buttons on the Wii U GamePad must be fully functional; the mod must resemble an original Wii U GamePad; it must use real Switch hardware instead of emulation; it must surpass the Switch Lite; and it must be durable enough for travel. Kouzex decided to build a Switch Lite into the Wii U GamePad because its buttons are built in, which makes connecting everything easier and eliminates the need to power the Joy-Cons separately.
After disassembling both devices, cutting off some internal components, fitting the components into place, and rewiring all the cables, Kouzex built a working Switch into the Wii U GamePad. Kouzex replaced the display with an OLED screen to improve the display quality over the original hardware. Kouzex says the result is amazing. He believes it’s barely noticeable that it’s a modification and thinks it’s an absolute sleeper build. The printed frame and larger bezels aren’t too noticeable, and he thinks most people would be fooled if they didn’t know what a Wii U was.
Each button on the GamePad corresponds to a button on the Switch. Everything is mapped one-to-one except for the TV button, which has been repurposed as the capture button. Kouzex only noticed two significant issues: the lack of a cartridge slot, which he says isn’t necessary because digital games can be installed, and the fact that the temperature is about five degrees higher than on the Switch Lite. He says he will look into it, but it’s not the end of the world for now.
This mod will definitely accompany him on his next flight, if it makes it through security.
Source: VGC
