Today's Dealmaster is headed up by a deal on PowerA's Wireless GameCube-style controller for the Nintendo Switch. Normally retailing in the $37-$40 range, it's currently down to $27 on Amazon. The catch is that only the yellow Pokemon-themed variant is available at this price, but this is still the lowest price we've seen for the gamepad outside of a very brief drop to $25 during Amazon's Black Friday sale last year.
We've tested and recommended this controller as part of our guide to the best Nintendo Switch accessories. As its extremely direct name suggests, the point here is to replicate the gamepad that came standard with Nintendo's old GameCube console. For the most part, PowerA's controller does that: it has the same asymmetrical face buttons, thin handles, well-balanced weight, and crisp "C-stick" from years ago, with the Switch's menu buttons added on. This layout has been a favorite of Super Smash Bros. players in particular, and it generally serves its purpose with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But it should also have appeal as an affordable alternative to Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller, as it's much less cramped than the Switch's stock Joy-Cons and comes with an actual d-pad.
There are some caveats worth noting, though. While the PowerA pad does support the same motion controls as the Pro Controller, it lacks any of Nintendo's HD rumble functionality. Its triggers still aren't analog, and its hard plastic chassis, while comfortable, certainly doesn't feel premium. It also runs on AA batteries instead of a rechargeable unit, though it does get roughly 30 hours of juice at a time, which is decent.
All of this is to say that the controller is a much better buy when it's available at this sale price than when it's closer to its $50 MSRP. If you're into the GameCube feel, want a roomier controller for playing Switch games on the TV, and don't mind looking at Pikachu every now and then, it's worth considering.
If you're all set, though, we also have deals on Amazon's Fire tablets, USB-C chargers, the Ars-approved game Control, and more. You can check out the full list for yourself below.
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Top 10 deals of the day
- PowerA Wireless GameCube-style controller for Nintendo Switch (Pikachu) for $26.99 at Amazon (normally $40).
- 8Bitdo SN30 Pro+ Bluetooth game controller – Switch/PC/Steam for $39.99 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $49.99).
- UE Boom 3 portable Bluetooth speaker for $79.99 at Google Shopping (normally $120).
- Aukey PA-D5 USB-C wall charger – 2x USB-C PD, 63W total, 60W USB-C PD single-port for $28.49 at Amazon (clip 5% coupon – normally $45).
- $100 Hulu e-gift card + $15 Best Buy e-gift card for $100 at Best Buy (normally $115).
- Sid Meier's Civilization IV (Switch) for $14.99 at Amazon and GameStop (normally $19.99).
- Prime only: Amazon Fire HD 8 (16GB, ads) tablet for $49.99 at Amazon (normally $79.99).
- Prime only: Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB, ads) tablet for $99.99 at Amazon (normally $149.99).
- Anker PowerPort I USB desktop wall charger – 60W total, 30W USB-C PD, 4x USB-A for $32.99 at Amazon (clip $17 coupon – normally $49.99).
- Amazon FreeTime Unlimited 1-year Family Plan membership for $19.99 at Amazon (select from drop-down menu – normally $69).
Laptop and desktop PC deals
- Apple Mac Mini (late 2018) mini desktop – Intel Core i3-8100B, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD for $629 at B&H (normally $729).
- Apple MacBook Air (2020) laptop – Intel Core i3-1000NG4, 13.3-inch 2560×1600, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Magic Keyboard for $949.99 at Amazon (normally $999).
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X desktop processor – 12-core/24-thread for $418.89 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $470).
- WD Black SN750 (500GB) internal NVMe M.2 SSD for $69.99 at B&H (normally $79.99).
Video game deals
- Control (PS4, digital) for $23.99 at PlayStation Store (physical for $29.99 – normally $40).
- The Division 2: Warlords of New York (XB1, digital) for $32.99 at Amazon (normally $43).
- Death Stranding (PS4) for $29.99 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $45).
- Days Gone (PS4) for $19.99 at Walmart (normally $27).
- Bloodborne (PS4) for $14.99 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $19.99).
- Sid Meier's Civilization IV (Switch) for $14.99 at Amazon and GameStop (normally $19.99).
- Journey to the Savage Planet (PS4) for $19.99 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $29.99).
- Octopath Traveler (Switch, digital) for $29.99 at Nintendo eShop (normally $49.99).
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey (XB1, digital) for $15 at Amazon (normally $29.99).
- Xbox Live Gold only: Resident Evil 2 (XB1, digital) for $19.99 at Microsoft (normally $29.99).
- Borderlands 3 (PS4, XB1) for $20 at Amazon (normally $24.99).
- Kingdom Hearts III (PS4) for $19.99 at Walmart (normally $24.99).
- Deadly Premonition Origins (Switch) for $31.95 at Amazon (normally $39.99).
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (XB1) for $19.99 at Amazon (normally $29.99).
- Dark Souls Remastered (PS4) for $16.99 at Amazon (normally $19.99).
- Shenmue III (PS4) for $27.49 at Amazon (normally $37).
- Doom Eternal (PS4, XB1, PC) for $49.94 at Walmart (normally $59.99).
- Pre-order: Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, XB1) for $49.94 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $59.99).
- Pre-order: Resident Evil 3 (PS4, XB1) for $49.99 at Amazon (normally $59.99).
Gaming deals
- PowerA Wireless GameCube-style controller (Pikachu) for Nintendo Switch for $26.99 at Amazon (normally $40).
- 8Bitdo SN30 Pro+ Bluetooth game controller – Switch/PC/Steam for $39.99 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $49.99).
- Read More – Source [contf] [contfnew]
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