Original Game Boy Advance Turned Into a Working Nintendo Switch Controller
A creative hardware modder has found a clever way to bring the original Nintendo Game Boy Advance back into the spotlight by turning it into a fully functional Nintendo Switch controller. Using the classic GBA link cable, a small microcontroller adapter, and open-source firmware, the handheld can now control Switch games in a surprisingly practical way.
The project was created by tinkerer Robert Dale Smith, who demonstrated the mod by playing Nintendo Switch Online with an original Game Boy Advance as the controller. In the demo, the GBA was used to play classic Game Boy Advance titles, giving the setup a nostalgic feel while still working with modern Nintendo hardware.
The idea builds on one of Nintendo’s most memorable early-2000s experiments: connecting the Game Boy Advance to the GameCube. Back then, games such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker allowed players to use the GBA as a second screen or companion device. Smith’s project revives that same spirit, but this time with the Nintendo Switch.
According to Smith, the Switch recognizes the modified setup as a generic USB controller. The magic happens through a Pico-based adapter connected between the Game Boy Advance and the Switch. The adapter communicates with the GBA through the link cable, while also presenting itself to the Switch as a standard controller.
The process works by using the Game Boy Advance link cable to load a small multiboot ROM into the handheld’s memory. Once running, the software allows the GBA to send and receive signals through the cable. In this setup, those signals are translated into controller inputs that the Switch can understand.
While the current version functions as a standard controller, Smith suggests that the concept could go further if games were designed or patched to support it more directly. With the right software support, the Game Boy Advance could potentially do more than simply act as a controller, opening the door to second-screen features, special menus, or game-specific interactions.
Smith built the project using his open-source Joypad OS firmware. This software allows the Game Boy Advance to act as a USB controller not only for the Nintendo Switch, but also for other platforms such as PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and additional compatible hardware.
What makes the mod especially impressive is how affordable and accessible it appears to be. The hardware required costs only a few dollars, and the firmware is already open source. The setup may involve cables and a small adapter, but the result is a charming blend of retro hardware and modern gaming.
For longtime Nintendo fans, this Game Boy Advance controller mod is more than a technical trick. It is a reminder of an era when Nintendo experimented boldly with connectivity between handhelds and home consoles. Now, thanks to modern modding tools and open-source software, that old idea has found new life on the Switch.
The original Game Boy Advance remains one of Nintendo’s most beloved handheld systems, and this project proves that classic gaming hardware can still have a place in today’s gaming world. With a bit of creativity, a link cable, and the right firmware, a handheld from more than two decades ago can become a surprisingly capable Nintendo Switch controller.
