CRKD Atom+ Finally Ships After Delays, Brings Thumbsticks to Tiny Controller

Remember when you pre-ordered that adorable tiny controller back in March and it felt like it would never arrive? Well, good news: the CRKD Atom+ is finally shipping globally. If you got your order in early, keep an eye on your doorstep.

The $29.99 pad (or £27.99 in the UK) was originally supposed to ship in late June 2026, but that window slipped to August 17–31. Now CRKD has confirmed all four models are on their way. Better late than never, right? Some lucky folks even got theirs weeks ago—like Reddit user TheLoFiPunk, who snagged the Retro Purple version and said it was "worth it."

So what makes the Atom+ such a big deal? The original Atom was cute and pocket-sized, but it only had a d-pad, which made it awkward for anything beyond NES and SNES games. The Atom+ fixes that with two precision thumbsticks—and not just any sticks, but TMR sticks that help prevent drift. You also get digital bumper and trigger buttons, built-in vibration feedback, and motion controls. That means it's ready for Mario Kart World and other modern Switch 2 titles.

Compatibility is broad: the Atom+ works with Nintendo Switch 2, Switch OLED, iOS and Android smartphones, gaming PCs, and even smart TVs. All four retro colorways are shipping from Amazon and the CRKD online store. The lineup includes transparent Smoke Black and Glacier Blue (very early-2000s), plus Pal Grey, which mimics the PAL SNES. As a Scottish kid who grew up on Nintendo in the 90s, that Pal Grey one hits different.

If you're happy with just a d-pad and want more color options, the older $19.99 Atom is still available and also Switch 2 compatible. But for those who wanted a tiny controller that can actually handle modern games, the Atom+ looks like the upgrade we've been waiting for.

Will you be picking up an Atom+ now that it's finally shipping? Let us know in the comments!