UK-based peripheral maker iMP Tech released the Mini Arcade Pro, an arcade cabinet shell compatible with the original Switch, the Switch OLED, and the Switch 2, designed to emulate the look and feel of classic arcade rigs. The device, built around an eight-button base unit with a retro-style eight-way joystick, allows a Switch console to be slotted in to serve as the screen.

The Mini Arcade Pro also includes a mappable Turbo feature, a function not typically found in traditional arcade cabinets. According to WIRED, the device offers "good fun for arcade classics once built" and features a "great joystick" with an eight-button layout suitable for a variety of games. However, the product has received criticism for its visual design, described as "utterly terrible" and "covered in AI slop imagery."

The use of AI in generating the visual elements of the Mini Arcade Pro raises questions about the role of artificial intelligence in product design. AI image generation, a subset of AI that involves algorithms creating images from textual descriptions or other inputs, has seen rapid advancements. These technologies, including models like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion, can produce highly detailed and varied images, but their application in commercial products can be controversial, particularly when the output is perceived as low-quality or aesthetically unappealing.

Critics also noted "twitchy inputs" and "hurdles to update before use," along with limited usability outside of select titles. The device's functionality is primarily geared towards games that benefit from arcade-style controls, potentially limiting its appeal to a niche market.

The Mini Arcade Pro is currently available for purchase through multiple retailers, including Amazon and Walmart. The product's reception highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between technological innovation and aesthetic design, as well as the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI-generated content in product development.