Last month, Nintendo officially revealed the Nintendo Switch 2, giving us our first look at the next iteration of the hybrid gaming console that revolutionized the world. Specific hardware details were kept mostly under wraps, though the video itself did seem to tease some upgrades and features at least.
The general takeaway from the reveal was that the Switch 2 is basically a larger version of the Switch with mostly likely improved internals. But there was one particular moment in the reveal trailer that seemed to suggest new functionality for the Joy-Cons.
At around the 1:10 mark in the first-look trailer embedded below, you can see the Joy-Con is flipped on its side and begins to scroll along the surface, almost replicating the actions of a computer mouse. Nintendo hasn't offered any sort of specific details about any new Switch 2 features; however, a newly discovered Japanese patent application filed back in August 2023 seems to suggest that the Joy-Cons will have mouse capabilities.
The application describes an "input device" with a "sensor for mouse operation." The official abstract reads:
This input device comprises a front surface, an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a direction input unit, a first upper surface button, and a sensor for mouse operation. The first side surface is on one side in the left-right direction. The second side surface is on the other side in the left-right direction. The direction input unit is provided on the front surface. The first upper surface button is provided on the upper surface and can be pressed around a first rotation axis extending in a direction in which components in the left-right direction are included. The sensor for mouse operation detects reflected light from a detected surface, the light changing by moving over the detected surface in a state in which either the first side surface or the second side surface is placed on the detected surface.
With more games likely to be supported on the Switch 2, this sort of functionality can really open up some intriguing opportunities. While we've seen many PC games make the jump to consoles, it's hard to truly replicate the ease of using a mouse on a console controller, especially for strategy games. First-person shooters are another genre where many prefer to use a mouse over a controller.
Nintendo has always been known for innovating the console space with its hardware, so it felt a bit off that the reveal trailer didn't highlight any specific new features. Adding mouse functionality to the Joy-Con would certainly be a unique new feature that helps differentiate the Switch 2 from its predecessor.
A special Nintendo Direct is scheduled for April 2, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. PDT. It will focus on the Nintendo Switch 2 and offer a "closer look" at the highly anticipated new console.