Even before Nintendo was compelled to officially announce its Switch 2 due to numerous leaks, it was widely known that the console would feature an unprecedented and innovative capability: the ability to use Joy-Con as a mouse. Leaks from Chinese factories had revealed this novel approach to using the Switch 2 controller. At that time (early December 2024), there was skepticism regarding this claim; however, Nintendo’s official video provided initial confirmation of the feature, showing these Joy-Con sliding (instead of drifting) on a flat surface. This sparked considerable debate about the new functionality while maintaining necessary caution. With the recent public filing of Nintendo’s patents, all speculation has ended; it is now confirmed that the Kyoto-based company will introduce this small innovation with its upcoming console, despite some criticism for not significantly reinventing the wheel.
By examining the publicly available sketches of these patents, one can clearly see a depiction of a hand holding a Joy-Con placed sideways like a mouse, with notably the index and middle fingers resting on the two triggers of the controller, while the thumb operates the analog stick. It is evident that this position mirrors how one uses a traditional mouse, featuring left and right click functionality along with cursor movement for mice equipped with an additional joystick. The text accompanying these images in the patent states that “the optical sensor of the mouse detects reflected light from a dedicated surface.” This suggests potential applications in first-person shooter (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) games, as well as easier menu navigation. Additionally, it could enhance titles like Mario Maker, Mario Paint, WarioWare, and its inventive mini-games, increasing their interest and sensory engagement. Recent rumors also indicate the upcoming release of Civilization VII on Nintendo Switch 2, which further highlights the potential benefits of this feature.
Is Nintendo truly revolutionizing the use of its Joy-Con in this manner? Not entirely, as within an already highly competitive market, Chinese manufacturer Lenovo has been offering a similar system with its portable console, Legion Go, for nearly a year. However, using it like a mouse differs on Lenovo’s device; one must insert the controller into a magnetic base to move objects as if they were a mouse. A unique aspect of the Lenovo Legion Go is that only the right controller features an optical sensor, whereas both Joy-Con controllers on the Nintendo Switch 2 will have equal capabilities. It remains unclear how effective this will be in games, given that the feature on the Lenovo Legion Go has often been criticized for poor performance and suboptimal ergonomics.
