Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 may boast a significant Joy-Con redesign, as evidenced by recently surfaced patents. While Nintendo remains officially silent, leaked information and patent filings strongly suggest magnetic Joy-Con attachments and a novel mouse-like functionality.
Nintendo's patent application describes a controller with magnetically secured Joy-Cons. The document specifies two buttons, magnetically attracted to corresponding magnets within the Switch 2 console, required for detachment. The text reads, "This game controller is detachably mounted to a body device...comprising a first magnet and a second magnet...and that can execute game processing."
The patent further details a dual-function design: the Joy-Cons can function as a computer mouse. Illustrations depict the Joy-Cons held upside down, utilizing the shoulder buttons (R1 and R2) as left and right mouse clicks, respectively, with joystick control potentially providing scrolling functionality. The patent suggests both single and dual mouse configurations are possible.
The magnetic attachment mechanism was among the earliest Switch 2 leaks. The mouse functionality, while later revealed, aligns with a January teaser showcasing Joy-Cons smoothly moving across a surface—a subtle hint from Nintendo itself.
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con patent includes illustrations for the mouse functionality. More images in the link https://t.co/13ZNQtOMqF pic.twitter.com/ey3ufRUWZE
— Wario64 (@Wario64) February 6, 2025
For comprehensive information on the Nintendo Switch 2, consult our detailed overview. Mark your calendars: a Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is scheduled for April 2nd, 2025, promising official confirmation of these and other features.
