If you tuned into the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have caught a glimpse of what appears to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. In a captivating moment from the trailer, a pair of detached Joy-Cons are seen being lowered onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a pair of seemingly flat-bottomed connectors and then glide across the surface in a manner reminiscent of a mouse on a mouse pad. Upon closer inspection, you can spot what looks like a slider pad on the bottom of one of these connectors, lending more weight to the idea that the Joy-Cons might function as a mouse.
Speculation had been rampant leading up to the reveal, with rumors suggesting this feature was possible thanks to a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, akin to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or elaborate on what such a feature might entail.
Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look
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One game that immediately springs to mind post-reveal is Firaxis’ Civilization 7. Already slated for release on the original Switch and supported via backward compatibility on the Switch 2, fans are eagerly wondering if there will be a version specifically tailored for the Switch 2, potentially leveraging the new Joy-Con's mouse-like capabilities for an enhanced gameplay experience.
IGN touched on the Switch 2 reveal and the potential mouse functionality during an interview with Civilization 7's lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk. While Beach stayed mum on the subject, Shirk offered a teasing response that's sure to fuel further speculation.
“It is definitely intriguing,” Shirk remarked. “You always do some trade-offs when you have to deal with pure console controls. And the announcement has some great stuff in it. I love what they're doing with the controllers. It's all very cool. That's about all I can say about it in terms of an opinion. I think it looks awesome and they're not wrong, so it would be cool for something like that.”
AnswerSee ResultsOf course, Firaxis isn’t ready to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 just yet—that responsibility falls to publisher 2K Games. However, with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might soon learn more about this possibility.
While we await confirmation on potential mouse support for the Switch 2 (and the function of the mysterious new Joy-Con button), we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is set to launch in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, a new Mario Kart game is in development for the system. You can keep up with all our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage by following the link provided.
