Ever since the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans have been buzzing with excitement and speculation over a small yet intriguing detail from the trailer: the Joy-Cons. The focus has been on their potential use as mouse controllers, similar to those used on a PC, and their unique movement in the trailer. We now have official confirmation on their functionality: the Joy-Cons can operate in "mouse mode." This innovative feature allows players to slide the Joy-Cons across flat surfaces, using the analog sticks to simulate left-click and right-click actions, much like a traditional mouse. Moreover, players can use two Joy-Cons in mouse mode simultaneously, one in each hand, or pair one in standard mode with the other in mouse mode, offering versatile gameplay options.
Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 Console Slideshow
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The Nintendo Direct showcased the capabilities of the Joy-Con in mouse mode through a sports game reminiscent of Rocket League, featuring robot characters in wheelchair-style vehicles. The game, titled "Drag and Drive," is a three-on-three basketball game where players use two Joy-Con controllers in mouse mode to navigate their characters around the levels and score points by sinking the ball into the basket.
Speculation about the Joy-Con's mouse-like functionality began with the reveal trailer, which depicted the Joy-Cons sliding around in a manner akin to PC mice. In an attempt to uncover more details, we reached out to Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, but received a cryptic response. This feature, along with the new C button, has fueled discussions about the console over the past month, particularly in response to critiques that the Nintendo Switch 2 was playing it "safe" compared to Nintendo's typically bold innovations.
You can find all the details from today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct right here.
