Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons May Have a New Gimmick

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 6, 2025 2 Views 5 Min Read
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons May Have a New Gimmick

Summary

  • The Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons may be able to operate in a computer mouse-like mode.
  • Mentions of adhesive tape normally used on the bottoms of computer mice were recently found in some shipping manifests believed to be associated with one of Nintendo’s parts suppliers.
  • The Switch 2 wouldn’t be the first handheld console to offer a mouse-like alternate mode for (one of) its controllers, as Lenovo’s Legion GO already did the same back in 2023.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons may be able to function as computer mice of sorts, according to some recently emerged circumstantial evidence. While it’s dubious whether a mouse-like controller mode would see widespread adoption among game developers, the purported feature seems to fit Nintendo‘s track record of experimentation.

The evidence pointing to this possibility was shared by Famiboards user LiC, who previously obtained some Vietnamese customs data describing shipments associated with a company that’s believed to be one of Nintendo’s parts suppliers. This intelligence proved to be a gold mine of information and is the source of many Switch 2 rumors and speculation that have emerged online since mid-2024.

Nintendo Switch 2 mockup over blurred Gotham Knights cover artwork

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In early January 2025, LiC returned to Famiboards to share another potential insight into the upcoming device, revealing that they had previously discovered mentions of a polyethylene (PE) plastic adhesive tape described in customs manifests as intended “to stick to game console handles.” The shipping data reportedly labels these tape pieces as “mouse soles,” a term normally used for the bottom part of a computer mouse. The mention of mouse soles in a potential Switch 2 parts list thus indicates that the upcoming console could be able to mimic mouse-like functionality.

LiC has discovered references to two mouse sole model numbers: LG7 and SML7. Game Rant was unable to find these designations in any public component databases, suggesting that if they are real, they belong to brand-new products that are yet to be released. The data obtained by LiC suggests that both plastic tape pieces are 90 x 90mm in size. Based on the previously leaked Switch 2 dimensions, these sheets appear large enough to cover the entire back of the new Joy-Cons, and then some. But since they have a square aspect ratio, additional trimming will likely be required before they are applied during assembly—assuming LiC’s information is legitimate.

Nintendo Switch 2 Wouldn’t Be the First Console With Mouse Controller Mode

While a mouse-like controller mode is in line with Nintendo’s historical tendency to experiment, this type of technology has already been commercialized. The right controller of the Lenovo Legion GO can also function as a mouse when rotated sideways into a joystick-like shape. Lenovo even provides a circular piece of plastic for housing the controller in this mode and helping it slide across surfaces more efficiently.

Lenovo’s 2024 handheld PC also boasts magnetic rails for easily attaching controllers, which is another feature that the Switch 2 is rumored to have. In this sense, the Legion GO might offer a glimpse of what Nintendo’s second attempt at a hybrid console is going to look like.

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