With the Nintendo Switch 2 officially revealed, fans can finally get a good look at what the company’s next-gen console is capable of. While the Nintendo Switch 2‘s reveal trailer seems to have only scratched the surface of what the new console can do, it subtly confirms one rumored feature of the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons. The ability to use a Joy-Con like a computer mouse might be an innovative mechanic for a Nintendo console but would feel incomplete without another peripheral to go alongside it.
Mouse functionality for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons has been a rumored feature since hardware leaks revealed that the Joy-Cons contained an optical sensor on the side that connects to the console itself. The reveal trailer for the Switch 2 showcases the Joy-Cons sliding on this same side, along with wrist-strap attachments that leave the sensor uncovered when connected. This display suggests that the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons will have some degree of mouse functionality, but the sky would be the limit for this feature if Nintendo released a Switch 2-compatible keyboard to accompany it.
Related
Nintendo is Breaking One of Its Longest Trends With The Switch 2
Today’s reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 took the internet by storm, and it’s already clear that the new handheld is breaking a longstanding tradition.
A Keyboard Peripheral Would Go Hand-in-Hand with the Switch 2’s Joy-Con Mouse Functions
The Switch 2 Seemingly Has the Perfect Set Up for a Mouse and Keyboard Combo
As many PC gamers can attest, a mouse peripheral wouldn’t be complete without a keyboard to go with it. Although it’s unclear how the mouse functionality of the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons will be used, the existence of this feature opens new doors for console gamers with mouse and keyboard setups typically reserved for PC. While third-party keyboards for the original Switch exist, they mostly function as extensions of the controllers rather than separate peripherals intended to be used with a mouse.
Perhaps the most famous keyboard designed for a Nintendo console is the ASCII Gamecube Keyboard released only in Japan for use with Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2.
However, an official Nintendo keyboard released for the Switch 2 would be new territory for the company and could potentially change the way players approach the console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is confirmed to have two USB-C ports—one of which is likely used to charge the console while docked—so there is room for the second port to potentially support a keyboard peripheral. Having a Joy-Con that can also function as a mouse is already a revolutionary step for a handheld-home console hybrid, and adding a keyboard to the mix would take control options to the next level.
Playing with a Mouse and Keyboard Would Be a Game-Changer on Switch 2
With the ability to use a mouse and keyboard setup on the Switch 2, players would have even more controller options than the previous Switch offered. While using the Joy-Con as a mouse on its own could be used for something like the SNES’ Mario Paint via Nintendo Switch Online, adding a keyboard into the mix opens the door for a ton of potential uses. Playing a competitive shooter like Overwatch 2 or Apex Legends on the Switch 2 using this setup would allow players to go toe to toe with the likes of PC players who can aim more precisely thanks to their use of a mouse and keyboard.
Having mouse and keyboard compatibility would also allow the Switch 2 to run other games designed for that setup more optimally. For example, point-and-click games or CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 could potentially make their way to the console with more user-friendly control schemes that utilize the Joy-Con as a mouse with a Keyboard as a companion peripheral. While console gamers know that controllers are often better suited for some experiences, having the option to use either a controller or mouse and keyboard on a console like the Switch 2 could be the most enticing part of the system.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.
- Brand
-
Nintendo
- Original Release Date
-
2025-00-00