Like many people, I found the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 to be underwhelming. Part of that is probably because constant leaks have ruined basically every surprise the Switch 2 had to offer – we already knew about its new Joy-Con, the date of the trailer, and potential third-party games before any of them were shown off.
But the trailer was also just kind of… meh. The screen and controllers are bigger. It’s got a new stand. There’s a weird, unexplained button on the right Joy-Con now. The Joy-Con snap onto the screen magnetically. It didn’t tell us anything about the games coming to the platform, but did confirm it would have backwards compatibility. It just looks like a Switch, but a little different. It wasn’t very exciting, considering Nintendo has a history of reinventing the wheel with every new console.
People are already pretty concerned that the Joy-Con connection ports are going to be problems for the longevity of the console, especially if kids are using it. Kids can break anything.
Nintendo Switch 2 – First-Look Trailer
The Joy-Con Can Be Used As Mouses
While it isn’t confirmed, previous leaks have indicated that the controllers have optical sensors on their inner sides, the same way a mouse would. The trailer also shows the Joy-Cons turned on their side, snapping to an extra piece of plastic with small pads on the bottom, and scooting around with wires trailing behind them like tails. It seems pretty clear that Nintendo is hinting at this mouse capability here.
This would add some extra functionality to a frankly boring technology upgrade – I imagine people who play strategy games, shooters, or even point-and-click games on the Switch 2 will appreciate having a mouse-like option, even if it likely isn’t as sensitive or as multi-functional as a proper mouse. Like, you can technically play Civilization 6 on the Switch, but it sounds like a pain to do that without a mouse. Anything more intense than that would be unappealing, I imagine.
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Everything We Learned From The Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal
Nintendo’s new console is real, and more news is coming this April.
Why Would You Want To Use A Joy-Con Mouse?
Honestly, I don’t like the idea at all. The Joy-Con on the Switch 2 are bigger, yes, which might give them a little more heft, but they’re far from an ergonomic mouse shape. They’re skinny, meaning that holding them that way will be more like pinching them than resting your hand on them. That won’t be comfortable for long-term play, and considering that like many people my age, I’ve managed to get carpal tunnel from weird hand posture when using my mouse, it’s probably not great for your wrists and nerves either.
Also, Joy-Con are very light, so light that I’d consider them too flimsy for use as a mouse. Maybe the ones on the Switch 2 will be heftier and heavier, making them more appropriate for that particular function, but there’s only so far you can go before that weight gets in the way of making the Switch 2 as portable as the Switch currently is – especially as the overall console is now bigger.
It all just seems like an incredibly unappealing gimmick in an otherwise gimmick-less upgrade. We’ll likely find out more during the official Nintendo Direct in April, but I’m not seeing this being a great way to play. Maybe Nintendo will release a proper mouse peripheral – who knows?
