Summary
- Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers may feature mouse functionality with light source and sensors for improved gameplay.
- The patent showcases features like the ability to slide Joy-Cons on flat surfaces, offering a new way to interact with games.
- The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to build on the success of its predecessor, with fans eagerly anticipating the official reveal and release.
A Nintendo patent published on February 6 confirms the Switch 2 Joy-Con mouse functionality and gives fans a deeper look into the hardware upgrade details for the next Nintendo controllers. Audiences got an early teaser of this possible new use for the Joy-Con in the reveal trailer for the Switch 2, and a timely patent publication has now unveiled the technological details behind the mouse functionality of the new console’s Joy-Cons.
Looking to build upon the popularity of its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch 2 console will feature many of the same base features, such as a handheld mode, docked mode, and detachable Joy-Con controllers. However, many were delighted to see the first trailer for the console giving a sneak peek at the changes coming with the next generation of the Switch. Thanks to a recently published patent, fans now have an even better look at what to expect with the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con.
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According to a Nintendo patent (via ArsTechnica) filed back in August 2023 and published on February 6, 2025, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons will have a brand-new hardware feature that allows them to be used similarly to a computer mouse. The patent showcases the internal structure of these innovative controllers, which utilize a light source and sensors, similar to optical computer mice, to allow users to slide the Joy-Cons across a flat surface and produce on-screen movement. This gives players the ability to hold the Joy-Cons with the sensor-side down and slide the controller around like a mouse while simultaneously using the familiar face and shoulder buttons, as well as the joystick. Being able to choose between a standard hold and mouse hold means players have more control over how they utilize the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware when gaming, offering a greater depth of functionality compared to the existing Switch Joy-Con model.
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Mouse Patent Details
Figures 24 and 25 of the Switch 2 Joy-Con patent show a comparison between the standard hold and mouse hold for the Switch 2 Joy-Cons, while Figures 27 and 28 show how both Joy-Cons can be used in a dual mouse hold or a split standard and mouse hold. The existing Nintendo Switch Joy-Con motion controls are detailed as making a return, along with the new hardware additions that allow for the unique Joy-Con mouse hold functionality. While the patent was just recently published, it is key to note that it was originally filed back in 2023, and there may have been changes made to the Switch 2 Joy-Cons since that initial filing date. As such, audiences should await official details from Nintendo about the functions of the Switch 2 console and controllers.
With fans gearing up for the big Switch 2 Nintendo Direct in April, this patent publication helps to shed some light on what may be in store ahead of the console’s release. Interested fans will want to stay tuned for any confirmed details from Nintendo and other Switch 2 news.
Nintendo Switch 2
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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2025