If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. During the trailer, there's a fascinating moment where a pair of detached Joy-Cons are lowered onto a surface, attachment side down. They then connect to a pair of connectors with flat bottoms and smoothly glide across the surface, reminiscent of a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer look reveals a slider pad on the bottom of one of the connectors, further supporting the mouse mode theory.
Rumors about this feature had been circulating before the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, suggesting that a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, similar to those found in computer mice, could make this possible. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or discuss what this functionality might entail.
Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look
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Following the reveal, one game that immediately came to mind was Firaxis’ Civilization 7. Already confirmed for the original Switch, it's poised to be compatible with the Switch 2 through backward compatibility. The burning question, though, is whether there will be a version specifically designed for the Switch 2, leveraging the new Joy-Con's potential mouse functionality to enhance gameplay.
In a recent interview with IGN, Civilization 7's lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk were asked about the Switch 2 reveal and the apparent mouse functionality. While Beach remained silent, Shirk responded with intrigue, saying, “It is definitely intriguing. You always do some trade-offs when you have to deal with pure console controls. And the announcement has some great stuff in it. I love what they're doing with the controllers. It's all very cool. That's about all I can say about it in terms of an opinion. I think it looks awesome and they're not wrong, so it would be cool for something like that.” His coy response only fuels further speculation.
Firaxis isn’t likely to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 themselves, leaving that to publisher 2K Games. However, with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might soon learn more about this possibility.
While the potential for mouse support on the Switch 2 remains a mystery (as does the function of the new Joy-Con button), we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is slated for release in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, a new Mario Kart game is in development for it. For the latest updates on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can catch up on all our coverage right here.
