If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have caught a glimpse of what appears to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. During the trailer, there's a scene where a pair of detached Joy-Cons are placed onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a set of connectors with seemingly flat bottoms and then glide across the surface, much like a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer look even reveals what looks like a slider pad on the bottom of one of the connectors, adding more weight to the speculation.
Rumors had been circulating before the reveal that this functionality might be possible due to a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, similar to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these rumors or explain what this feature might entail.
Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look
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The reveal sparked thoughts of how upcoming games like Firaxis' Civilization 7 might benefit from this feature. Already confirmed for the original Switch and likely to be backward compatible with the Switch 2, there's curiosity about whether a version specifically designed for the Switch 2 would utilize the new Joy-Con's potential mouse functionality, allowing players to experience the 4X strategy game with mouse-like controls.
In a recent IGN interview, Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk were questioned about the Switch 2's reveal and the apparent mouse functionality. While Beach remained silent, Shirk's response was teasingly ambiguous, fueling further speculation. "It is definitely intriguing," Shirk commented. "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."
AnswerSee ResultsOf course, Firaxis isn't going to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 just yet—that's up to publisher 2K Games. But with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might soon learn more about this and other potential features.
While we're still in the dark about the potential mouse support for the Switch 2, as well as the function of the mysterious new Joy-Con button, we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is slated for a 2025 release (likely between June and September), and there's a new Mario Kart game in development for it. You can catch up on all our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage right here.
