New Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Patents Reveal Magnetic Attachment and Mouse Functionality
While Nintendo remains tight-lipped about the Switch 2's official specifications, recently surfaced patents strongly suggest significant Joy-Con upgrades. Reports hinting at magnetic attachment and computer mouse functionality are now largely substantiated by these filings.
A Nintendo patent describes a game controller with magnetic mounting to a console housing. The patent text states, "This game controller is detachably mounted to a body device that has a recess, that comprises a first magnet and a second magnet at the bottom of the recess, and that can execute game processing."
The patent further specifies a two-button release mechanism: "The first button and the second button are provided in the longitudinal direction in the top surface of the protrusion…The first button is attracted to the first magnet by a magnetic force. The second button is attracted to the second magnet by a magnetic force.”
Remarkably, the patent also illustrates the Joy-Cons functioning as a mouse. Holding the controller sideways, the shoulder buttons (R1 and R2) mimic left and right mouse clicks, with joystick movements potentially providing scrolling capabilities.
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con patent includes illustrations for the mouse functionality. More images in the link https://t.co/13ZNQtOMqF pic.twitter.com/ey3ufRUWZE
— Wario64 (@Wario64) February 6, 2025
Illustrations depict both dual-mouse and hybrid configurations – one Joy-Con as a mouse, the other as a standard controller.
The magnetic attachment was an early Switch 2 leak; the mouse functionality emerged later. However, a January teaser subtly hinted at this feature, showing the Joy-Cons smoothly gliding across a surface.
For comprehensive Switch 2 information, consult our detailed overview. Nintendo's planned Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025, promises official confirmation of these and other features.
