Firaxis Teases Nintendo Switch 2 'Mouse' Joy-Con for Civilization 7

If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have noticed what appeared to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. In the trailer, a pair of detached Joy-Cons are seen being lowered onto a surface with their attachment side down. They connect to a pair of connectors with relatively flat bottoms, then slide across the surface like a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer look reveals something resembling a slider pad on the bottom of one of the connectors, lending further credence to this intriguing feature.

Rumors had been circulating before the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, suggesting 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 this feature or elaborate on its potential applications.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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One of the first games that came to mind after the reveal was Firaxis' Civilization 7. Already confirmed for the original Switch and likely to be backward compatible with the Switch 2, the question remains whether there will be a version specifically tailored for the Switch 2, utilizing the new Joy-Con's potential mouse functionality to enhance gameplay.

In a recent interview with IGN, Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk discussed the Switch 2 reveal and its apparent mouse functionality. While Beach remained silent, Shirk offered an intriguing response, "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."

While Firaxis is unlikely to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 directly, leaving that to their publisher 2K Games, a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April might shed more light on this matter.

Despite uncertainties about mouse support and the purpose of a mysterious new Joy-Con button, we know that Nintendo's next-gen console is set to launch in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, a new Mario Kart game is in development for the platform. For the latest updates on the Nintendo Switch 2, be sure to catch up on all our coverage right here.