New Patent Confirms Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Features

The Nintendo Switch 2 has sparked considerable interest, particularly due to innovative changes in its Joy-Con controllers, as hinted by recent patents filed by Nintendo. While we await official confirmation, these patents suggest that the Switch 2 Joy-Cons will feature magnetic attachments and can function similarly to a computer mouse.

According to the patent, the Joy-Cons will magnetically attach to the Switch 2's body, which features a recess with two magnets at the bottom. The patent 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." To detach the Joy-Cons, users must press two buttons located on the top surface of the controller's protrusion, as described: "The first button and the second button are provided in the longitudinal direction in the top surface of the protrusion. The first button and the second button are to be pressed by a user. 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."

The patent also includes intriguing illustrations of the Joy-Cons being used as a mouse. Players can hold the controller railside down, using the shoulder buttons as mouse buttons. Specifically, the R1 and R2 buttons would function as the left and right mouse buttons, respectively, with potential scrolling capabilities via the joysticks. Further illustrations demonstrate the versatility of this feature, showing configurations where one Joy-Con acts as a mouse while the other serves as a traditional game controller.

The magnetic attachment feature was among the earliest leaks about the Switch 2, while the mouse-like functionality surfaced later. Although not officially confirmed, a teaser released in January subtly hinted at this feature by showing Joy-Cons gliding across a surface like a mouse.

For a comprehensive overview of what we know about the Nintendo Switch 2, you can check out our detailed breakdown. Mark your calendars for April 2, 2025, when Nintendo plans to unveil more official details during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.