New Nintendo Switch 2 Patents Reveal Magnetic Joy-Cons and Mouse Functionality
While Nintendo remains tight-lipped about the Switch 2's official specifications, recently surfaced patents paint a clearer picture of its innovative Joy-Con design. Reports suggesting magnetic attachment and mouse functionality are now strongly supported by these filings.
The patents describe a game controller with magnetic mounting to the Switch 2 console. Crucially, the text states: "This game controller is detachably mounted to a body device...comprising a first magnet and a second magnet...that can execute game processing."
The detachment mechanism involves two buttons, magnetically linked to corresponding magnets within the console's recess. The patent specifies: "The first button and the second button are to be pressed by a user. The first button is attracted to the first magnet...The second button is attracted to the second magnet..."
Remarkably, the patents also illustrate the Joy-Cons functioning as a computer mouse. Holding the controller sideways, the R1 and R2 buttons mimic left and right mouse clicks, with joystick movements potentially providing scrolling functionality.
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 further depict both a dual-mouse configuration and a setup where one Joy-Con acts as a mouse while the other functions as a standard controller.
The magnetic attachment was an early leak, but the mouse functionality is a more recent revelation, although hinted at in a January teaser showing Joy-Cons smoothly gliding across a surface.
For a complete overview of known Switch 2 features, consult our comprehensive summary. Remember, Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct presentation is scheduled for April 2nd, 2025 – stay tuned for official confirmation.
