Firaxis Silent on Switch 2 'Mouse' Joy-Con Rumors

If you tuned into the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have caught a glimpse of what appears to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. In the trailer, you can see a pair of detached Joy-Cons being placed onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a pair of connectors with seemingly flat bottoms and then glide across the surface, much like a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer look reveals a slider pad on the bottom of one of these connectors, adding weight to the theory that this could indeed be a mouse-like functionality.

Leading up to the reveal, rumors had been swirling about this potential feature, suggesting that the Joy-Cons might contain a sensor similar to that found in a computer mouse. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or elaborate on what this feature might entail.

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, it's expected to be playable on the Switch 2 through backward compatibility. The big question is whether there will be a version specifically designed for the Switch 2, leveraging the new Joy-Con features to play the game as if using a mouse.

In a recent interview with IGN, Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk discussed the Switch 2 reveal and the potential mouse functionality. While Beach kept his thoughts to himself, Shirk hinted at the possibilities, saying, "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."

Of course, Firaxis isn't ready to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 just yet—that's a decision for their publisher, 2K Games. But with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might not have to wait long to find out more.

While we're still in the dark about the potential mouse support and the function of the mysterious new Joy-Con button, we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is slated for release in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, there's a new Mario Kart game in development for the Switch 2. You can keep up with all the latest on the Nintendo Switch 2 right here.