Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Features Confirmed in New Patent

New Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Patents Reveal Magnetic Attachment and Mouse Functionality

While Nintendo remains officially silent, recent patent filings strongly suggest significant changes to the Switch 2's Joy-Cons. Reports of magnetic attachment and mouse-like functionality are now virtually confirmed by these patents.

The patents describe a detachable game controller with magnetic mounting. The controller attaches to the Switch 2 console via magnets embedded in a recess. Two buttons, positioned longitudinally on the controller's top surface, are required for detachment. These buttons are magnetically attracted to corresponding magnets within the console's recess.

Patent illustrations showcase the Joy-Cons functioning as a computer mouse. Holding the controller sideways, the R1 and R2 buttons simulate left and right mouse clicks, with joystick movement potentially providing scrolling capabilities. The patents depict both dual-mouse and hybrid configurations (one Joy-Con as a mouse, the other as a standard controller).

The magnetic attachment mechanism was among the earliest Switch 2 leaks. The mouse functionality, while later revealed, received subtle confirmation in a January teaser showcasing the Joy-Cons smoothly moving across a surface – a clear allusion to the mouse feature.

For a comprehensive overview of current Switch 2 information, see our detailed analysis. Nintendo's planned Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, 2025, promises official confirmation of these and other features.