The Nintendo Switch 2 may look familiar at first glance, but recent patent filings reveal some significant upgrades to its Joy-Cons. While Nintendo remains officially silent, leaked reports and patents strongly suggest magnetic attachment and innovative mouse functionality for the new controllers.
A Nintendo patent describes a game controller with magnetic mounting to a console featuring a recessed area with two magnets. The patent specifies two buttons, magnetically attracted to these magnets, required for Joy-Con detachment. The wording indicates that “The first button and the second button are provided in the longitudinal direction in the top surface of the protrusion,” and that “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.”
Beyond magnetic attachment, the patent showcases illustrations of 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 manipulation potentially providing scrolling capabilities. Illustrations further depict dual mouse configurations or a hybrid setup using one Joy-Con as a mouse and the other as a standard controller.
The magnetic attachment was among the earliest Switch 2 leaks, while the mouse functionality emerged later. A January teaser subtly hinted at this feature, showing Joy-Cons gliding across a surface, mirroring mouse movements.
For a comprehensive overview of known Nintendo Switch 2 details, see our detailed breakdown [ttpp]. Nintendo plans a dedicated Switch 2 Direct on April 2nd, 2025, promising official confirmation of these and other features.
