Nintendo Switch 2: Mouse Functionality for Joy-Cons Seemingly Confirmed by Patent

[GGforever]

The Nintendo Switch 2, in all likelihood, is set to see the light of day on the 2nd of April at Nintendo Direct. Among the many rumored features, mouse-like functionality for the Joy-Cons have graced the interwebs quite a few times now. In the recently uploaded Switch 2 teaser video on YouTube, a portion of the video showed the Joy-Cons sliding on a surface akin to a tracking device, which added credibility to the aforementioned rumors. A recently uploaded patent filing also seems to confirm mouse-like functionality for the Joy-Cons, making the possibility all the more likely.

The patent reveals that Nintendo intends to allow the Joy-Cons to be used like a mouse with the help of laser tracking underneath, with the shoulder triggers cosplaying as the left and right mouse buttons. The drawings seem to indicate that the analogue sticks will be functional even in mouse mode, while another image portrays both the Joy-Cons being used in mouse mode with the user's thumbs on the analogue sticks. Using one Joy-Con in traditional mode, while the other in mouse mode also seems to be possible, which would be quite helpful for FPS games, at least in my opinion. Of course, it is entirely possible for a patent to never see the light of day in action, but considering that Nintendo themselves hinted at such functionality in the official teaser, the probability is enticing for sure.



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[Steevo]

That looks like the instructions given to me for using the camel toe.

 

[k0vasz]

looks awfully unergonomic and painful to use

 

[Chane]

That looks just as bad as I imagined. Nintendo, you don't need to come up with gimmicks all the time. A waste of time and money on something that will be used in a handful of titles.

 

[sethmatrix7]

Nintendo are some of the best patent trolls in the world.

A patent on having a cursor controller by a joystick.

 

[Veseleil]

I pity the fool who buys Nintendo Switch 2.
I'm too lazy to make a meme, so just imagine Mr. T saying this, it's easy enough.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Nintendo is going to have problems trying to patent something that was already patented..

 

[Raiden85]

No way will they grant a patent for this, this is just a mouse with a laser a sensor which have have been on the market for a hell of a long time.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

I pity the fool who buys Nintendo Switch 2.
I'm too lazy to make a meme, so just imagine Mr. T saying this, it's easy enough.

It's going to sell like crazy and people will love it.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's going to sell like crazy and people will love it.

I'm a wait & see guy..

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

I'm a wait & see guy..

I'm willing to put money on it.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm willing to put money on it.

You might have misunderstood. Allow me to clarify. My "wait & see" means that I'm going to wait to find out how Nintendo handles certain aspects of it treatment of the gaming public and of user rights. While I like my Switch, Nintendo has become increasingly draconian in their approach of and treatment of users and purchasers. I am inclined to not get an NS2 if their policies don't ease up and continue to be more restrictive & pathetic. I will not offer financial support to a company the seems to be sliding into the cesspool tight-fisted control and greed.

 

[Kyan]

Nintendo are some of the best patent trolls in the world.

A patent on having a cursor controller by a joystick.

It's not controlled by the stick, the stick will probably be used for shortcut. There's a sensor to use the joycon as a "proper" mouse.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's not controlled by the stick, the stick will probably be used for shortcut. There's a sensor to use the joycon as a "proper" mouse.

Yeah, that's been done too, by Sony back in the mid 90's. Nintendo's claim of patent is invalid.