New Nintendo Patent Suddenly Confirms Switch 2 Mouse Features

You almost have to feel sorry for Nintendo. Pretty much ever major rumor about the Switch 2 turned out to be true, from its initial reveal date to its exact colors and increased screen size. And even though Nintendo probably wanted to retain some air of mystery surrounding the new console’s rumoured mouse-like functionality in its updated Joy-Cons, that cat is out of the bag as well.

Nintendo certainly teased mouse-like behavior in its official Switch 2 reveal trailer, showing the new Joy-Con controllers sliding along a surface much like a mouse would – replete with the wrist strap resembling a mouse’s tail. But the company never confirmed it, nor has it released any further details. However, this newly published patent has done the job for Nintendo.

As initially spotted on the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit, a patent initially filed in August 2023 by NINTENDO CO., LTD was published on February 6, 2025, detailing multiple use-cases for an input device and system" unmistakably resembling mouse functionality and associated control schemes using the new Joy-Con controllers.

You can view all of the illustrations from the patent here.

Two of these illustrations are of particular interest to me. The first, above, shows a control scheme that resembles what I’d call a “dual mouse” mode of some kind.

The second one looks like a fantastic way to play a first-person shooter, and it definitely calls to mind the existing functionality seen on Lenovo’s original Legion Go handheld.

It’s exciting to ponder all the possibilities this could unlock, and it would be criminal for Nintendo not to release a new installment of Mario Paint.

Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website.