Firaxis Hints at 'Mouse' Joy-Con for Nintendo Switch 2 in Civilization 7 Dev

If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have noticed what appeared to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. During the trailer, there's a striking scene where a pair of detached Joy-Cons are placed onto a flat surface, attachment side down. They then connect to what seem like flat-bottomed connectors and glide smoothly across the surface, much like a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer look reveals what looks like a slider pad on the bottom of one connector, lending more weight to this intriguing theory.

Rumors had been circulating before the reveal about the possibility of this feature, suggesting a sensor inside the Joy-Cons similar to that found in a computer mouse. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or elaborate on what such a feature might entail.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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The reveal has sparked curiosity about how this new feature might enhance gameplay in upcoming titles. For instance, Firaxis' Civilization 7, already confirmed for the original Switch and expected to be backward compatible with the Switch 2, could potentially benefit from this 'mouse' functionality. Could there be a version tailored specifically for the Switch 2 that allows players to control the game with the precision of a mouse?

IGN delved into this topic in a recent interview with Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk. While Beach remained silent, Shirk's response was teasingly ambiguous, adding fuel to the speculation. "It is definitely intriguing," Shirk remarked. "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."

While Firaxis isn't likely to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 directly, leaving that to their publisher 2K Games, we might get more clarity during the upcoming Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April.

While the potential for mouse support on the Switch 2 remains a mystery, as does the function of the new Joy-Con button, we do know that Nintendo's next-generation console is slated for release in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, a new Mario Kart game is in development for it. You can catch up on all our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage right here.