Newly-published Nintendo patents show that the company has been exploring a version of its Joy-Con controllers that can work like a computer mouse, a feature Nintendo has hinted will be coming to the Switch 2.

When Nintendo first unveiled the Switch 2 last month, we (and everyone else) noticed something peculiar about the new Joy-Con controllers. Now, some recently unearthed patent filings more or less confirm all the theories.

This confirms what many fans suspected upon seeing the Joy-Con controllers sliding around a surface on their sides during the announcement trailer last month. Presumably, the “mouse operation” feature will allow some games on Switch 2 to be played with either traditional controller inputs or mouse inputs.

A recently published patent gives audiences a deeper insight into the teased mouse functionality of the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons.

Furthermore, Nintendo refers to the new Switch 2 Joy-Con as the "first embodiment" of the input device, the mysterious new controller as the "second embodiment", and the original rail-system Joy-Con as the "third embodiment", suggesting that, yes, these are indeed separate devices.

A machine translation of the full text of the patent describes the controller as "a novel input device that can be used as a mouse and other than a mouse." In mouse mode, as described in the patent, the user cradles the outer edge of the controller with their palm and places the inner edge "on, for example, a desk or the like."

A recently discovered patent shows Nintendo Switch 2's Joy-Con being used like the mouse on a PC, seemingly confirming system rumors.

A patent filed by Nintendo has strengthened rumors that Nintendo Switch 2 ’s Joy-Con controllers will include mouse functionality. The patent was filed Aug. 1, 2023, but was published Thursday, Feb. 6,

Civilization 7 Devs express some interest in the Switch 2's features, drumming up speculation about a dedicated port for the system.