Civilization 7 Dev Firaxis Remains Coy on Nintendo Switch 2 ‘Mouse’ Joy-Con

The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal showcased a potential "mouse" mode for the Joy-Cons. A segment in the trailer depicts detached Joy-Cons placed on a surface, connecting to what appear to be flat-bottomed connectors, and then moving like a mouse on a mousepad. A possible slider pad is visible on one connector, further fueling speculation.

Pre-reveal rumors suggested this functionality stemmed from a mouse-like sensor within the Joy-Cons. However, Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed this feature or its implications.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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The reveal sparked immediate speculation about potential game adaptations, particularly Firaxis' Civilization 7. While already confirmed for the original Switch, a Switch 2 version could leverage this potential mouse functionality.

IGN's interview with Civilization 7's lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk yielded a suggestive response from Shirk regarding the new Joy-Con capabilities: "It is definitely intriguing...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." This hints at potential optimizations but stops short of confirmation.

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While Firaxis won't directly announce a Switch 2 version, 2K Games likely will. Further details are anticipated at the April Switch 2 Direct.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding mouse support and a new Joy-Con button, the Switch 2's 2025 release (likely June-September) and a new Mario Kart title are confirmed. [Link to further Nintendo Switch 2 coverage]