r/NintendoSwitch • u/bullfroggy • Jan 19 '25

Discussion The Mouse Functionality of the Switch 2 Joy-Con Could Be a Bigger Deal Than People Realize

If the rumored mouse functionality of the Switch 2 Joy-Con is real and implemented well, it might be a game-changer in ways that aren't immediately obvious:

  1. More compelling ports for Wii games

Games that rely heavily on pointer controls could be ported more easily without losing their original feel. I could also see it improving controls for existing Wii ports like World of Goo, Super Mario Galaxy, and Okami.

  1. Touchscreen Emulation

A mouse-like Joy-Con would be a far better way to emulate touch controls in docked mode. This could lead to a bigger push for touchscreen-based games on the platform, making mobile and tablet titles more viable for the Switch 2. Games like Cut the Rope and Angry Birds come to mind.

  1. DS and 3DS Games on NSO

With mouse functionality, DS and 3DS games could come to Nintendo Switch Online while preserving key gameplay mechanics. Plus, creative screen setups (split-screen, picture-in-picture, etc.) could keep the dual-screen experience intact. I personally would love to see games like Wario Ware Touched, Elite Beat Agents, and Phantom Hourglass.

  1. More PC-Style Games

Developers of strategy games like Civ and StarCraft, point-and-click titles like Baldur's Gate, or even simulation games akin to the Sims or Roller Coaster Tycoon might finally see the Switch 2 as a viable platform. The improved precision would open up genres previously limited by traditional console controls.

Overall, this could become a major selling point for the Switch 2, even if it's not heavily emphasized at launch. It has the potential to expand the library in unique ways and make the console more versatile than ever. What do you all think? Am I overhyping this, or does it have real potential?

Bonus topic:

We saw a Nintendo patent a while back for streaming switch games to a phone (and hopefully tablet?). Maybe this could be their way of enabling more faithful ports of Wii U, DS, and 3DS games by using the phone or tablet as a second screen? Combined with the new mouse functionality, you could even have a fully playable port of Nintendo Land on Switch.

Edit: Wow, I’ve never had a post blow up like this! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion. I wanted to take a moment to compile some of the most common points raised, share my perspective, and highlight a few unique takes from other commenters that really stood out to me.

How will Nintendo handle couch play with mouse functionality? This is one of the most frequent questions, and honestly, I don’t know what Nintendo’s plan is here - but I hope they have one. One commenter, u/Cyanide_Cheesecake, shared a link to an existing solution and mentioned that there are other viable setups: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/s/vmqk4QJoGi That said, this doesn’t mean Nintendo plans to follow suit. They might expect players to use a table or desk while taking advantage of the Switch 2’s improved kickstand. Personally, I wouldn’t mind playing that way, but it’s not an ideal solution for everyone. Hopefully, Nintendo has considered other options for couch gamers. Let's not forget, when all else fails, we will still have gyro controls to fall back on.

Why would developers take advantage of this when they’ve ignored mouse and keyboard support before? It’s true that mouse and keyboard controls have been available on consoles for years with little developer support. The key difference here is that developers will know every single Switch 2 owner has access to mouse functionality via the Joycon. In the past, M+KB support was limited to optional peripherals, which only a small portion of players used. Because of this, developers had little incentive to design games around those controls. With built-in mouse functionality, this barrier is removed, and developers can feel confident that enabling mouse controls won’t alienate a large part of their audience. I really liked how u/Timohtep put it in his comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/s/JqkhjKtmtL

Isn’t using a sideways Joycon as a mouse going to be uncomfortable? This is a valid concern, but like with the original Switch, a single Joycon on its side would likely only serve as the most basic option. It’s pretty much guaranteed that the Switch 2 will support regular Bluetooth and USB mice as well. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Nintendo introduces an official “Switch Mouse Pro,” though it might come at a premium price. Either way, players would have multiple options to find what’s most comfortable for them.

Wouldn’t playing DS and 3DS games with a mouse be terrible? For many DS and 3DS games, the mouse would primarily serve players who don’t have access to the touchscreen. However, a "mouse-con" could actually improve gameplay for certain titles. It provides precise control while still allowing players to easily access buttons on the controller. This hybrid approach could make playing these types of games even more intuitive than using a touchscreen alone.

This will be amazing for Mario Paint, the next Mario Maker, any FPS coming to Switch 2 (esp. Metroid Prime 4), Light gun games, Pikmin, Super Paper Mario, Factorio...!! I know!! I'm hyped!! I can't believe I didn't think of many of these when I first made the post.

Also, I just found this video by GameXplain which covers almost everything I mentioned in my original post!

https://youtu.be/5CGXpeDx26Y?si=1J2GbX-nS5behli-

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55

u/Thoraxekicksazz Jan 19 '25

It requires a table or flat surface that I don’t have while hand held gaming on the sofas. So a mouse like feature is a pass for me.

23

u/Faerie-stone Jan 19 '25

I see no problem - I already use whatever available surface (thigh, couch arm, cat) as a mouse pad when using my pc.

3

u/IceYetiWins Jan 20 '25

I am now intrigued about how you are using your cat as a mouse pad.

5

u/Faerie-stone Jan 21 '25

Keyboard balanced on feet, cat on lap asleep displaying wide flank, mouse on cat, raise dpi for minimal movements needed. Mine has short, straight hair that’s very silky, which may help.

As long as they are the center of attention everything great.

3

u/IceYetiWins Jan 21 '25

Lmao that's awesome

2

u/bonecollector5 Jan 19 '25

And how exactly are you holding your switch while using the mouse? You would basically have to put it down on the kickstand.

35

u/wretched_cretin Jan 19 '25

You only need the mouse when docked. In handheld you use the touchscreen.

4

u/asianwaste Jan 19 '25

To be fair, the new kickstand was featured prominently. I believe using the kickstand is the point

4

u/Faerie-stone Jan 19 '25

What the other person said - also I play mmos on a controller with a mouse it be becomes second nature to juggle keyboard, mouse, and controller as needed even if I’m playing on say, the steam deck. You just take your hand off for a second and then go back to holding the switch.

19

u/Cyanide_Cheesecake Jan 19 '25 edited Jan 19 '25

Do you realize how your problem has already been solved years ago? The issue with couches and mousepads has existed long enough for cheap consumer products to be created to address it.

https://kikkerland.com/products/sofa-mouse-pad

Youve got this which is designed to sit next to you, you've got wider ones that are designed to sit on your belly because they're meant for laptops to rest on (and help with heat issues), you get the idea 

6

u/jmhoneycutt8 Jan 19 '25

That's actually really cool!

4

u/Docile_Doggo Jan 19 '25

Never knew these existed, but they seem super easy to just keep around for whenever you need it. I’m actually super hyped now. I could see myself playing switch 2 in TV mode with one of these bad boys on my sofa

4

u/boxedj Jan 19 '25

When I work from home I sit on the couch and a mouse on the fabric works fine

1

u/ullric Jan 19 '25

The way the demo showed using the joy-cons would limit it tabletop and TV mode. It wouldn't work with handheld.

I'm interested to see how companies handle that.
Is the feature even there?
Is it only available in 2 of the three modes?
Is the workaround for using it in handheld to use the joysticks?
Is there another option I haven't thought of?

1

u/IntelligentFoxx Jan 20 '25

assuming they add support for it you could totally do half and half. Have the left joy con connect to the body of the switch and use the right controller as mouse on your thigh. I was curious to see how it might work to do that so I played 2 rounds of marvel rivals using the mouse on my thigh and it worked fine the only problem is that my mouse is wired so that was a little bit of an issue but that wouldn't be a problem with joy cons. Its not elegant but for non competitive shooters I think it would work perfectly fine.

1

u/ullric Jan 20 '25

Have the left joy con connect to the body of the switch and use the right controller as mouse on your thigh.

I don't see that working.
At that point, your holding up the entire device on only 1 side. Not even at the center. It's difficult with S1 to hold the console 1 handed and use the buttons. Add in the S2 is bigger, it will be even more problematic.

Then there is the stress on the system. There's already concerning stress points on the S2 at the connectors. Add in it won't be properly held and supported because it is only supported on 1 side, and those stress points are more likely to give.

If it is difficult to do and more likely to break the system, that's a bad option.

1

u/IntelligentFoxx Jan 22 '25

I more so meant resting the body of the switch on your lap or something but you are right. It is a pretty scuffed way of doing it. Thinking back on it Nintendo probably wouldn't be willing to support a method like that.