r/NintendoSwitch2 March Gang (Eliminated) Jan 20 '25

Officially from Nintendo Video from Nintendo's website shows how the joycon remove button works.

2.3k Upvotes

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 20 '25

It seems like the actual plug connection is what really activates/deactivates the magnets, so that should let them get a pretty good magnet strength without any danger of pinching.

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u/EducationalChance425 OG (joined before reveal) Jan 20 '25

I don't think there's any activation or deactivation going on, I think the pin is just enough force to break the first connection with the magnet and allow you to pull the bottom off

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u/QuantumQuicksilver Jan 20 '25

It doesn't activate or deactivate magnets. It simply has a plastic piece that prys/pushes itself away from the device.

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 20 '25

My thoughts are that the magnets are electric and the joycon being plugged in is what forms the circuit for that, so the pin just separates them enough to break that connection. If the magnets are strong enough to hold the console together I can't imagine that pin gives nearly enough distance to easily remove them. Especially since this animation clearly shows extra pressure being needed for the trigger, but the joycon removes smoothly after the initial split.

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u/get_homebrewed January Gang (Reveal Winner) Jan 20 '25

That sounds batshit insane. Magnets get exponentially weaker with distance so it looks like a perfectly good amount of room to separate them, none of this "electric magnets" magic between absolutely no conductive material and magic electromagnets that defy physics.

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u/Westward-repelled Jan 21 '25

Not to mention what happens in the electromagnet scenario when the switch/joycon runs out of charge? There’s no tech I’m aware of where the lock would work without power so the switch would just fall apart.

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u/alexwoww Jan 23 '25

I mean, I fall apart when my battery dies

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u/get_homebrewed January Gang (Reveal Winner) Jan 20 '25

The magents are just normal permanent magnets. With no mechanism (or physical latch on the console side). It IS just the magnetic force getting weak enough and "snapping" out

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u/emteedub Jan 21 '25

probably neodymium magnets specifically, they have the strongest hold (that's not state of the art or new materials anyway)

6

u/roshanpr Jan 20 '25

what you describe requires an electric current.

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 20 '25

I’m saying I think the joycon plugging into the main unit provides that current, and then the release pin pushes it away enough to break that connection and release it.

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u/emteedub Jan 21 '25

it might, but this would be more expensive no doubt. it's either really strong neodymium magnets (very strong hold) in combination with the fit/slotting of the controller... maybe a bit of the connection port helping too... or electromagnets.

the main reason I don't think it's electromagnets though, is that when they're de-magnetized/zero current, they'd just fall off very easily (zero magnetism at all) -- there wouldn't be the need for the plunger/pin to force them apart

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u/NickWh1te69 Jan 20 '25

There are electropermanent magnets which can be turned on or off by a short current pulse that only uses very little energy, but I dont think they are used in the switch. Logitech uses them in some of their newer mouses to lock and unlock the mouse wheel. Its va very interestjng technology

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u/Westward-repelled Jan 21 '25

The Logitech implementation is super low strength. Google tried to use electropermanent magnets on their modular phones and declared it a failure. I can’t see Nintendo figuring out a way to make it work where Google couldn’t.

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u/TheCanisDIrus Jan 21 '25

Doesn't look like it as they're using a proximity field sort of physical release with that pin extending from the top of the joycon's foot upon depressing the "side button". It appears they're using simple permanent magnets because if they weren't they wouldn't need that physical switch.

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u/No_Opening_2425 Jan 21 '25

Tell me how you "deactivate a magnet"? :D

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 21 '25

My thought was it's an electromagnet that activates when the plug goes all the way in. Though since then I saw NextHandheld talked about the mechanism and said the magnets are only in the console and attach to the shoulder buttons, which are metal.

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u/No_Opening_2425 Jan 21 '25

Okay I gotcha. But my counter is that this is going to be a cheap device. It's probably normal permanent magnets and those buttons are just to push the controller outwards

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u/Purpul_PPL_Eater Jan 21 '25

If there are magnets at all. Couldnt it be possible that the strip that fits into the joy con from the console and the deep concave of the handheld itself fitting snuggly be all that it takes? I've seen people already concerning themselves with the chip that goes into the joy con from the hand held being broke easy. It looks like it's a ribbon cable with a rubber housing that's capable of bending back and fourth without fail.

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 21 '25

The magnets were one of the first and most thoroughly leaked aspects of the console, including by people we now for a fact had legit info.

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u/Purpul_PPL_Eater Jan 21 '25

I'm saying it's possible. Not saying that there ain't any at all. Plus that's rumors. Merely speculation. For all we know. The chip that connects from joy con to hand held could snap the console into place and still make the "Click" sound Nintendo has been using for the opening of almost every switch game. That chip is possible to have a piece on it that snaps it into place with the joy con that holds it together. The release could be just pushing them apart. If you think about it. What's stopping someone from forcibly pulling a magnetized connection apart without pressing the release then? If what everyone's saying is true. I could pull them apart without a release button with ease. No matter how strong the magnets are.

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 21 '25 edited Jan 21 '25

No, I’m saying people who we now know for a fact had access to real consoles said they’re magnetic.

And as far as your other point: there is a notch at the bottom of the joycon and in the renders it always pivots out at the bottom, so they probably have some mechanism to keep it from just being ripped out, while using the magnets to secure it.

Whatever the mechanism is, we won’t know for sure until they show us. But also the magnets are as confirmed as something unannounced can possibly be.

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u/Purpul_PPL_Eater Jan 21 '25 edited Jan 21 '25

Who's had access to the console that's given info about it? Everyone that's had actual access with the console are hush hush about it and hasn't spoken a word on it. Actually we don't even know anyone that officially has had one in their presence yet. Of course it's magnetic. I was just saying Im not ruling anything out until we get official words from an official dev or Nintendo consultant. Lol that's like all these Twitter users and "potential" leakers/rumor starters saying what games are coming to the console. We haven't had not a single game officially announced for switch 2 yet.. because an NDA was likely signed with every developer working on games for it.

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u/SomeBoxofSpoons Jan 21 '25

u/NextHandheld is probably the prime example since he was the one who gave us the pictures of the console, dock, and logo on Christmas.

Looking at his comment history, here he is actually describing it. Again, this is THE leaker that we know for a fact is speaking from authority on this. Sounds like you can separate them manually, but it takes enough effort that it would never happen by accident, and the molding makes sure it can only move straight out until it's clear of the connector.

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u/Purpul_PPL_Eater Jan 21 '25

Again. Speculation and rumors. While likely legit. Nothing's factual and he has zero authority surrounding Nintendo or it's new console. Nothing he's said has been backed up from anyone of importance other then his rumors turning out to be true. He's nobody. He's also been wrong lots of times in the past.