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 reveal trailer, there's a striking moment where a pair of detached Joy-Cons are lowered onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a pair of connectors with relatively flat bottoms and then glide across the surface much like a mouse on a mouse pad. If you look closely, you can even spot something resembling a slider pad on the bottom of one of the connectors, further fueling speculation about this new feature.

Rumors had been swirling before the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, suggesting the possibility of this feature due to a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, similar to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has not yet officially confirmed these speculations or what this could mean for gamers.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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Following the reveal, one of the first games that came to mind was Firaxis' Civilization 7. Already confirmed for the original Switch and compatible with the Switch 2 via backward compatibility, the big question is whether there will be a specially tailored version for the Switch 2 that leverages the new Joy-Con capabilities to offer a mouse-like control experience for Civilization 7.

IGN discussed the Switch 2 reveal and its potential mouse functionality in an interview with Civilization 7's lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk. While Beach kept his thoughts to himself, Shirk hinted at the intriguing possibilities. "It is definitely intriguing," Shirk remarked. "You always have to make some trade-offs when dealing 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."

Are you planning on getting a Switch 2? ---------------------------------------

Yes, on day 1! Nope, I’m fine with my current setup.I'm waiting to find out more – games, specs, etc!

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Of course, Firaxis won't be announcing a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7; that's up to their publisher, 2K Games. But with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might learn more about this soon.

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