Firaxis Hints at 'Mouse' Joy-Con for Nintendo Switch 2 in Civilization 7

If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video, you might have caught a glimpse of what appears to be a 'mouse' mode for the Joy-Cons. In the trailer, there's a striking moment where a pair of detached Joy-Cons are placed onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a pair of connectors with seemingly flat bottoms and then slide across the surface, reminiscent of a mouse on a mouse pad. Upon closer inspection, you can even spot what looks like a slider pad on the bottom of one connector, lending further credence to this intriguing theory.

Rumors had been swirling prior to the reveal that such functionality might be possible, thanks to a sensor inside the Joy-Cons similar to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or elaborate on what this feature could entail.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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One game that immediately came to mind after the reveal was Firaxis' Civilization 7. Already confirmed for the original Switch, it's poised to be compatible with the Switch 2 via backward compatibility. The big question is whether there will be a tailored Switch 2 version that leverages the new Joy-Con's potential mouse functionality, transforming the gameplay experience to mimic using an actual mouse.

In a recent IGN interview, Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk were asked about the Switch 2's reveal and the speculated mouse functionality. While Beach stayed mum, Shirk's coy response hinted at excitement. "It is definitely intriguing," Shirk said. "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. 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."

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

While we're still in the dark about the potential mouse support for the Switch 2, as well as the purpose of the mysterious new Joy-Con button, we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is set to launch in 2025, likely between June and September. Additionally, a new Mario Kart game is in development for the platform. You can catch up on all our Nintendo Switch 2 coverage right here.