At a hands-on Switch 2 event in NYC, Polygon got the chance to test out the new Joy-Con mouse functionality in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and other games
Nintendo announced its Switch 2 Joy-Cons could be used as a mouse — in either hand, even — during its Switch 2 Direct on April 2. Mice and other pointers have been aiding in making certain game movements more precise for decades, so the idea of a console-based mouse is tempting, if it’s implemented well.
During a hands-on event in New York Wednesday, I was able to test the Joy-Cons’ mouse mode on a few different gameplay experiences specifically designed to highlight it. Nintendo is a company known for unique (or sometimes gimmicky) implementations of control schemes, yet the mouse has had decades of refinement for computer gaming. So some of the experiences I had using the Joy-Con as a mouse felt classic, but some left me scratching my head as to whether it would receive wider adoption.
The new Joy-Con — called Joy-Con 2 — has been given extra heft and sturdiness compared to the first iteration. They fill my hands a bit more comfortably without being too much wider. When I’m sliding them on their sides, it doesn’t seem like they will accidentally tip over. I found that the mouse could also register on different types of surfaces; while Nintendo provided nice, cushy, desk-sized mouse pads to use during demos, I also tried sliding the mouse up and down my corduroy pants to simulate “gamer conditions” of playing in the wild.
