Firaxis Silent on Nintendo Switch 2 'Mouse' Joy-Con for Civilization 7

If you tuned into 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 attachment side down onto a surface. They connect to what look like flat-bottomed connectors and then glide across the surface, mimicking the motion of a mouse on a mouse pad. A closer inspection reveals something resembling a slider pad on one of the connectors, lending further credence to the idea that the Joy-Cons could function as a mouse.

Rumors had been swirling before the reveal that this functionality might be possible thanks to a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, akin to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm these speculations or what this feature might entail if it's true.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

28 Images

The reveal sparked thoughts of upcoming games, like Firaxis’ Civilization 7, which is already slated for the original Switch and should run on the Switch 2 thanks to backward compatibility. The big question is whether there will be a version tailored for the Switch 2, leveraging the new Joy-Con's potential mouse functionality to enhance gameplay, making it feel like playing with a mouse.

In a recent IGN interview about the Switch 2 reveal, Civilization 7's lead designer Ed Beach stayed mum, but executive producer Dennis Shirk offered a tantalizing hint. "It is definitely intriguing," Shirk said. "You always have trade-offs with console controls. 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 isn't ready to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7—that's up to publisher 2K Games. But with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April, we might not have to wait long to find out.

While we're still in the dark about the potential mouse support for the Switch 2 and the purpose of the 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 is in development for the platform. For all the latest on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can catch up on our comprehensive coverage here.