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, a pair of detached Joy-Cons are shown being lowered onto a surface, attachment side down. They connect to a pair of connectors with relatively flat bottoms, and then slide across the surface, much like a mouse on a mouse pad. If you look closely, you can even spot what looks like a slider pad on the bottom of one of the connectors, which adds further credence to this intriguing theory.

Rumors had been swirling in the lead-up to the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal that this functionality might be possible due 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 might 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, it’s set to be compatible with the Switch 2 thanks to backward compatibility. But the big question remains: will there be a version specifically designed for the Switch 2 that utilizes the new Joy-Con's apparent mouse functionality, allowing players to experience Civilization 7 as if they were using a mouse?

IGN touched on the Switch 2 reveal and the potential mouse feature in a recent interview with Civilization 7 lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk. While Beach kept quiet, Shirk gave a teasing response that's sure to fuel further speculation.

"It is definitely intriguing," Shirk said. "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."

Of course, Firaxis isn’t ready to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Civilization 7—that decision lies with publisher 2K Games. However, with a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for this April, we might get more clarity on this soon.

While we wait to learn more about potential mouse support for the Switch 2 (and the mysterious new Joy-Con button), we do know that Nintendo's next-gen console is slated for a 2025 release, 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.