On August 7, a patent filed by Nintendo in February 2024 for a Joy-Con controller peripheral was publicized and made the rounds on social media. The new Nintendo patent indicated that an attachment for the Joy-Con controllers that includes a hand crank is being considered by the company, though it is not clear if this concept will make it to production.
The conceptual Joy-Con accessory could potentially include a mouse operation sensor, which would interact with the Switch 2's Joy-Con mouse sensors located on the sides of the controller. As it stands, the Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used in mouse mode for specific games, including Mario Paint on the SNES Nintendo Classics app. Upcoming titles like Drag X Drive and Metroid Prime 4: Echoes will also support the Switch 2 Joy-Cons in mouse mode, with the former being mandatory and the latter being an option for players to consider.
Nintendo Has a Warning for Switch 2 Owners
Nintendo issues a public service alert to Switch 2 owners, as the company encourages users to take caution when playing it in certain conditions.
Nintendo Files Patent for a Hand Crank Controller Attachment
While some Switch 2 Joy-Con accessories have had a mixed response, a new patent from Nintendo shows the company is not done developing them. As reported by GameSpot, the patent indicates that the accessory would attach to a Joy-Con controller from the side, though it is not clear if this would be for the original Switch or the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. The controller attachment was also shown with a hand crank that would protrude from the side of the attachment and include full rotational capabilities. The hand crank would also interact with a mouse sensor, which would allow for games either focused on fishing or included as a side activity to use this accessory as an additional control scheme. The hand crank could also be detached from the main connecting accessory and reattached as needed.
Though fishing controllers have been used as third-party options for various games, smaller companies have used hand cranks as a main selling point of their products. A portable console known as the Playdate includes a small hand crank attached to the main unit for supported games. The Playdate was created by Panic, the publishers of indie games like Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game.
A filed patent does not always mean that any items will be produced, so Nintendo fans should take them with a grain of salt. Given that Nintendo consoles and peripherals have recently increased in price, it remains to be seen what Nintendo's plans are for Joy-Con controller accessories.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
- Yes
The successor to 2017's Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on June 5, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Ports
- 2x USB Type-C / 3.5mm audio
- App Store
- Nintendo eShop