There is only one step between a brilliant idea and a damp squib. Many of the technological innovations used to date are based on an originally crazy but promising bet. To a lesser extent, the mouse mode of the Nintendo Switch 2 could fall into this category.
Unveiled in a short trailer on January 16, Nintendo's next console did not mention any technical specifications, but lifted the veil on its design and some of its features. While aesthetically the Nintendo Switch 2 does not differ much from the base model, there are some ergonomic innovations, including the famous mouse mode which has been implicitly confirmed. Too bad, it could turn out to be much less ingenious than it seems.
A discreet officialization
Subject of many rumors before the console was made official, the mouse mode of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been debated for several weeks now. The manufacturer's communication, which confirms its arrival, was an opportunity to ask the right questions about the functionality.
We can see in the trailer a new accessory that attaches to the magnetic part of the Joy-Con and allows it to slide on a flat surface while protecting the buttons and connectors. Nintendo even plays on the image of the animal mouse in case the spectators did not understand the more than obvious allusion.
This novelty allows Nintendo to complete the meaning of the word Switch in the name of its console, and therefore to justify - at least in part - the transition to the new generation. What is a good plan in theory is in practice very irrelevant according to the players.
Ambitions far from being relevant
The question that everyone is asking is the following: what could a mouse be used for on Nintendo Switch? In reality, several scenarios are possible. Gamepads are far from being the most suitable controllers in certain types of games, as well as certain in-game interfaces or certain ergonomic configurations.
We can notably cite the example of so-called point and click games, FPS or even management games, which require the player (almost) only clicks to interact with the title. Whether it's Return to Monkey Island, the Ace Attorney saga, Cities: Skylines, the Two Point saga or even the games Splatoon 3, Metroid Prime 4 and Civilization VII which will be released this year on Nintendo's console, all are eligible for this controversial mode.
The mouse can also be very useful when it comes to navigation in the broad sense. The current Nintendo Switch is not particularly known for its web browsing, like all home consoles, but the Switch 2 could put more emphasis on this point to match the mouse mode of the Joy-Con. As a result, the console could very well join the ranks of PC consoles… provided that Nintendo pulls out all the stops in terms of performance to compete with the brands already present in this segment.
Good innovation, bad timing
But is this what gamers are asking for? The Nintendo Switch 2, like its predecessor, will likely be used for its family, platform, adventure, and action games. These types of games are very often more comfortable with a controller than a mouse. In addition, this raises some questions in terms of purely practical use.
In living room mode, players tend to sit on their couch, without having a place to put the mouse and navigate. This would therefore be aimed at those who use their console in living room mode on a computer/desk, or in portable mode on a table/stand. However, this is not the most common way to use the Nintendo Switch.
So we are not sure that mouse mode will revolutionize the practical use of the console, but this addition is undoubtedly a new proposition from a manufacturer. Would we have preferred Valve to think of it first for its Steam Deck? It's obvious.
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