Break out the mousepads Switch 2 leaks point to controllers that work like computer mice Circumstantial rumors suggest a new hybrid hardware gimmick might be in the works. Kyle Orland Jan 7, 2025 11:59 am | 17 A Reddit user demonstrates how the Switch 2's mouse functionality might look (using an original Switch Joy-Con) Credit: Reddit / RNOWRONG A Reddit user demonstrates how the Switch 2's mouse functionality might look (using an original Switch Joy-Con) Credit: Reddit / RNOWRONG Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreHere at Ars, we're judicious about which of the many, many Switch 2 rumors we decide to highlight on this page. For every report on hardware power or magnetic Joy-Cons that we share, there are probably five others we see and decide are too lightly sourced, too unlikely, or just too plain obscure to spread here.But when we started hearing reports that the Switch 2's Joy-Cons could be cradled on their sides and manipulated like a full-fledged gaming mouse, we knew the concept was one you'd want to hear about.The rumors of mouse-like functionality on the Switch 2's included controllers got supercharged over the weekend when a Reddit poster shared detailed photos of purported Switch 2 Joy-Cons, sourced from an unnamed Chinese social media user. In between the longer shoulder buttons along the Joy-Con's inner edge (SL and SR) and a new central connector port, eagle-eyed viewers noticed what looks suspiciously like the optical sensor that sits on the bottom of practically every mouse these days.That could suggest a mode where you stand the controller up vertically against a hard surface and slide it around like a mouse. The layout would even allow a user to put a thumb on the face buttons and an index finger on the shoulder buttons for various "click" functions.Reddit users quickly started experimenting to see if cradling a Joy-Con like an (extremely thin) mouse would even work. Some even started referring back to leaked Switch 2 component shipping data that referred to a mysterious "mouse sole," whatever that means.The new hybrid?The appearance of that optical sensor in leaked photos aligns somewhat with a (seemingly reliable) December leak suggesting that the new Joy-Cons would have new functionality related to "lasers." In response to a comment, the leaker guessed that this "laser" functionality might be similar to that on the Lenovo Legion Go, which features a circular controller stand that can be used in conjunction with detachable controllers for a mouse-like "FPS mode."At this point, it's still an awful lot of speculation based on circumstantial evidence. Still, after the portable/TV hybrid concept of the original Switch, a controller/mouse hybrid setup for the Switch 2 would serve as an interesting hardware gimmick from a company that's known for them. One thing's for sure: A mouse-like Joy-Con would certainly be an interesting twist in the never-ending battle between mouse and controller players in modern shooters.With an official announcement for the Switch 2 already promised before the end of March, we won't have to wait too much longer to find out if these latest rumors pan out.Kyle OrlandSenior Gaming EditorKyle OrlandSenior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 17 Comments