Nintendo has had more than its fair share of weird and wonderful controllers in its time. From the Nintendo 64 controller’s third handle, to theWii Remote and Nunchuckcombo, to the unwieldly Wii U Gamepad, Nintendo rarely chooses to go with the safest option. TheNintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2s are no different.
The original Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons were incredibly unique controllers for the time, with their ability to detach from the console and become two separate controllers still being a key selling point eight years after launch. But those original Joy-Cons were far from perfect, with small buttons and the notorious stick-drift holding them back from greatness. TheNintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Cons have just been fully revealed, and while they’re not reinventing the wheel, they’re bringing some notable improvements to the table.
Every New Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Feature Explained
Magnetic Attachment
One of theNintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons' most overt new features is its built-in magnets (located inside the SR and SL buttons), allowing them to attach to the console easily and remain in place even when great force is used to try and separate the two. To safely detach the Joy-Con 2s from the Switch 2, users simply need to hold in a new trigger located next to the shoulder buttons, on the side of the controller.
Bigger Buttons
Though the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t any thicker than its predecessor, it is larger, both in terms of screen size and Joy-Con size. The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons are a little longer than the original iterations, allowing more room for slightly larger buttons. More specifically, theJoy-Con 2’s analog sticksare larger, and the SL and SR buttons are much wider.
Mouse Functionality
Possibly the Joy-Con 2’s best innovation – just as long as it’s actually implemented in games – both controllers on the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature mouse functionality. Users will be able to detach the Joy-Cons and move them atop a surface to drag a cursor across the screen. In this mode, the Joy-Cons' shoulder button functions as a mouse click. Ingames likeMetroid Prime 4: Beyond, players will be able to use one Joy-Con as a mouse, while using the other as a regular controller, allowing for more precise aiming but still a classic control scheme for movement.
The “C” Button is for GameChat
When the Nintendo Switch 2 was first teased, a major point of speculation was what the mysterious ‘C’ button on the right Joy-Con could be for. Those questions have now been answered, and it might surprise some fans.
TheJoy-Con 2’s C buttonis used for the console’s brand-new GameChat system, which took up a good portion of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. GameChat is essentially a Discord-like party function, where players can join a lobby and communicate via voice chat (and video chat if they buy the Switch 2’s new camera). The C button itself pulls up a chat menu that lets players quickly mute their mic, stop video, share their screen, and leave the call.
Nintendo Switch 2’s GameChat feature will eventually require a paid subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, but it’ll be free for everyone up until July 15, 2025.
