A few recent reports have suggested that Nintendo’s successor to the Switch console – which we, along with everyone else, are tentatively calling the Switch 2 – will feature Joy-Con controllers that attach to the device’s body using strong, electronic controlled magnets, instead of the sliding rail system used by the Switch.
The news broke for the first time Vandal, a Spanish site with a pretty good track record of leaks. Strangely enough, this was subsequently confirmed in a blog post from Moba pad, a third-party manufacturer of Switch peripherals and controllers. Vandal’s sources were also manufacturers of peripherals and accessories.
Mobapad’s surprisingly detailed report says the new Joy-Cons use “magnetic suction” to attach to the console, “using electromagnetic suction technology controlled by electric current.” This sounds like electropermanent magnets, which have a strong magnetic field that can be turned on or off by an electric current pulse. Presumably the user would click a button to attach or detach the controllers.
Mobapad says the new Joy-Cons are larger and have extra buttons: new buttons on the left and right (perhaps to control the magnets), plus a new function button below the Home button on the right Joy-Con. The SL and SR buttons (the buttons that serve as L and R when the Joy-Con is detached and used as a solo controller) are now apparently made of metal. Mobapad also confirmed that HD rumble is still possible via ALPS dual-axis linear motors.
Mobapad says the console is fully backwards compatible, including with physical game cartridges for Switch and digital games. The existing Pro Controller and Joy-Cons are supported by the new machine – although Switch 1 Joy-Cons are unlikely to attach to the console due to the new magnetic system.
Mobapad says the Switch 2’s dock will use the same USB-C connection as the existing dock, support a 4K display resolution, and feature “minor changes” to its appearance. Confusingly, the company also mentioned that the new dock has a “damping bracket on the back, allowing for a greater range of adjustable angles,” which sounds like it actually refers to the kickstand on the back of the console itself.
Mobapad also confirmed previous reports that the Switch 2 will have a larger 8-inch screen, supporting 1080p resolution.
Vandal provided a wonderful detail about the secrecy surrounding Switch 2 hardware demos to peripheral manufacturers. Nintendo’s partners were reportedly invited to put their hands in an “opaque box” so they could handle the machine and get a sense of its dimensions and ergonomics, without actually being able to do so. to see It. Yes, that’s right – they were subjected to the Gom Jabbar test.
Neither report mentioned the dual, detachable screens seen in a recent Nintendo patent. Mobapad noted the console’s “conservative approach”: According to this and other sources, Nintendo is preparing to release a simple sequel to the Switch with largely the same features as, and extensive compatibility with, the earlier machine.