Nintendo Switch 2 will replace retractable Joy-Cons with magnetic locking ones

The iconic sliding “click” of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons could be replaced by a magnetic attachment mechanism on the Switch 2, according to a report from a gaming news site. Vandal.

The website states that this new design will make direct backward compatibility of the Nintendo Switch 2 with existing Switch Joy-Cons “difficult.” However, we imagine some kind of additional magnetic mount that would allow the old Joy-Cons to be attached to the new system’s magnetic connection points. According to the site, current Switch Pro controllers that don’t physically connect to the Switch should be fully compatible with the Switch 2.

Vandal cites several anonymous accessory and peripheral makers who apparently touched the new console inside a dark box without seeing it, which was used to balance the secrecy of the design with the need to provide a general idea of ​​the device’s dimensions. According to these sources, Nintendo Switch 2 will be “more than a switchalthough not reaching the size of a Steam Deck.”

As for the Joy-Cons, Vandal He notes that the design will remain very similar to the current controls, with the only difference being that they will “attach to the screen magnetically.”

As for the release date of the new Switch 2, the news site emphasizes that the company practically already has a new console ready to release; However, Nintendo prefers to wait for a video game catalog dedicated to it. Hardware there is a more extensive offer. What does it mean? We’ll have to wait until next year to find it in stores.

In 2021 Vandal has accurately revealed some preliminary details about the Nintendo Switch OLED design shortly before the launch of the enhanced console, giving some credence to new Switch 2 rumors coming from the same outlet.

Pick a control and stick to it

Nintendo has a mixed reputation when it comes to controller compatibility on its latest consoles. The company went to great lengths to ensure that the GameCube would work on the Wii (to a point), while the Wii U was built primarily around compatibility with Wii controllers and existing accessories. However, for the Switch, Nintendo has released a series of limited edition retro controllers specifically for use with classic Nintendo Switch Online games.

Microsoft emphasized that the Xbox Series S/X works with all standard Xbox One controllers (not you, Kinect). And PlayStation 4 owners, for their part, had to purchase new DualSense controllers for use with the PS5.

For softwareNintendo has only given vague answers about whether the upcoming Switch 2 will be compatible with the thousands of games developed for the current generation Switch. However, some reports say that developers are already testing this type of backward compatibility in the next release. Hardware

In February, multiple articles stated that Nintendo was aiming to release Switch 2 in early 2025 to give developers more time to create a version of the game. software Solid for an unannounced console. Previous reports suggested that the new hybrid console will have a larger eight-inch screen and will support DLSS upscaling and texture anti-aliasing on Nvidia’s Ampere-based processors.

Article originally published in Ars Technica. Adaptation by Andrei Osornio.