Summary
TheNintendo Switch 2’s magnetic Joy-Cons were originally an idea planned for the first Switch. Earlier in January, eager gamers finally got to see theNintendo Switch 2for themselves, confirming numerous leaks and rumors suggesting that it would maintain its predecessor’s overall design and multipurpose functionality. The Nintendo Switch 2 is bigger than the previous Nintendo console and sports some beefier hardware, but overall it serves as more of a continuation of the company’s current approach to gaming rather than the drastic reinventions of generations past.
One aspect of the Nintendo Switch 2 that many gamers agree is a step upis its Joy-Con controllers, which connect to the main system magnetically rather than through the physical rail system seen on the old Switch. This new connective system was rumored even before the full unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16, but it wouldn’t be until a recently released video that the magnetic Joy-Con controllers would be officially confirmed.
As it turns out, Nintendo was originally planning to utilize magnetic Joy-Con connectors while designing the original Nintendo Switch, as revealed in an old interview with Nintendo’s Yoshiaki Koizumi back in 2017. This was pointed out byNintendo Lifeand other outlets soon after themagnetic Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Conswere confirmed, and in a snippet, Koizumi describes some of the ideas the team had for the old Switch’s signature controllers. One of these was the use of magnets to connect the Joy-Cons to the main system, but while Nintendo liked the clicking sensation when the controllers locked into place, the Joy-Cons would keep falling out during use.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Magnetic Joy-Cons Were First Planned for the Original Switch
In order to keep that same clicking sensation of the magnets while ensuring that the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons remained secure while in tablet mode, Nintendo decided to go with the physical rails. Now the old magnet concept has been improved and recycled forthe upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, which has Joy-Cons that can simply be snapped into place instead of having to be slid and can be released with a button press.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Con controllers have plenty of other new features to set them apart from their predecessors, such as a mysterious new button and an alternate functionality that sees them placed on their sides andused like a computer mouse. More information about theNintendo Switch 2and its controllers will be revealed during a Nintendo Direct livestream on April 4.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on June 23, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
