Civilization 7 Dev Firaxis Remains Coy on Nintendo Switch 2 ‘Mouse’ Joy-Con

The recent Nintendo Switch 2 reveal video sparked considerable excitement, particularly with the intriguing glimpse of what appeared to be a "mouse" mode for the Joy-Cons. The trailer showcased detached Joy-Cons placed attachment-side down on a surface, connecting to what seemed like flat-bottomed connectors. These then glided across the surface, mimicking mouse movement on a mousepad. A possible slider pad on one connector further fueled speculation.

Pre-reveal rumors suggested this functionality stemmed from a sensor inside the Joy-Cons, similar to those found in computer mice. However, Nintendo has yet to officially confirm this feature or its implications.

Nintendo Switch 2 - First Look

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News of this potential mouse functionality immediately brought to mind upcoming titles like Firaxis' *Civilization VII*. Already confirmed for the original Switch, backward compatibility on the Switch 2 is a given. But could a dedicated Switch 2 version leverage this new Joy-Con feature, offering a mouse-like experience for strategy gameplay?

IGN posed this question to *Civilization VII* lead designer Ed Beach and executive producer Dennis Shirk. While Beach remained tight-lipped, Shirk offered a suggestive response:

“It is definitely intriguing,” Shirk teased. “You always do some trade-offs when you have to deal with pure console controls. And the announcement has some great stuff in it. I love what they're doing with the controllers. It's all very cool. That's about all I can say about it in terms of an opinion. I think it looks awesome and they're not wrong, so it would be cool for something like that.”

While Firaxis is unlikely to announce a dedicated *Civilization VII* Switch 2 version (that's 2K Games' domain), the upcoming April Switch 2 Direct might shed more light on this possibility. Despite the uncertainty surrounding mouse support and the mysterious new Joy-Con button, we know the Switch 2 is slated for a 2025 release (likely between June and September), and a new *Mario Kart* is in the works.

For comprehensive coverage of the Nintendo Switch 2, click here.