Nintendo has filed patents revealing plans for new Joy-Con 2 controller accessories for the Switch 2, including a Playdate-like hand crank and a clickable wheel attachment. The crank accessory magnetically attaches to the side of a Joy-Con 2 and uses the controller’s mouse sensor to track rotational movement as input. This setup could enhance gameplay for fishing titles or mini-games, such as those in the Animal Crossing series. The crank closely resembles the unique crank input popularized by the Playdate handheld.
The clickable wheel, also magnetically attached, is designed with a gear train to track rotation and includes buttons mapped to Joy-Con inputs, potentially adding new control dynamics for various games. This wheel looks like a lighter in patent illustrations, and while its exact use cases are less clear, possibilities range from miniature steering wheels to friction-enhanced mouse controls.
Though these patents date back to early 2024 and were recently made public, there is no certainty Nintendo will release these accessories commercially. However, they exemplify Nintendo’s continuing interest in quirky, innovative hardware add-ons, reminiscent of their Wii era and Nintendo Labo experiments. The crank could be the first of many unconventional accessories for the Switch 2, opening up new interactive possibilities for players.
Nintendo’s creativity with accessories could again reshape how players interact with their console, making gaming experiences more tactile and unique, especially with the Switch 2’s hardware upgrades.
If realized, these accessories could bring fresh, playful input methods to Nintendo’s console ecosystem, expanding the ways players engage beyond traditional buttons and joysticks.