Nintendo's proposed Joy-Con design concept raises suspicions of devious innovation
Nintendo, the renowned gaming giant, has recently filed a patent for innovative new accessories for its upcoming Switch 2 console. The patent, published in August 2025, reveals plans for a hand crank attachment and a clickable rotary wheel attachment that would magnetically attach to the side of the Joy-Con controllers [1][3][4][5].
The hand crank attachment, if developed, would provide full rotational input, tracked by the Joy-Con's built-in mouse sensors. This accessory is designed to offer new gameplay inputs, particularly for games involving fishing mechanics or activities where rotational control offers a unique interaction [1][3]. Notably, the crank would be detachable, allowing for flexibility in gameplay.
In addition to the hand crank, Nintendo has also patented a clickable rotary wheel attachment. This accessory, too, interacts with the mouse sensor, offering additional control possibilities [3][5]. The patent suggests that the click on the wheel would be transmitted to the left shoulder button.
Nintendo's patent indicates that the crank would leverage the existing Joy-Con mouse sensors, which already support mouse mode in select games like Mario Paint (via the SNES Nintendo Classics app), and upcoming titles such as Drag X Drive and Metroid Prime 4: Echoes [1]. If developed, the crank accessory could enhance immersion and gameplay variety in games like fishing mini-games, or potentially new titles, evoking a control style similar to the Playdate handheld’s crank mechanism [4].
However, it's unclear if or when these accessories will become commercial products. Patents do not guarantee release, and Nintendo has not announced plans for production yet [3]. The patent filing for the clickable Joy-Con wheel was made over a year before the rumored Switch 2 release, suggesting Nintendo's ongoing experimentation with Joy-Con accessories [1].
This patent demonstrates Nintendo's interest in expanding physical interaction methods with the Switch 2 controllers, potentially offering new play styles beyond traditional buttons and sticks [1][4][5]. The similarity between the proposed hand crank add-on for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Playdate console has been noticed [2].
Some gamers are speculating about possible ports of Playdate games to the Switch, given the similarities between the two devices' control mechanisms [6]. If developed, the hand crank add-on could change the fishing experience in the rumored next Animal Crossing game.
As always, stay tuned for more updates on the Nintendo Switch 2 and its accessories. For reviews and the best prices for the Switch 2, be sure to check out our dedicated sections.
References: 1. Nintendo Life 2. Polygon 3. Nintendo Patents Watch 4. Kotaku 5. Eurogamer 6. GameSpot
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