Key Takeaways
1. Nintendo has filed two new patents for accessories for the Joy-Con in the upcoming Switch 2: a crank and a clickable wheel.
2. The crank accessory is designed to convert rotational movement into on-screen actions, targeting the popularity of fishing games in Japan.
3. The purpose of the clickable wheel accessory is unclear, but it may enhance mouse functionality or serve as a steering wheel for racing games.
4. Nintendo has a history of creating quirky and unconventional accessories, though there’s no guarantee these patents will result in actual products.
5. There is criticism regarding Nintendo borrowing ideas from other companies while strongly defending its own intellectual property.
As observed by Nintendo Patents Watch (via Bluesky), Nintendo has filed 2 new patents that could potentially introduce a crank and a clickable wheel to the Joy-Con for the Switch 2.
Details of the Crank Patent
The crank, which was first submitted in February 2024 and was made public on August 7, 2025, appears to utilize a rotary disk that is tracked by the Joy-Con 2’s mouse sensor. This setup converts rotational movement into something that can be displayed on the screen. It seems to be designed as an accessory to capitalize on the popularity of fishing games in Japan. One can’t help but think of the Playdate when looking at this. It’s interesting to note that while Nintendo vigorously defends its own intellectual property, it seems to borrow ideas from other companies without much hesitation.
The Mystery of the Click Wheel
While the crank’s purpose is quite clear, the role of the click wheel accessory is not immediately apparent. If it’s meant to enhance the mouse feature of the Joy-Con, adding it to the part of the controller that faces down on the table during mouse mode feels illogical. Maybe this accessory could serve as a small steering wheel for racing games or be used in some mini-game context.
Nintendo’s Quirky Accessories
Nintendo has a history of unconventional accessories, and there’s no certainty that these patents will lead to actual products. However, considering Nintendo’s tendency to be litigious, it seems a bit unfair for them to mimic features from one of the most original handheld devices in recent years.
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