Nintendo patents reveal the silliest Joy-Con accessory yet, but it's not entirely original

Newly unveiled Nintendo patents have given us a sneak peek into two fresh accessories for the Joy-Con 2 controllers, with the standout item appearing to draw heavy inspiration from an indie handheld device.

The journey of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been somewhat rocky thus far, yet it's already been marked by some truly stellar games. Admittedly, the Nintendo Switch 2 2025 games line-up hasn't offered much as of now, but titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza have been an absolute delight for those lucky enough to get their hands on them.

However, for many, the upgrade is hard to justify at present, especially for owners of the original Nintendo Switch. Nintendo is ready to show fans what they're missing out on, with recent events such as the Partner Showcase and Nintendo Direct Indie World showcases demonstrating that there's plenty more in the pipeline.

What gamers probably didn't anticipate at this point, however, was the introduction of more accessories, particularly after the lukewarm reception of the console's camera. But it seems that's exactly what we might be getting, as Nintendo has lodged new patent applications hinting at some fun new gadgets to experiment with.

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Nintendo goes on a Playdate

Thanks to the eagle-eyed Bluesky account ninpatentswatch, we've got a sneak peek at some fresh patents from Nintendo, hinting at potential new accessories in the pipeline – including a novel crank wheel and a clickable wheel. As unveiled in recent posts, these patents are accompanied by illustrations that demonstrate how these add-ons would enhance the Joy-Con 2 controllers. The crank operates on a rotary disc tracked by the Joy-Con's mouse control, while the wheel is similarly tracked, albeit with a gear train.

It's tricky to pinpoint exactly what Nintendo has up its sleeve here, and this patent doesn't necessarily mean we'll see these accessories materialise in any significant way. However, it does highlight Nintendo's readiness to inject a bit of whimsy into the second Switch's lifespan. This isn't the first time a crank wheel has made waves in the gaming sphere; the indie-driven Playdate features a crank wheel on its right-hand side, a fun idea, designed for fun's sake, that has actually led to some brilliant mini gaming experiences.

If these accessories are indeed in the pipeline, we might be waiting a while for them to become reality. However, following the first Switch's experimentation with its Labo systems, this seems like a continuation of Nintendo's readiness to embrace a bit of fun and further appeal to children's perception of gaming consoles as toys.

It's a charming touch regardless, suggesting that we might see more whimsy from the gaming giant. Amidst the doom and gloom pervading the gaming industry, you can always count on Nintendo to inject some light-heartedness.