Overview
- Nintendo’s Switch 2 Joy-Cons nearly excluded the release button from their design.
- The combination of a strong magnetic connection and the functionality of easy detachment led to the incorporation of the release button.
- Multiple design iterations were crucial in refining the Switch 2 Joy-Cons.
In an intriguing revelation, senior officials at Nintendo disclosed that the release button nearly did not make it into the design of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. Despite initial challenges, the company successfully integrated this vital feature after a series of thorough design iterations.
Nintendo originally aimed to create magnetic Joy-Cons for the first-generation Switch. However, prototypes led to a persistent issue where the controllers detached too easily during handheld gameplay, prompting the company to pivot away from that direction. Consequently, the original Switch utilized side rails, allowing the controllers to attach securely while employing a release button positioned on the back of each Joy-Con for detachment.
With advancements in technology, Nintendo revisited the magnetic attachment concept for the upcoming Switch 2. The new Joy-Cons utilize magnets to connect seamlessly to the console. Interestingly, this shift toward a magnetic system nearly resulted in the omission of the release button, a fact highlighted by Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto during a recent interview with MobileSyrup. Kawamoto noted, “Originally, we didn’t have the button that would release the magnet—and so you had to pull.”
Challenges in Joy-Con Design by the Switch 2 Producer
Kawamoto’s initial decision to forgo a button-based release mechanism raised concerns about the ease with which children could detach the console’s Joy-Cons. To mitigate this, he instructed Nintendo’s engineers to implement a “strong magnet”for the Switch 2 Joy-Cons, while ensuring the connection would be manageable enough for adults to detach easily. Acknowledging the contradictory nature of his request, Kawamoto informed that his team explored various solutions, with some being dismissed due to technological limitations at the time.
Ultimately, Nintendo developed a solution that preserves the intent of the original Switch Joy-Con release button, adapting it for the magnetic setup. The new release mechanism features a small plunger that, when activated, pushes the controller away from the console gently, facilitating its detachment. Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta remarked that significant effort was invested in perfecting this mechanism, underscoring the iterative nature of consumer electronics design.
The eagerly anticipated Switch 2 is slated for release on June 5. Following an unexpected two-week delay, pre-orders in the U.S. will commence on April 24. Remarkably, Nintendo has chosen to maintain the previously announced retail price of $449.99, despite the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs from the Trump administration, which are anticipated to resume in mid-July 2025, unless resolved through new trade agreements. However, consumers should expect most Switch 2 accessories to cost between 5% and 25% more than initially projected.