Nintendo is working on new concepts for Switch 2 – here's what could be coming

Nintendo is known for its unusual gaming concepts. There are plenty of examples, from the Nintendo DS's dual screens and the Wii's motion controls to the original Switch's combination of home console and handheld gaming. Recently, however, the Japanese gaming giant seems to have lost some of its innovative edge. At least, that was the assessment of one participant during a Q&A session on Nintendo's latest business results on November 6. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa disagreed, emphasizing that developing new gaming experiences remains a high priority for the company.

Nintendo executive Shinya Takahashi offered a little more detail. According to him, hardware and software developers are currently working closely together to create new ways to play. However, hardware features aren't necessarily the starting point. Instead, the company first develops interesting gameplay ideas and then considers which technical capabilities are needed to bring them to life. Takahashi didn't reveal exactly what Nintendo has in mind, but several of the console's features seem like obvious candidates. After all, the Switch 2 (currently available on Amazon for $800) does introduce some genuine innovations. So far, however, they have seen relatively little use.

These Switch 2 features could inspire new gameplay ideas

One obvious starting point would be the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which can be used like computer mice. So far, only a handful of games have taken advantage of this feature, including the wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive. Skill-based or strategy games designed specifically around mouse controls would certainly be conceivable. The Switch 2 camera could also play a bigger role in future games. So far, it has primarily been used in Super Mario Party Jamboree, allowing players to control certain minigames through body movements.

Then there are the multiplayer features Nintendo introduced with the Switch 2: GameChat and GameShare. While GameChat enables voice and video calls as well as screen sharing, GameShare allows players to enjoy selected multiplayer games together even if only one of them owns the game. Both features could give Nintendo plenty of room to develop new multiplayer concepts. For now, however, this is all speculation. On Reddit, mouse controls in particular are being discussed as a likely candidate for new gameplay ideas. What Nintendo is actually working on – and whether fans will ever get to see it – remains to be seen.