The Nintendo Switch may have many peripherals, accessories and controllers but the console’s Joy-Con controller hasn’t seen any updates since launch, other than the addition of new colors. This may soon change though if a patent Nintendo recently filed comes into action in future. The patent surfaced from the official Japanese patent database, and schematics show that the Joy-Con may be given more flexibility on top. The change is a bit strange and the benefits of it are unclear at the moment.
As can be seen from the images below, this patent will add flexibility to the Joy-Con by allowing it to bend at the top at a 20 to 30 degree angle against the natural position of the hand. This should, in turn, improve ergonomics for the device. There also seems to be another design where the controller is bent at the bottom. In addition, it seems that the Joy-Con will still be able to attach to the Switch, even if it is bent. (It is important to note that this is all just speculation as the patent is in Japanese, so it is difficult to obtain detailed instructions regarding the feature.)
Nintendo files patent for hinged Joy-Con →https://t.co/e6KsrdRn2c (@NinEverything) pic.twitter.com/AoXfl1FBYb
— Nintendo Switch (@NinSwitchNews) September 6, 2019
Tech giants file patents for things all the time but many never actually come to fruition. This is especially true with Nintendo, who are famed for working on crazy experimental products. It does seem interesting that Nintendo is messing around with the design of the Joy-Con; something which they haven’t done, even when faced with the scrutiny of “Joy-Con drift.”
Although this is one revision many fans didn’t want, it may provide some benefits especially to players who may suffer from disabilities. With new devices such as the revised Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite on their way, it make senses that Nintendo may be looking to change the Joy-Cons too. We’ll have to wait and see whether it will be with flexibility features.
What do you think of this recent patent for the Joy-Con?
