Sorry GameChat, Mouse Controls Win as Top Switch 2 Gimmick

For the first time in over a decade, Activision is bringing a Call of Duty title to the Nintendo Switch. Already promised as part of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, this was expected. What we didn’t know at the time was that the Nintendo console that would welcome the latest entry of Call of Duty would have the ability to play the game in a way that mirrors PC better than PS5 or Xbox Series X. Of all the gimmicks that Nintendo loves to implement in its consoles, mouse controls might be the most significant since the Wii’s motion controls. Sorry GameChat, you can keep your dedicated button; mouse controls are the top Switch 2 gimmick.

This isn’t the time to host a funeral for GameChat. We’re still seeing it featured in first-party titles. The difference, however, is what makes a game feel fuller. Any great gimmick, from the 3D in the 3DS to the motion controls of the Wii, should feel additive. In the two examples I just offered, the latter is certainly more enjoyable than the former, even if some 3D experiences worked well on the 3DS. I’m not saying you should always play every game with mouse controls, but the differences are noticeable and, yes, additive.

For anyone with experience playing a first-person shooter on PC, you know the difference that mouse controls can make. It’s immediately evident when you try out Metroid Prime 4 with the Joy-Con 2 unattached from the console and held horizontally. Nothing is saying you can’t have preferences, but the learning curve isn’t as steep as some would have you believe. Lifelong console gamers are even regularly posting on Reddit about how they can’t believe how good it feels.

Even in Pokémon Pokopia, the difference in functionality between mouse controls and controller play is night and day. Especially in the post-game, mouse controls are essential. Would I feel the same way if I could see myself in a little box above my Ditto? Don’t make me answer; you already know my response. All I’m saying is that for the Switch 2, we’re not simply dealing with a suped-up version of its predecessor. Mouse controls are making gaming better on this generation of Nintendo consoles.

While nobody assumed GameChat would transform the way we play, mouse control functionality is a big enough deal to warrant a call-out in the official press release for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. It’s likely to be a huge release for the Switch 2 later this year, as part of a string of third-party titles coming to the Nintendo ecosystem. It might not have a dedicated button on the Switch 2’s controller, but it might prove to be a slow but steady selling point for the console as other handheld PCs become more expensive. If you have a Switch 2, how often do you try out mouse controls when they’re available to you? Let us know in the comments whether you view them as a viable way to play.