Aside from hoping your Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons aren’t succumbing to stick drift, kicking them sufficiently charged is an ongoing battle. If you’ve built up a library of beautiful, vibrant Joy-Cons, the good news is that Nintendo’s new Joy-Con charging stand is coming to get you back into the game quickly. However, as nifty as this fresh accessory is, we reckon there’s a chance it could be hinting toward a Nintendo Switch 2 feature.
Now, you’ll have to bear with us here on this one. Earlier this year, leaks claimed that the Nintendo Switch 2 would upgrade Joy-Con technology significantly, by using magnets to attach to the handheld’s body. This means the current standard of using the Switch‘s rail mounts would be completely abandoned, meaning you’d need to charge your lovely Joy-Cons another way. Enter this brand-new charging stand, set to release in Japan, Europe, and North America on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
If Nintendo really is ditching the rail mount system for magnets, then it might be wise to consider picking a charging stand up to play all the best Switch games in your backlog. The new stand is available to pre-order now, and doesn’t just charge your standard Joy-Cons, but also awesome accessories like the Nintendo Famicom or NES Joy-Con variants.
It uses a USB-C connection, but can only charge one pair of Joy-Cons at once. While third-party companies have offered similar solutions over the years, we reckon that the introduction of this accessory is interestingly timed to say the least. Especially as Nintendo confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be revealed in the next year, with a release date likely to follow.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa is even preparing to combat scalpers before the handheld is even on the market. However, it isn’t just us twirling our mustaches like a grizzled detective when it comes to this forthcoming accessory. Journalist and prominent Nintendo scooper Laura Kate Dale theorizes that “Switch 2 games will be playable with your OG Switch Joy-Cons, BUT an altered device rail design will mean your old Joy-Cons can’t charge off the Switch 2 console.”
Furthermore, Dale suggests that “this is being released so [that] your existing Joy-Cons can be on charge when new hardware drops.” Could this be a subtle hint from Nintendo that Joy-Cons are ditching their current design behind, or do we need to take off our tin-foil hat? Alongside alleged hardware boosts for the Switch 2, it’d certainly be a welcome addition, with the magnetic Joy-Cons operating similarly to some of the best Steam Deck alternatives.
Until Nintendo lifts the lid on the Switch 2, why not try out some fresh games? Dive into our list of the best free mobile games out there, or keep updated with all the new Switch games on the horizon.