How the Nintendo Switch 2's biggest problem was solved using a 3D printer
Giovanni Colantonio, a writer for the game media Polygon, who has been using
I tried to fix the Nintendo Switch 2's biggest problem
https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2-joy-con-mouse-shell-3d-printing/
Colantonio first experienced the Nintendo Switch 2 in April 2025, before its release. He was impressed by the performance of the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, but felt they would be problematic in the long run. He felt the Joy-Con 2 controllers were too thin and difficult to hold as a mouse, since they were virtually unchanged from the original Joy-Cons.
Colantonio wrote that this belief was confirmed when he reviewed
Drag x Drive (Drag and Drive) Introduction Video - YouTube
Colantonio said that using the mouse for short periods of time in mini-games like Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition isn't a problem, but that longer periods of mouse use, like Drag x Drive, can be daunting.
Colantonio felt a need for a solution, and many Nintendo Switch 2 users online were searching for a solution as well. While discussing with a colleague how to make mouse operation with Joy-Con 2 more comfortable, Colantonio heard that 'someone was solving the problem with a 3D printer.'
Since there were many users who were making their own mouse adapters for the Joy-Con 2 using 3D printers, Colantonio searched for this and found a mouse adapter created by rewolf . The mouse adapter created by rewolf is distributed on MakerWorld, a platform for sharing 3D models for 3D printing.
Switch 2 JoyCon 2 Mouse Adapter (Ergonomic Design) by rewolf MakerWorld: Download the free 3D model
https://makerworld.com/ja/models/1455279-switch-2-joycon-2-mouse-adapter-ergonomic-design?from=search#profileId-1516600
The mouse adapter rewolf created supports the palm of your hand with a thick curve, while still allowing access to all buttons. While using it didn't seem to cause wrist injuries, Colantonio wrote, 'I didn't think the problem could be completely solved by simply using the provided data.'
The real appeal of the Joy-Con 2 was that it allowed users to use both mouse and motion controls, but because the mouse adapter was loosely inserted into the 3D-printed parts, 'it was impossible to shoot the ball into the goal using Joy-Con 2 in Drag x Drive,' says Colantonio.
However, Colantonio pointed out that 'Drag x Drive was difficult to use even without the mouse adapter, and never worked reliably. Drag x Drive was designed to make the most of the Joy-Con 2, but in the process, it seems like they overdid it a bit, and it shows the technical limitations.'
Colantonio then tested the mouse adapter to see if it improved Joy-Con 2 mouse control using other games. He tested the mouse adapter's usability in the 'Balloon Popping Shooting Game' and 'UFO Control Mini-Game' from the '
He also tested the mouse adapter's controls in 'Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition,' but found that playing with the mouse adapter was tricky due to scenes requiring players to lift the Joy-Con 2. 'I think the mouse adapter will be most useful in shooters, strategy games, or other genres that use mouse controls in a more traditional way,' Colantonio wrote.
Furthermore, Mr. Colantonio said, 'The Joy-Con 2 design seems to compromise functionality more than I initially thought. However, using the mouse adapter once again demonstrated to me that the ingenuity of the gaming community is unparalleled. There is a long history of players developing third-party accessories to solve problems and sharing them with other players. Some of these are experimental, like drink holders for Joy-Con, but in some cases they solve serious accessibility limitations on game consoles years before platform manufacturers solve them with their own adaptive technology. Then, constructive dialogue takes place between manufacturers and fans, and new solutions are found to meet the needs of various players. '
Related Posts:
