PC is typically considered the go-to platform for strategy games, but in the case of the Switch 2, XCOM creator Julian Gollop sees great possibility for the genre to expand on the new Nintendo console, thanks to Joy-Con 2s offering mouse-like controls. While we have seen several strategy games on console make use of a custom control scheme instead of the regular mouse and keyboard experience–Frostpunk 2 and Age of Empires 2: HD being prime examples here–fans of the genre typically prefer a more traditional approach to playing these games.
“I would never have guessed that as something they would add to the console, and it’s a really interesting feature,” Gollop said to GamesRadar. “Interestingly enough, a traditional-style mouse control RTS might work really well here, and also you’ve got at least a reasonable number of Switches you can use to substitute keyboard commands. It could be quite interesting. That’s probably something I would look forward to. That adaptation of the traditional mouse and keyboard RTS using the Switch 2 controllers might be pretty cool.”
Beyond the potential for strategy games–kicking off with Civilization 7 on Switch 2 launch day–mouse controls will also be implemented in a variety of other games and genres. First-person games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will offer mouse controls, and other games like Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster and Deltarune are also teasing a unique use of the controls.
Nintendo is also looking to provide players with a novel experience, as it has games like Drag x Drive, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour lined up for anyone looking to take part in a variety of minigames and activities using these new hardware features.
