Unraveling the Enigma: 12 Potential Implications of the Not-C-Button on Swap 2
Here we are, participating in the waiting game as Nintendo prepares for its April Announcement and unveils more enticing details about the Switch 2. Well, at least we hope so; it feels like we’ve been swimming in rumors and speculation for quite a few years, and following the official trailer, we have our fingers crossed for a substantial reveal on April 2nd.
But in the meantime, what do we have? Ideas, feelings, suggestions, wants (and perhaps a few more leaks) — that’s our current situation. That recently rumored new button on the standard Joy-Con is one of the few aspects we can confirm from the presentation, and it’s not necessarily even a ‘C’ button anymore — at least it doesn’t seem to have that letter labeled on the top.
But what purpose does this enigmatic new button serve? Is it connected to some new Nintendo social platform? Does it trigger a switch-to-TV mode that mimics the dual-screen capabilities similar to the Wii U? Is it even a button at all?
Today, we’re going to take a lighthearted perspective on some possibilities for Switch 2’s mysterious addition.
#1 ‘Surprise/Delight’ button
Wherever you find yourself, pressing the Surprise-Delight button will create something quirky and unexpected. Maybe it plays a random sound effect on the menu or makes all the menu icons flip upside down, or the profile pictures turn into a Smash-style brawl on the screen.
Or how about some Eternal Darkness-style mind tricks? We’re imagining pop-ups saying all your save data is being deleted or ‘Thanks for purchasing $2000 worth of eShop credit.’
Less ‘delight’ with those, seemingly, but this Pandora’s Box button would certainly keep you on your toes.
#2 ‘Launch Google Sheets’ button
Hello, you want a place to jot down notes and keep a list of all the games you wish to acquire, right? Time to open up a spreadsheet!
Linking it to that, a Notes app could be really handy for scribbling down ideas — we would have loved to have that while playing Lorelei — and that seems more likely than the spreadsheet idea. Okay, ‘Notes App button’ it is then.
#3 ‘Mother 3 Western Localization Request’ button
Every time you hit the button, an email is sent to Nintendo requesting an official localized release of Mother 3 in the West.
Nintendo assures us this is the case, although a Joy-Con disassembly shows this button isn’t necessarily connected to the circuitry.
#4 ‘Delete the screenshot you accidentally took when you meant to press the Home button’ button
We’ve all mixed them up and accidentally captured a screenshot instead of hitting the home button. Or we’ve handed the Joy-Con to kids only to discover 47 images and 9 video clips stored in the gallery later on.
This button instantly deletes the last screenshot or video you captured so you won’t have to navigate the menu and delete them manually. Simple! Next-gen innovation.
#5 ‘Send To Screen’ button
What’s this? A somewhat serious idea?
While the Wii U’s dual-screen antics feel unlikely, and the possibility to use Switch on a TV without docking it could also be perplexing, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Switch 2 to send some sort of display to the dock without being physically connected. Rumors suggest that the dock may have some power of its own this time, implying that something might indeed be feasible, although a full-on switch-to-screen button seems improbable.
Imagine a particularly simple Nintendo Land-styled mini-game that was rendered and streamed to the TV for other players while the Switch owner held the main unit visibly different. Picture a DS Nintendo Switch Online app that streams the main display to the TV while the lower display shows on the Switch itself. For DS emulation, ‘Mouse Mode’ could provide a solid way to enable touch-like precision on a TV screen, but there are always other possibilities.
Speaking of which…
#6 ‘Mouse Mode’ button
If the optical sensors in the Joy-Con are going to be utilized for mouse-like input, you don’t want them active the entire time you’re holding the controllers normally; a designated button to toggle that mode on and off makes perfect sense.
Not the most exciting option, I admit, but a practical one at least. Okay, back to dreaming.
#7 ‘Miyamoto’s Cutscene Skip’ button
This button is essentially a remnant from Switch ‘1’ development models — a skip button expressly included to appease the man known for prioritizing gameplay over narrative fluff. Jump straight to the action whenever you find yourself bogged down in exposition and endless text.
Claims that he used this button on three separate Joy-Cons during playtesting Pikmin 4‘s initial hours remain unverified.
#8 ‘Reject All’ button
Cookies are going to find you, and Nintendo is going to start showing ads of Legitimate Interest on Switch 2!* However, Nintendo also realizes how tedious and unpleasurable it can be to turn off all those sliders individually, so reject them all with a single button press!
Additionally, it’s not to imply that we don’t read every single word of the 40-page document our favorite publishers enjoy bombarding us with before we reach the main menu, but occasionally you just want a quick reminder about the Terms & Conditions. Nintendo to the rescue with the ‘EULA Recall’ button!
*Not actually. Well, not as far as we know.
#9 ‘Miiverse-like Playtest-y Social Hub’ button
Nintendo is developing a brand new social hub dontyaknow! Nintendo’s potentially reviving Miiverse… maybe! They miss curating all those entertaining images!
Hmm, we’re not entirely convinced about this proposition, but it’s always possible that the new button will include some form of social feature that directly opens a brand new online portal. Anyone who took part in the Playtest Program late last year may remember a