In the days from Nintendo Switch2following the announcement, we spent hours going through every frame of the trailer, trying to gather as much information as possible about the modern console ahead of the April Nintendo Direct launch. While others focus on Joy-Cons and improved graphics, I’m more interested in the potential of compelling modern Nintendo Switch peripherals.
From what I’ve seen online, the Nintendo Switch 2’s dual USB-C ports have largely gone unchallenged, but there are a few imaginative people considering the implications this has for a range of modern peripherals for the console. Nintendo offer enabled X reminded everyone Nintendo patent application from 2022 for what looked like a dual-screen DS-like handheld. Could this be a detachable second screen for the Nintendo Switch 2 instead?
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As noted by gaming journalist Nathan Ellingsworth Xthe company has released some “crazy” Nintendo Switch accessories over the console’s lifespan, so what’s to stop them from doing it again? He suggests a camera peripheral with EyeToy-like functionality for motion tracking in sports games like Ring Fit and Just Dance.
As soon as I started thinking about the potential of modern peripherals for the Switch, I was immediately reminded of some of Nintendo’s previous devices. Before the advent of Labo kits or the Wii Fit board, the gaming giant released cameras, printers and even sewing machines for Game Boy handhelds.
Yes, you read that right. Reddit user Shonumi’s post showcases three separate Game Boy-compatible sewing and embroidery machines that allow you to program patterns from the device and bring them to life using a needle and thread. Nintendo even created one prototype of a knitting machine peripheral device for the NES back in the tardy 1980s.
I really hope Nintendo releases some cold and unique accessories for the modern console to take full advantage of its dual USB-C setup. As a huge fan of rhythm games, I’d love to see something like a Guitar Hero DS-style plug-in piano dock or fingerboard. Nintendo’s continued inventive exploit of accessories really has the potential to catapult the Switch 2 to the top of any Steam Deck alternatives list, so I hope the company takes advantage of this opportunity. Maybe the knitting machine will finally see the lithe of day!
So if, like us, you’re dying to get your hands on the latest portable console, keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order page. Alternatively, you can have your own hands-on Nintendo Switch 2 experience if you’re lucky enough to live near the event.
