Switch 2 Patent Suggests You Can Flip The Console Upside Down – Nintendo Life
GuestGuestLogin | Sign UpNintendo LifeGuestLogin or Sign UpFlippin’ ‘eckA new patent from Nintendo suggests that the Joy-Con controllers for the Switch 2 can be inserted into either side of the main console, effectively letting you flip it 180 degrees according to your preference.As spotted by VGC, the patent includes detailed images showcasing the idea, with the two Joy-Con controllers effectively making full use of the new magnetic connection system to allow you to attach them on either side of the console. With the original Switch, this simply wasn’t possible unless you wanted the Joy-Con to be facing backwards, which… y’know, isn’t ideal.With the Switch 2, then, being able to flip the console upside down will allow you to choose whether you want the single headphone jack pointing up or down. Naturally, other features that you’d normally see on the top of the device, including the power button, volume control, and cartridge reader, would also shift to the bottom.What’s interesting, however, is that while the USB slot on the bottom of the device will presumably be used to dock your Switch for TV mode, the new USB on the top sits slightly to the right when looking at it head-on. So, if you want to flip the Switch 2 upside down, it seems reasonable to assume that you might not be able to dock it in this manner (though of course, you can just dock it normally and either remove the Joy-Con or use a Pro Controller).As of the time of writing, we still don’t really know what the new USB slot does. This would have been a perfectly fine explanation had it been situated dead centre like the bottom one, but it seems we’ll have to wait until Nintendo confirms this in the coming months. Could we possibly expect some wacky peripherals..?Of course, as with any patent, this functionality might not actually be present in the retail model of the Switch 2. It seems likely that you will be able to flip it, however, given the new magnetic technology being utilised, but for the time being, we’d recommend taking this with a grain of salt until Nintendo either confirms or denies.Plus, another mysterious controller is includedSqueakerWould you be interested in flipping your Switch 2 upside down? What benefit do you think it could bring? Let us know with a comment.[source patentscope.wipo.int, via videogameschronicle.com]About Ollie ReynoldsNintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry.Comments 65Pokémon Malamar Version incomingPretty interesting, looking forward to seeing if this will end up being present in the retail model first and foremost and then its potential applications if that’s the case!Very cool , but a litle useless – u can`t have ” dpad ” in the place of analog or wiiu style 2 analogsI would very much like this.Does this also mean you could theoretically use two left or two right Joy-Con, instead of one left and one right?Huh, now that you think about it, the Joy-Con connectors are positioned in a way that you can use either the L or R Joy-Cons on both sides.@dcon_dot_exe what differnce will that make ?What they needed were little doors on the top and bottom so the joy cons can be connected for tate mode.As of the time of writing, we still don’t really know what the new USB slot does.I’m going to go out on a limb – and call me insane, if you want – and say that it’s probably some sort of port used to charge the Switch 2 and/or for plugging USB devices into.@Markatron84 That’s INSANE, what the heck!!So is that why the system has two USB-C ports on opposite ends?Honestly I’d rather this flipped OPEN to reveal a second screen like a DS instead of flip upside down!Does this mean you can insert the red joycon in the blue side and vice versa? If so that would be really cool but then why have the color coordination in the first place?@dcon_dot_exe I don’t think that would work. The triggers on one of them would be on the bottom in that caseUpsideDATE mode confirmed.This is Nintendo’s ploy to get us to buy 2 Switch 2 consoles. so both screens can act together as a “DS”I want to see a full TATE mode for the os. It would make sense since there are so many shmups on switch.I doubt this has made final design. It would make the colour cordination confusing and they did kinda emphasise it. Typical unused patent I reckon.Could you connect a second Switch 1, Switch 2, or even any tablet or phone to make it some kind of DS?Why is there no mention of left-handed controls? UGH.What is Tate mode? Pimping and running off to Romania?I mean, no one can argue with the success of the Atari Lynx so….I don’t see how this accomplished anything I care about. That either means it’s useless (to me at least) or… we could be poised for another delightful surprise!@Markatron84 I find it unlikely that the secondary usb-c port is capable of charging the device, which would also be a pretty good reason to shift the port off-centre, to prevent someone from making the mistake of docking it via the wrong port.@PtM As the name suggests to Japan @WhiteUmbrella Camera for AR or microphone incoming !I can already flip my Switch upside down. It’s not very fun to play that way, but it’s possible.”Snake, Psycho Mantis can see your every move! You need to flip the console upside down!”I could see this technique being useful for increasing compatibility with various devices and accessories, to give increased access to parts which are only present on the top or bottom for the intended use case.An off-the-cuff example is making it possible to more effectively use the U-shaped kickstand as a hanger to attach the Switch 2 screen to the back of a car seat in some way, for example, if the orientation of the screen also flips appropriately.Or if there’s a non-joycon accessory, it makes it possible to only manufacture one version of it that can attach to either side of the system, and maybe leave a standard joycon plugged into whichever side is more appropriate for the person or application.Any ambidextrous people out there no doubt know how annoying it is when computer mice are designed specifically to be left or right handed when you want to use it for both. Saves everyone involved time and money when one device can serve several purposes, especially if one of those purposes is relatively niche.@GrailUK yes, but the model shown in the trailer has the joycon slots also colored. So if Nintendo does different colors of joycons down the line it gets confusing anyway. I don’t think the color coding has been given too much “user experience” thought, which is odd, admittedly.Just give me the ability to use it in portrait mode so that I can play DS games on it.Fun fact turning the switch 1 upside down will actually just rotate the universe.If Switch 2 can flip the image i can see myself hanging the console using the new U shaped kickstand. Makes it easier to imagine bedtime sessions.@Chocobo_Shepherd I had an Atari Lynx 2.If I remember correctly the manual said flipping the screen display was for left handed gamers where the d-pad would be on the right and face buttons on the left.As someone who’s left handed I didn’t find this function necessary but maybe they had other accessibility issues in mind.With the Switch 2, playing arcade games in Tate mode would be nice without the need for a 3rd party accessory.@teo_o Ok…then what about the kick stand? I just don’t see this being a thing lol.Flipping ‘eck.@GrailUK Agreed. Tipycal Nintendo quirkiness that might not make the final product. Still, the inside slots being colored like the joycons respectively apparently made the final product and i can already feel the pain of inserting the yellow/blue version of the controllers. If there’s a gray SKU i might go boring this time around.@teo_o I’ll happily concede that it’s kinda cemented the idea of orange and blue featuring on the joycons which makes diffenert coloured joycons feel a bit jarring. But then again, they may have some nice designs featuring detail as opposed to blanket colour. Who knows.@dcon_dot_exe Would make for some interesting multiplayerCould be interesting.@WhiteUmbrellaand/orPokemon is gonna use it for that one dumb evolution method and nothing else.Bet.@Markatron84 I suggested the additional port wouldn’t be used for charging, and you reacted as if I had accused you of being wrong. I think you’re a little too sensitive to be using the internet.I mean, you could flip Switch upside down too. And every other console, too.Phones have been able to do this for a long timeIt honestly makes sense and I was surprised Switch 1 didn’t do it. I’m sure there’s even gameplay options to be had, like auto TATE mode. I hope this feature is for real.Now when can we do vertical rotation?Aren’t there certain Pokémon that evolve if you flip the system upside down?Why not just wait until Nintendo actually makes an announcement instead of just speculating…@NintonicGamer Lefties?As long as my screen orientation doesn’t keep flipping upside down on me when I’m trying to hold it upright, as my phone is prone to do. Surely, there will at least be a rotation lock feature.Looks a bit pointless. But if it actually has a meaningful purpose, and it is indeed part of the system’s features, I’m all for it. The core system is clearly very solid, so any extra little bells and whistles are a bonus basically.im still waiting for the Nintendo NX, i mean make a external dock (like it is now) but make it ultize a more powerful GPU chip. Plug in your Switch just like we did with the expansion slot on the N64s. But as we all know Nintendo isnt about power its about good quality games but for the 3rd party companies it would be nice. I know alot of people who want CoD on switch but are forced to either PC, Xbox, or PS5. Way past time im hoping to see alot more love for these type of games on the Switch 2 now that it is more beefier alot more beefier.@dcon_dot_exe THIS is what I was getting ready to ask. It could get interesting.Came here for the Atari Lynx comments. I had one and it was fun when I could hook up the AC adaptor and didn’t need to use the batteries that lasted five minutes, lol@Dom_31 This made me chuckle hard. And you’re probably spot on too.Surely this means you can have two left or two right controllers attached, if you want a bit more challenge? 🤔What is there to patent? It’s automatic screen rotation, like any Smart Phone or tablet has for the last 15 years or so.It’s a neat feature for the Switch 2 to have, if the Joy-Con’s can be connected bi-directional, so you can decide if you want the USB and headphone jack on top or bottom during your handheld sessions.I can already flip my Switch 1 upside down. But… what for?I keep seeing speculation that the top USB-C port could be for peripherals but I think it’s more likely just to be for convenience when powering the device when in handheld mode so you don’t have a cable sticking out the bottom of the device.If you plug peripherals into the top, they won’t be very usable when the Switch 2 is docked. It would make far more sense (to me anyway) for any peripherals to connect via the Joy-Con connectors. That way a Guitar Hero or fishing rod controller can be used both in handheld and docked modes. Of course if Nintendo do another Lite console with non-detachable controls again then the potential for cool new controllers flies away again… 😢@WhiteUmbrella you’re reading too much into my initial comment and my reply to yours. You might be a bit too sensitive to be using the internet.@Markatron84 Ok, snowflake.@WhiteUmbrella “ok snowflake”? Jesus, you’ll be hitting me with “cool story bro” and “I love that for you” next. 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