Nintendo is reportedly at the present, working on bendable Switch controllers. The present Joy-Con controllers are perceived as not flexible enough, and a little innovation is thought necessary.
Recently, the company applied for a US patent on Joy-Cons with hinges. This new development will reportedly allow the top half to bend so that these controllers will have a more ergonomic grip. Allegedly, this would work regardless if the controllers are attached. The side sections allow users to slide them on to the rails of the Switch. Despite this massive change in design, functionality will remain the same.
If the plan pushes through, the biggest change is said to be the flexible circuit board. As of now though, nothing is certain, as reported by Engadget. This is only the American version of an international patent from last year, February 2018 to be exact. However, since then, the changes that Nintendo was able to produce is the Switch Lite, which fixes the controllers into place.
Regardless, it means that Nintendo really finds something wrong with the current Joy-Con design, and is still looking for ways to enhance it. With the patent already existing, fans should not be surprised if bendable Switch controllers suddenly emerge.
Meanwhile, Nintendo has provided a teaser of a strange new motion control experience for Switch users. More details will be released about it on September 12, but at present, it seems that there are two main pieces to this new device.
First, there is a primary but flexible ring where the Joy-Con half is going to be inserted into and then more additional handles around the circumference that will serve possibly as the main controller. Second, there is another leg strap tat the other Joy-Con half will go in. Some surmise that this will contain certain fitness tracking features.
The guess that the new device will be linked to some fitness features is not surprising. The video hinted as much. From the video, some players can be seen vigorously squeezing the ring and then moving around - running and jumping in place. It is all too easy to assume that this must be exercise or fitness-related. However, until the company releases more details, It will be hard to conclude what this is.
According to The Verge, even though it is unclear what it is, what is sure that it could be following the footsteps of 2018's Nintendo Labo cardboard accessories, which also depend on the Joy-Con controllers' motion controls as well as sensors so that an all-new level of game playing can be executed.
