Minecraft is testing Joy-Con 2 mouse controls in the closed beta of its Nintendo Switch 2 edition. The feature lets players use either controller as a pointing device and adjust cursor and camera sensitivity; Mojang has yet to set a date for its general release.
The addition addresses a missing feature in the current edition: although the console lets you use a Joy-Con 2 as a mouse on a flat surface, Minecraft did not yet offer that control option. The test makes it possible to aim and move the camera with the controller instead of relying solely on the analog sticks.
The feature appears in beta 26.70.24
GAME Watch reported that Mojang released the 26.70.24 beta and preview on November 10, a development version that includes bug fixes, system adjustments, and new features. Among them is Joy-Con mouse mode on Nintendo Switch 2.
The date and build number provide a concrete detail about the status of the test: this is not just a feature announced for later. Players with access to the beta can already try it, although availability in a preview version does not guarantee that it will work identically in the final edition.
GAME Watch cautions that beta and preview versions may be unstable and may not reflect the quality of the final version. It also notes that there is a dedicated form for submitting feedback about new features.
A Joy-Con on either side, with adjustable sensitivity
The test version lets players choose either the left or right Joy-Con 2. The controller rests on a flat surface to work like a mouse; according to Multiplayer.it, this mode can control the cursor and camera more precisely than traditional sticks.
The beta includes settings for cursor and camera sensitivity. It also lets players change the button layout in the game settings, so the default scheme is not necessarily the only option available.
With the initial configuration described by publications, ZL places blocks and ZR breaks them; the latter is also used to select blocks. Nintendo Everything adds that A lets you fly and B lets you descend. These are some of the assignments mentioned:
| Action | Default control |
|---|---|
| Place blocks | ZL |
| Break blocks | ZR |
| Select blocks | ZR |
| Fly | A |
| Descend | B |
Using ZL and ZR to place and destroy blocks is also mentioned by Nintenderos and My Nintendo News. In all cases, the layout can be customized in the game, although the sources do not specify what other assignments will be available.
Build and manage your inventory with greater precision
The practical appeal lies in tasks that require careful aiming. Placing blocks more precisely could help when building complex structures, while cursor control may be useful for interacting with the interface and managing inventory. These are potential uses of the feature, not a guarantee that every action will be faster for all players.
The mode also brings console controls closer to a PC setup by letting players choose one of the two Joy-Con as a mouse device. Unlike a conventional mouse, control is handled with the Nintendo Switch 2 controller itself, resting on a surface.
Publications describe the addition of this control option as a new feature in the beta. It joins the Switch 2-specific edition, which is already available and offers features unique to that version.
The Switch 2 edition and upgrade offer
My Nintendo News places the feature in an edition for Switch 2 released a few weeks earlier, with Vibrant Visuals and the Super Mario Mash-Up pack. Nintendo Everything describes Vibrant Visuals as an official visual upgrade with changes to lighting and shadows, and mentions a Mario-themed world, along with tracks and skins inspired by the series.
Worlds from the Nintendo Switch version can be transferred to the Switch 2 edition, according to Nintendo Everything. The page also lists cross-play and the ability to play in split-screen; for Realms Plus, it mentions private servers with up to 10 friends.
Players who own the digital version of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch can upgrade for free until January 31, 2027, according to My Nintendo News. Multiplayer.it adds that owners of a physical copy can take advantage of an offer to upgrade to Ultimate Collection, but does not specify the terms.
The release date is still pending
The feature is in a closed beta and has no confirmed date for the public version. Multiplayer.it interprets its presence in the test as a sign that development is advanced and that it could arrive in the coming months; for now, this is not the same as a release schedule announced by Mojang.
Beta 26.70.24 may be unstable, and its new features do not necessarily represent the final version. Until Mojang announces the rollout, mouse mode remains limited to those who can try the preview; the date for everyone else is still unknown.
Sources: Multiplayer.it, Nintenderos, Nintendo Everything, GAME Watch, My Nintendo News
