Nintendo’s New Joy-Con Charger May Secretly Be A Switch 2 Accessory

A new, first-party Joy-Con charging stand has been revealed for the Nintendo Switch, but this late in the Switch's lifespan, alongside certain rumors, make it a potential early accessory designed to also accompany the Switch's upcoming successor. In May 2024, after numerous rumors, Nintendo finally confirmed a new console is being developed, and will be revealed before the end of the current fiscal year. Games revealed at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct have essentially set the slate for the Switch's swan song, but Nintendo appears to be smartly planning ahead for its next, high-anticipated hardware.

The Switch's successor, colloquially known as the Switch 2 until Nintendo reveals an official name, is still virtually a complete mystery. It's expected to have backward compatibility with Switch games, boast significantly improved specs, and follow the same form factor – being a hybrid home and portable console – but these are effectively rumors until Nintendo decides to unveil it. A Nintendo-branded Joy-Con charger is an odd addition to the Switch's peripheral lineup at this time, but it does fit conveniently with another expected Switch 2 feature.

The new Joy-Con Charging Stand (two-way) – Nintendo's parenthetical, seemingly part of the product's full name – was revealed via the Nintendo of America X (formerly Twitter) account. The device itself looks rather useful, shown connected to the Switch dock via a USB cable, and able to charge two Joy-Cons at the same time. It even mimics Nintendo's official Joy-Con controller grip, and appears to separate from its stand to lay flat. This electronic niche is one Nintendo had previously left to third-party manufacturers, which makes the reveal of a first-party charging stand at least notable, and somewhat mysterious.

This late in the Switch's lifespan, Nintendo's own charger is arguably redundant to those that have been on the market for years. Even stranger, it won't work with the Switch 2's Joy-Cons if rumors turn out to