A leak for the next Nintendo console suggests that its controllers might have scroll wheels positioned near its trigger buttons. Nintendo has mostly kept its lips sealed regarding the inevitable Switch successor (dubbed the "Switch 2" by fans), but it's never maintained the best grip on those who leak its content.
After four years of underperformance by the Wii U, Nintendo saw a resurgence in mainstream appeal with the Nintendo Switch, which has since become its bestselling home console and the third bestselling game platform behind only the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's own DS. Given the Switch is seven years old, and several Switch games have struggled on the aging hardware, it's only inevitable that a successor is on its way. However, details regarding this new console are sparse at best, and fans have mostly had to rely on leaks and rumors to get a rough estimate of what they could be in for within the next couple of years.
The latest of many Switch 2 rumors comes from a source that is quite bizarre even by leaker standards. A TSA agent, who posted their findings anonymously, discovered an unusual electronic device in a pelican case, which triggered the metal detector. The bag's carrier insisted on a private screening, during which the tech was revealed to be quite large, almost resembling a Wi-Fi modem. It came with a mostly standard game controller which appeared to be unfinished. While it still included several features and buttons that gamers have come to expect by now, the most notable inclusion were the scrolling wheels positioned near the trigger buttons, akin to the ones on a computer mouse.
The main reason why the person felt the incident was notable enough was because the man who was traveling with the case had business cards, proving he held a job in Nintendo's R&D department. The leaker didn't bother to speculate about the wheels, but they did go on to explain how the console's size was almost on par with the Xbox One's, hinting at Nintendo's possible exit from the hybrid console business. This comes in contrast to most of the Switch 2 rumors, which suggest it'll just be a beefier version of what is here now, and most in the comments appeared to share this sentiment, assuming this hardware was just a developer kit and not an actual console itself.
Nintendo is well-known for introducing fresh new concepts to the world of video game hardware, being the first to introduce shoulder buttons and analog sticks, and even designing entire consoles around features like motion controls, glasses-free 3D, dual-screens, and portability. While not every attempt was successful, there's no denying that Nintendo's ambition is enviable. If this rumor turns out to be true, then it should be interesting to see how these scrolling wheels will affect gameplay moving forward.
Source: Arch.b4k