Nintendo Switch 2 Surprises with Universal Keyboard & Mouse Support

The first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 owners has uncovered an intriguing capability. Unlike its predecessor, where getting keyboards and mice working often required extra effort and specific game support, the new model shows signs of native, system-level support for these common PC peripherals.

A prime example comes from a test by Australian YouTuber Blunty. While playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2, he spotted something unexpected: even with the in-game mouse control option explicitly disabled, his wireless mouse (connected via a USB dongle to the dock) still responded to on-screen actions. This behaviour strongly suggests input device recognition is happening at a deeper, system level, not just when individual game developers enable it.

Hints of this possibility surfaced earlier when Koei Tecmo showed off mouse control in their strategy game Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition for Switch 2. At the time, it was unclear if this was a game-specific feature or a built-in console capability. Now, the Cyberpunk 2077 observation – involving a game from a completely different developer (CD Projekt Red), where the mouse worked "out of the box" – lends significant weight to the theory of native, system-wide support.

Connecting standard keyboards and mice to the Switch 2 dock appears to be a simple plug-and-play affair. Plug in the dongle or cable, and the devices will likely work in many games without needing to dive into complex settings menus. This opens the door to more familiar and precise control in genres where a controller isn't always ideal – shooters, strategy games, or complex RPGs. Experts speculate this universal support might stem from Nintendo's own work on the new Joy-Con controllers, which reportedly feature enhanced capabilities, including mouse emulation. This underlying tech apparently allows the console to easily adapt signals from standard USB keyboards and mice.

It's too early to say that every Switch 2 game will automatically offer flawless keyboard and mouse support right out of the gate. However, these early real-world user tests paint an encouraging picture of broad compatibility. The final verdict will come as more players get their hands on the console and test these peripherals across a wider range of titles.