Nintendo Switch 2 Patent Reveals Scrapped Infrared Camera Feature

With anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 reaching new heights, fresh insights are emerging about the platform’s early development.

While Nintendo has officially detailed many features of its upcoming hardware—including enhancements to control inputs and expanded system capabilities—a recently published patent reveals an intriguing function that was planned, but ultimately scrapped: an integrated infrared camera. Originally filed in November 2023, the newly public patent demonstrates how Nintendo had considered incorporating an infrared camera into the right side of the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

According to the included diagrams, the feature would have allowed users to see a live infrared image directly on the system’s screen.

This echoes the original Nintendo Switch’s right Joy-Con, which featured an IR sensor popularized by games like Nintendo Labo and 1-2-Switch for unique motion and environmental interactions. Although Nintendo has not disclosed why this infrared camera was omitted from the final design, the patent documentation suggests it was explored as part of the Switch 2’s conceptual stage.

Speaking on the function’s potential purpose, sources note the hardware may have been intended to enable new gameplay mechanics, offering developers another way to create interactive experiences.

Much like how the IR camera on the original Joy-Con added unconventional actions to select titles, the planned Switch 2 infrared camera could have delivered additional immersion, such as motion controls or object recognition. The patent, which surfaced just a week ago, offers a rare glimpse into Nintendo’s design process.

Patent diagrams show the infrared camera would have been positioned to provide a real-time display, but details about the specific games that would have leveraged the technology remain under wraps.

It’s possible that, as the system’s hardware evolved, Nintendo opted to streamline the device for cost or design efficiency, focusing on core innovations already planned for the Switch 2 lineup. The original Nintendo Switch set a high bar for creative hardware, selling over 125 million units to date and becoming one of the best-selling Nintendo platforms of all time.

Features like modular Joy-Con controllers and experimental projects such as Nintendo Labo showcased the company’s willingness to blend traditional gaming with inventive technology.

The potential inclusion—then removal—of an infrared camera in the Switch 2 continues that legacy of experimentation, highlighting how significant hardware changes are evaluated and refined during development. As the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch approaches, Nintendo remains steadfast in providing new experiences while learning from the successes and lessons of the original platform.

Although the infrared camera will not ship as part of the new console, its presence in early patents reinforces how thoroughly Nintendo explores innovative features before finalizing their hardware vision.

Players can look forward to a new era of Nintendo hardware, supported by clear documentation of the company’s relentless pursuit of engaging game experiences.

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