Nintendo Patents Innovative Violin-Inspired Joy-Con Music Device for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has once again captured the industry's attention with a newly published patent that introduces a novel, violin-inspired music device designed for use with the Nintendo Switch's versatile Joy-Con controllers.

The inventive idea, first revealed by dedicated monitoring account Nintendo Patents Watch, reflects the company’s ongoing tradition of merging interactive innovation with creative expression. According to official documentation, the patent was filed on November 20, 2023, and published publicly on May 30, 2025.

The patent materials, now accessible on the Japanese patent site, present a device that allows players to simulate bowing motions much like a traditional violin.

Players would attach a Joy-Con to the device and manipulate it along a cylindrical object—effectively mimicking the experience of drawing a bow across a violin’s strings. Nintendo Patents Watch described the invention as a unique music accessory that enables users to not only replicate bow movement but also manipulate musical parameters such as octave, scale, and volume.

These controls respond dynamically to the pitch and tilt of the Joy-Con in relation to the device, offering potential for highly expressive, real-time musical gameplay. Technical innovation for this patent was spearheaded by Keisuke Iba, a prominent programmer at Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD).

Iba’s résumé includes significant contributions to critically acclaimed titles such as Splatoon, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and more recently, Nintendo Switch Sports—demonstrating his deep experience in combining hardware and software to craft engaging interactive experiences. This new patent has sparked industry and fan curiosity, drawing comparisons to Wii Music, Nintendo’s previous experiment in music gaming that followed the success of Wii Sports.

As Nintendo continues to expand its suite of creative software for the Nintendo Switch and beyond, speculation has arisen about the possibility of a 'Switch Music' successor, offering players new ways to engage with rhythm and performance. While there is no official announcement regarding a commercial product based on this patent, the discovery underscores Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to innovative gameplay experiences.

The potential for educational, entertainment, and creative applications is extensive—especially given the Switch’s flexible hardware and the Joy-Con’s advanced motion-sensing capabilities. For now, the gaming community eagerly awaits more details, which may emerge in future Nintendo Direct presentations or updates to the Nintendo eShop.

As Nintendo continues to redefine interactive entertainment through hardware innovation, this newly discovered patent signals a promising step forward for music-based gaming on the Nintendo Switch platform.

Joy-Con Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch patent Keisuke Iba Nintendo EPD Switch Music Wii Music Nintendo Patents Watch