When Nintendo first teased the existence of the upcoming Switch 2 in January, some keen-eyed gamers noticed an extra button on the right Joy-Con that had no label. There was a Capture button and a Home button, but this third button had no marking on it at all. That is, until Thursday when Nintendo launched its own news app and had a never-before-seen picture of the Switch 2.
On the app's page on both the App Store and Google Play Store, there is an image of the Switch 2. On this image, the third button has a clear "C" on it, which was not previously marked when the Switch 2 was teased out in January.
A close-up of the Switch 2 and the C button.
NintendoWith this reveal from Nintendo, the question now is what this button does. The most likely explanation is that "C" stands for "Capture," which would make this button a quick way to screenshot your gameplay. However, this does bring up some confusion as the Capture button, which many Switch owners refer to as the Share button, already worked as a capture button for that purpose. What may happen is that the C button is for capturing screenshots and that the old Capture button is for broadcasting a live stream.
Xbox and PlayStation consoles have implemented livestreaming directly from the console since the last generation. Once inputting Twitch or YouTube info is set up, those consoles can broadcast a streaming game with just a few button presses. The Switch, however, never came with that functionality. Those who want to stream games from a Switch would have to connect their console to a capture device that's connected to a computer. Having one button to start a stream would be a time saver for many content creators.
The C button could also be used to switch the controls of the Joy-Con. In the teaser from January, there is a short part of the video where the Joy-Con is detached and moves on a flat surface like a mouse. This button could switch the Joy-Con from a standalone controller to a mouse, which would make sense as it's on the right Joy-Con, although left-handed gamers might feel left out.
Another theory is that the C button is for Community. During Thursday's Nintendo Direct, the company revealed the return of the Tomodachi Life series, which was a Sims-like game featuring avatars for Miis. The Switch didn't have these Miis when it launched, but it looks like they could be coming back. Knowing Nintendo, if the Miis are coming back, a Community button would bring up a place for different Miis to interact with, similar to how it worked with the Nintendo 3DS and the Mii Plaza.
Nintendo won't reveal the function of that C-button until April 2, when it officially unveils the Switch 2. There are still plenty of questions about the company's next console, such as when it will come out, how much it will cost and what games it will launch with. Those questions will likely be answered during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct happening on April 2.
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