Bilawal Bashir 
A new Nintendo device filed with the FCC suggests Nintendo Switch 2 might come with a camera attachment, opening the door to bring back forgotten features and accessories not seen in years.
Nintendo never shies away from innovation. The Japanese tech giant always comes up with new ways to control video games. From the two screens on the Nintendo DS to the ill-fated screen-on-a-controller of Wii U, the company always has a gimmick. Nintendo Switch also spun heads when it was announced as a handheld.
Fans of the console manufacturer are eagerly awaiting the next big console. Reports and leaks suggest Nintendo is working on releasing the Nintendo Switch 2, a direct successor to the existing console. While all signs point to a less-than-transformative generation, it won’t stop Nintendo from launching new accessories for the console.
Switch 2 may have a camera, what will it do?
FCC filings suggest the Switch 2 will have a camera accessory, and past leaks suggest the console will have either AR capabilities and/or motion detection functionality.
Although the existence of the Nintendo Switch 2 camera attachment is not confirmed, a recent FCC filing suggests Nintendo is developing something of this nature. The FCC filing is for a device with the model number CLO-001. No other Nintendo device has the same serial or model number.
The new device is also listed as a wireless device and is not a “controller” or “game console,” meaning the filing isn’t for the Nintendo Switch 2 itself. It isn’t the first time Nintendo is making a camera for its console. The Game Boy famously came with a pocket camera attachment. The Nintendo 3DS also had a 3D camera capable of taking photos and shooting video.
The probable Nintendo Switch 2 camera attachment has no battery but can be powered by USB-C. The device also has 2.4 GHz WiFi and a 24GHz mmWave sensor. Nintendo also requested a 180-day request of confidentiality for the following:
- External photos
- Internal photos
- Test Setup photos
- User manual
The request expires around March 22, 2025. Nintendo Switch 2 is projected to launch around that time.
Including the 24 GHz mmWave sensor suggests that Nintendo is working on motion detection and AR support for Nintendo Switch 2.
Depending on the model, the 24GHz mmWave sensor is capable of sensing human presence up to gestures. A small plugin device that can detect human presence would be a great way to advance motion controls. Augmented and virtual reality could be its applications.
The most logical possibility would be something akin to the Xbox One’s Kinect. The mystery Nintendo device could be like that, a perfect fit for Nintendo fitness-based games. Nintendo has released numerous games of this nature from Wii Fit to Ring Fit Adventure. Though support waned over time, the Kinect was one of the best ways to play games like Just Dance and Virtua Tennis.
Fans will need to wait for an official Nintendo Switch 2 announcement to see what Nintendo has been baking.
