The Joy-Cons, the controllers for the Nintendo Switch, come with a range of features that enable them to track movement. One of these features is motion controls, which should ring a bell if you remember the success of the motion-sensing Wii Remote from the Nintendo Wii era. The Joy-Cons possess similar technology but in a more advanced form.

The motion control setup of the Joy-Cons consists of two primary components: the gyro sensor and the accelerometer. The gyro sensor measures the orientation of the controller, such as whether it is being held vertically, horizontally, or upside-down. On the other hand, the accelerometer detects physical movement. It captures the speed and intensity of your movements as you wiggle, swing, or sway the controller. By combining the data from the gyro sensor and the accelerometer, a Joy-Con can determine when it is being swung, the direction of the swing, and the force applied. Each Joy-Con has its own set of these systems, allowing them to detect motion independently of each other.

In addition to motion input, it’s worth mentioning the Joy-Cons’ HD rumble feature. This technology enables the controllers to provide subtle and customized haptic feedback based on the events happening in a game. Alongside the movement-detection systems, this means that if you were to swing a Joy-Con like a sword, the HD rumble would make it feel as though it were actually colliding with a hard surface.