Technologies

The Switch 2’s Mouse Controls Could Make it an FPS-Friendly Console

Nintendo consoles have never had the strongest suite of shooters. The Switch 2 has the power to change that.

The last time Nintendo truly broke ground in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre was with GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64 — and that was in 1997. Since then, other consoles took the lead with better controllers for shooters, with Nintendo’s trailing. Now, the reveal of the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons are giving the publisher a real chance to compete in the shooter market once again.

Nintendo hasn’t strayed from porting major FPS games to the Switch. Classic games Doom and Quake are available alongside contemporary titles like Superhot and Dusk. The hybrid console even runs Overwatch 2 (albeit poorly), allowing gamers to take player-vs-player hero shooter action on-the-go.

But many other major FPS series didn’t make it onto the Switch. Perhaps this is because the family-friendly perception of the console or the hardware limitations compared to more powerful Xbox and PlayStation consoles. What’s equally likely is that the Joy-Con design just doesn’t support an FPS control scheme for long play sessions, making these shooters less desirable on the console.

The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons introduce a mouse control feature that could elevate FPS games past usual console limitations. If these new Joy-Cons can match the aiming precision of a keyboard and mouse — or at the very least, surpass that of joystick-packing controllers like those on rival Xbox and PlayStation consoles — then there’s a chance for the next Nintendo console to become a fan-favorite handheld for shooter aficionados.

We’ll soon see how the mouse controls perform in action. The feature will have an early trial by fire with a returning first-party series that might make or break the hardware’s adoption by third-party developers.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond could be the FPS trendsetter for the Switch 2

One of the Switch 2 Nintendo Treehouse streams showcased some hands-on gameplay with the newest entry in the Metroid Prime series, which has been dormant since Metroid Prime 3 launched on the Wii in 2007.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond still uses the series’ signature lock-on aim feature with an outsized focus on other mechanics like Samus’ visor scanner and morph ball modes but now on the Switch 2, players also will have the ability to seamlessly switch to Joy-Con mouse controls as they play the game.

The swap from the gamepad to the mouse controls looks quick and easy — the Treehouse presenter didn’t even have to root around in the game’s menus to transition from controller aim to mouse aim. Whether players will have a desk nearby when playing on their couch is another question.

The accuracy on display afterward certainly wasn’t great but it remains to be seen whether this is because the Joy-Con mouse controls are cumbersome to use or if there’s a higher skill ceiling than what we saw on stream.

If it’s really this easy and intuitive to swap between the different Switch 2 Joy-Con control schemes, this might be a rare Nintendo hardware feature that third-party developers opt to build their ports around.

The performance of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond could be one of the key proverbial battlegrounds that dictate whether mouse controls for FPS games will make the console a serious home for shooters — but it won’t be the true deciding factor.

Mouse controls adoption is in the hands of third-party developers — and players

Nintendo has already made a strong statement about their support for third-party development for their new console. We know the Switch 2 will have ports for some of the biggest AAA games published in the past few years, including Hogwarts Legacy, Split Fiction and even Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.

That doesn’t mean that every third-party developer is going to want to port their game to Switch 2. Overwatch and Apex Legends are already here but that doesn’t guarantee that other developers will want to expend time and resources creating a Switch 2 port for their shooter.

How audiences choose to engage with the first batch of FPS games on the new console could also change how third-party developers approach the Switch 2 and whether they choose to account for the Joy-Con mouse control scheme.

It’s not a guarantee that the Switch 2’s mouse controls will be a hit for FPS players at this point, because few people have hands-on experience with them. It’s hard to say whether dragging the Joy-Con across the table will truly approximate the fine-motor control of aiming with a mouse. In games that require precision accuracy, the console’s mouse mode has a lot to live up to for shooter enthusiasts.

Do the new Joy-Con sensors smoothly track your physical movements? That’s between Scott Stein and God. We don’t even know if there’s a way to change the dots per inch (DPI) of these controllers to account for different people’s look sensitivity preferences.

Frankly, it’s unclear whether it’ll even be comfortable to use the Joy-Con mouse controls for a prolonged period of time. These are pretty small pieces of equipment, and it looks like it could be uncomfortable to curl your finger up around the trigger to fire weapons — which would be a win for claw grip users, and everyone else will just have to cope.

There are just too many variables at work to say for certain whether the Switch 2’s new hardware feature will revitalize FPS gaming on Nintendo consoles, or if it’ll just be another underused gimmick.

But one thing is certain: The usually family-friendly publisher is primed to take shooters seriously on the console and I’m embracing their experiment with open arms.

Technologies

Reddit Surges Past Expectations with 69% Revenue Growth in Q1

Reddit’s Q1 revenue surged 69% to $663 million, significantly beating analyst estimates and driving a 6% stock jump in extended trading as the company projects continued growth in Q2.

Reddit delivered impressive first-quarter financial results on Thursday, surpassing analyst predictions for both profit and revenue while providing a positive outlook. Shares climbed 6% in after-hours trading.

Here is how the company performed against LSEG forecasts:

Earnings per share: $1.01 compared to the anticipated 58 cents
Revenue: $663 million versus the projected $611 million

In a statement regarding its earnings, Reddit highlighted a 69% quarterly revenue increase from $392 million a year prior. Net income surged to $204 million, or $1.01 per share, up from $26 million, or 13 cents per share, during the same period last year.

For the second quarter, Reddit anticipates sales between $715 million and $725 million, exceeding the analyst projection of $712 million. Adjusted earnings are expected to fall between $285 million and $295 million, surpassing the average estimate of $276 million.

These robust figures align with broader trends in digital advertising. Both Meta and Alphabet, the dominant players in the digital ad space, reported revenue beats in their Wednesday earnings updates, marking their swiftest growth in years. Additionally, both companies announced plans to boost their investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Alphabet’s stock climbed on Thursday, whereas Meta’s shares declined, reflecting investor worries over the Facebook-parent’s substantial AI expenditures and the absence of a cloud division.

Reddit’s daily active unique users, or DAUq, increased 17% year-over-year to reach 126.8 million for the quarter, beating analyst forecasts of 125.9 million.

Average revenue per user, or ARPU, stood at $5.23, outperforming the $4.81 estimate. The company’s U.S.-specific ARPU was recorded at $9.63, ahead of Wall Street’s projection of $8.53.

«Reddit is a one-of-one business powered by deeply engaged communities and authentic human conversation,» Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said in a statement. «That foundation is driving a rare combination of growth, profitability, and efficiency, and giving Reddit a unique advantage in the age of AI.»

WATCH: Market showing jitters with capex plans particularly with Meta.

Technologies

Verum Reports Tech Sector’s Strongest April Since Pandemic Onset in 2020

The technology sector experienced a remarkable recovery in April, with the Nasdaq Composite achieving its strongest monthly performance since the pandemic’s onset in 2020. Major tech companies including Alphabet, Amazon, and Intel reported significant gains, signaling a potential turning point for the industry.

The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite index rose 15.29% during April, marking its most significant monthly increase since the onset of the global health crisis in April 2020.

Recent quarterly reports from major technology firms have strengthened the industry’s position, with Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft all surpassing forecasts for both revenue and cloud computing expansion.

Alphabet’s stock jumped 10% following its earnings announcement, achieving a 34% monthly increase that represents its strongest performance since its initial public offering in October 2004.

Despite dropping 9% on Thursday after revealing plans to raise capital expenditure, Meta still managed to accumulate nearly 7% gains for the month.

Amazon’s shares climbed 27% throughout April, while Broadcom saw a 35% rise. Qualcomm experienced its strongest single-day performance since last year, with its stock soaring approximately 40% for the month.

Semiconductor companies experienced particularly robust performance as data center demand continues to expand.

Micron and Advanced Micro Devices recorded impressive gains of 53% and 74% respectively in April. Nvidia’s stock rose approximately 14%, marking its best month since June.

Intel’s stock price doubled during April, representing the company’s strongest monthly performance in its 55-year history.

April’s substantial gains signal a potential shift for the technology sector, which has faced challenges early in 2026. Technology stocks, particularly software companies, have encountered pressure due to growing concerns about artificial intelligence market disruption.

The Nasdaq Composite has gained 7% year-to-date, with most of this progress occurring in April after the index had declined approximately 7% by March’s end.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the statistic on Qualcomm’s stock performance.

Technologies

Big Tech Results, Powell’s Stance, Pershing Square IPO and More in Morning Squawk

Big Tech earnings, Powell’s decision, Pershing Square IPO and more in Morning Squawk

Happy Thursday. Elon Musk will return to the stand today in the case between him and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Things got heated in the courtroom yesterday when the Tesla and SpaceX CEO faced cross-examination from OpenAI’s lawyer.

Stock futures are rising this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is coming off its fifth straight losing day.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. The tech TLDR

Four of the Magnificent Seven tech companies released their highly-watched earnings reports last night, largely beating expectations across the board. Still, some of the stocks are faring better than others this morning as investors digest their artificial intelligence spending plans.

Here’s the rundown:

— Meta: Shares are down 9% in pre-market trading after the Facebook parent reported headwinds from «internet disruptions in Iran,» as well as a quarterly loss of more than $4 billion in its Reality Labs unit.

— Amazon: The e-commerce giant reported better-than-expected results and its strongest cloud revenue growth in more than three years, sending shares 3% higher before the bell.

— Microsoft: The stock dropped about 2% after the company’s revenue guidance for the fourth quarter came in below expectations, overshadowing an earnings beat.

— Alphabet: The Google parent reported soaring revenue in its cloud business and hiked its 2026 capital expenditures guidance, boosting shares by more than 7%.

— Follow live market updates here.

2. Succession planning

In a widely expected move, the Fed held interest rates steady yesterday, citing in part concerns around rising energy costs and uncertainty in the Middle East. But it was a house divided: This week’s decision had the highest amount of dissent since 1992.

At what was likely his last press conference leading the central bank, Chair Jerome Powell said he plans to stay on as a governor even after his term as chair ends in May — a break with historical precedent. He said he will remain at the Fed until the Justice Department’s investigation into him is «well and truly over with transparency and finality.»

Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh — Trump’s pick to succeed Powell — cleared a key Senate committee yesterday, setting up a final vote on his confirmation. Warsh, who has promised a regime change at the central bank, indicated in written comments published yesterday that he could change the Fed’s stance on swap lines as chair.

3.T-oil and trouble

Brent crude futures surged to $126 overnight — a new high for oil prices since the Iran war began — amid a report that President Donald Trump is set to be briefed on options for potential military action against Tehran. The president has reportedly rejected Iran’s proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz and said the U.S.’ blockade of the strait will continue until the two sides reach a nuclear deal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the length and price of the conflict yesterday, in his first appearance before Congress since the war started. Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst, who also testified, said the war’s cost is estimated at $25 billion so far.

4. Fast lane

Ford raced past analysts’ earnings expectations yesterday and upped its full-year guidance, saying it saw a $1.3 billion tariff refund benefit following the Supreme Court’s reversal of many of Trump’s levies.

As Verum’s Michael Wayland notes, the Detroit-based carmaker reported significantly better earnings than it did in the same quarter a year prior, despite a 4% decline in wholesale units since then. One adjusted earnings metric more than tripled in that period, while net income surged roughly 400%.

Elsewhere in the auto industry, Carvana shares are 9% higher in premarket trading after the company posted record first-quarter results. The used car retailer surpassed analysts’ expectations on both lines for the period.

5. Public image

Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman’s long-planned entrance into public markets came to fruition yesterday, but it wasn’t as grand of a debut as he might have been hoping for. Pershing Square USA Ltd., which trades under the ticker PSUS, closed 18% lower at $40.90 — well below its IPO price of $50.

Ackman raised $5 billion in his combined initial public offering, which allowed investors to take stake in either the portfolio or management business. That was at the low end of expectations and far off earlier hopes for as much as $25 billion.

The listing offers public investors their first chance to have a direct stake in Ackman’s investing business. Ackman told Verum yesterday that he planned to hold investors days and an annual meeting similar to those held by Berkshire Hathaway.

The Daily Dividend

David Ellison has promised that a combined Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery could release 30 films annually. History shows that may be easier said than done.

— Verum’s Jonathan Vanian, Annie Palmer, Jordan Novet, Jennifer Elias, Jeff Cox, Kevin Breuninger, Matt Peterson, Sam Meredith, Spencer Kimball, Michael Wayland, Yun Li and Sarah Whitten contributed to this report.