A recently discovered Nintendo patent shows diagrams for a second screen appearing on a Switch handheld, which could be a technical route to bring Nintendo DS titles to the platform, according to a post on X by user MikeOdysseyYT.
The filing includes mockups of the console with an extra display area and diagrams demonstrating several ways the extra screen could appear during play. The images suggest options such as a complete dual-screen layout and a picture-in-picture mode where a smaller secondary view sits inside the main screen. The X post that highlighted the documents is available here.
Nintendo DS coming to NSO Confirmed! Patent Discovery of a lifetime! Breaking News! The following patent shows how Nintendo will manage the dual screen situation on Switch 2. You will have 3 options.
1. Dual Screen (Parent screen, child screen)
2. Single Screen Mode (Picture in… pic.twitter.com/MH1Ytv4Kfo— Mike Odyssey (@MikeOdysseyYT) October 16, 2025
Many DS games relied on a second screen for maps, inventory, or touch controls, so these layouts would make sense if Nintendo wants to bring those titles to Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has already been adding older consoles to the service; our coverage of recent Switch Online additions shows how the company adapts legacy content for the current hardware.
It is important to remember this is a patent filing, not an announcement. Patents describe possibilities and technical ideas, not guaranteed features. If Nintendo moves forward, some games will likely need adjustments to adapt their touch or dual-screen mechanics to a single-panel device.
What DS games would you most want to see on Switch? Share your picks in the comments below. Follow our coverage and join the conversation on X, Bluesky, and YouTube.
