Mechanism Releases $49 Basecase for Switch 2 With Modular Mounts and Grips

The company previously sold a $19 Basegrip that let users mount the Switch 2 in ways such as on a wall, on its Gaming Pillow, or on a monitor arm. The Basecase adds protection for the console, makes the Joy-Con more comfortable to use, and introduces additional modular parts, The Verge said.

The shell permits the full range of the Switch 2 kickstand and access to all ports, buttons, and fan vents. The Verge reported that it fits more snugly than other cases it has tried because it clamps near the console's bottom USB-C port.

The rear plate can be unlocked and replaced with a custom 3D-printed version. Mechanism sent printed examples, including one with Lego pegs for attaching minifigures and another with crannies for game cartridges, according to the review.

Grips slide onto the back of the Joy-Con protectors and are modular. The set includes two sizes that add different amounts of bulk, and both make the controllers more comfortable, The Verge said. When a grip is removed, a spot for a game cartridge is exposed.

Mechanism also included extra grip types that are not for sale to show what is possible with a 3D printer. The Verge particularly liked a pair with a small shelf on each side for the middle or ring fingers to rest.

The Switch 2 cannot be used in its dock with the Basecase attached. Mechanism includes a dock adapter that takes a different approach from Dbrand's Killswitch: instead of cradling the console, it is a female-to-male USB-C cable that must be maneuvered onto the dock's video-out port. The Verge said installation was not quite as easy as the marketing suggested, but it eventually worked. Users of third-party USB-C docks from Jsaux or Genki will not need the component.

The Basecase appears designed to address multiple points of failure in earlier Switch 2 cases from Dbrand, Genki, and others, which The Verge said let quality control issues slip in an effort to launch cases first when the Switch 2 debuted.

For example, the Basecase's Joy-Con grips have a small rubber lip that fits around the top of the controller's inner colored section. Dbrand revised its Killswitch grip to add this after some users reported consoles falling to the ground when they grabbed the controller without supporting the Switch 2's weight. The Basecase does a good job of preventing that issue, according to The Verge.

The swappable Joy-Con grips attach easily, requiring almost no effort to line up the latch pins, the review said. The Verge added that it could never quite get the feel for the grips included with Genki's Attack Vector case. While most thin plastic cases from competitors have ill-fitting sections or flex, the Basecase feels tougher, the publication said.

The Verge wrote that people who already use Mechanism's mount ecosystem and own a Switch 2 have likely been waiting for the release. For gamers who have not tried the company's mount system, the Basecase is a good place to start. The 3D printer files are available at Makerworld or Printables.

Editor's Summary Mechanism released its first Switch 2 case, the $49 Basecase, after delays. The snap-on shell protects the console, adds modular Joy-Con grips, and includes a dock adapter, while addressing issues seen in earlier Switch 2 cases. It is aimed at users of Mechanism's mount ecosystem and offers customizable 3D-printed parts.