Nintendo patent describes portable with swappable controls

Nintendo has patented an interesting portable console idea featuring interchangeable controls.

The handheld described by the patent has four face slots into which users can slide control systems like an analog stick, a D-pad or a set of face buttons.

The patent was filed last year but has been dug up thanks to a swirl of rumours suggesting a hardware reveal at E3.

That said, patents are very often made for defensive reasons, and are sometimes the only evidence of ideas that never even made it to the design phase, so don't get too excited.

Thanks, IGN.