Linux 7.4 is expected to add kernel-level support for Nintendo Switch 2 controllers and a new HID driver for Pulsar gaming mice, according to kernel development details relayed by TechPowerUp. For controller users, the practical change is less dependence on Steam—not the arrival of Linux support from scratch.
Switch 2 controllers were already largely supported on Linux through Steam. The kernel support will allow them to work without running through Steam Input, including in other game launchers without Steam being open. That makes this primarily a change in where controller support lives: the useful distinction is between compatibility provided through Steam and support that does not require it running alongside another launcher.
The Pulsar addition addresses a different part of peripheral support. Its new HID driver supports reading battery level, voltage and charging status over both wired and wireless connections. Those are specifically device-status readings, so the news is about access to power and charging information rather than a reported change to mouse performance. The wired-and-wireless scope is also useful: those readings are not confined to one connection type.
Beyond gaming peripherals, Linux 7.4 should bring further hardware enablement and features for other devices. The expected changes include additional sensor support for new AMD SoCs and improved trackpad handling on T2 Macs, giving this round of hardware work a broader reach than controllers and gaming mice alone.
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