Pixelpaw Labs' Phase gaming mouse turns into a Joy-Con-style controller by splitting in half

First look: It's one of the longest-running conundrums of PC gaming: mouse-and-keyboard or controller? One company is trying to go the "why not both" route – in a sense – by creating a mouse that splits in two and can be used as a Joy-Con-style controller.

Called Phase, the device is startup Pixelpaw Labs' first product. It's being advertised as bridging the gap between a mouse, a controller, and a mobile gamepad.

The Phase is essentially a split controller that uses magnets and pogo-pin connectors to lock together and become a standard gaming mouse.

This design has the drawback of not being able to add a scroll wheel to the mouse. That would be pretty unacceptable for most users these days, so as an alternative, the entire clickable left side of the mouse is a touch-sensitive surface – just swipe to scroll.

The Phase's mouse mode also features a 16 ...