9 Secrets Hidden in Game Consoles! A Look at the Surprising Hidden Features of the Switch, PS, and Wii

In the world of video games, there are countless Easter eggs and hidden commands tucked away within game software. Surprisingly,
however, it’s not just the game software that holds secrets.
The game consoles themselves are also packed with surprising secrets and hidden features that most of us are unaware of.

While many users play video games on their consoles almost every day, they rarely have the opportunity to learn about their internal workings or the playful touches that developers have incorporated into them.
In fact, throughout the history of hardware—including the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, GameCube, Game Boy Color, and the PlayStation series—there have been ingenious design elements and special touches that only the developers themselves are aware of.

In this article, based on the YouTube video “9 Secrets Hidden in Game Consoles,” we’ll explain the little-known hidden features and secret functions built into game consoles throughout history.

The Wii’s “Sensor Bar” actually doesn’t contain any sensors

The “Sensor Bar,” which is placed in front of the TV when playing the Wii, is a very well-known peripheral device; surprisingly, however, the Sensor Bar itself does not contain any actual sensors.

How a Sensor Bar Actually Works

The Sensor Bar contains only an infrared LED; it is a device that simply emits light.
The camera built into the Wii Remote—which the player holds in their hand—was actually responsible for detecting and receiving information about the player’s position and movements.

Many users,

• "The sensor is receiving a signal."
• "The Wii Remote is transmitting a signal."

That’s what I thought, but the way it actually worked was exactly the opposite.

A Secret Trick You Can Do With Two Candles

Any object that emits infrared light can be used as a substitute for the Sensor Bar.
So, believe it or not, there’s a surprising trick where you can control the cursor on the Wii Remote simply by setting up two candles and lighting them.

The unlock sounds on the Nintendo Switch differ depending on the button

When waking the Nintendo Switch from sleep mode, a message appears on the screen instructing you to “press the same button three times.” While most users
unconsciously press the A button to wake it, each button actually has its own unique sound assigned to it.

Types of Sound Effects Configured

For example, the following distinctive and unique sounds are available:

• A metallic-sounding noise
• A sound like a trumpet
• Different sounds depending on the direction the stick is tilted

Even the lock screen features we use without a second thought on a daily basis hide the kind of subtle, playful touches you’d expect from Nintendo.

There was a hidden game on the New Nintendo 3DS

A secret “Breakout” game was hidden in the internet browser built into the New Nintendo 3DS.

How to Play Hidden Games and What Makes Them Fun

Open your browser’s bookmarks page and tap specific spots in time with the rhythm of the “Super Mario Bros.” background music to launch this hidden game.

Another surprising feature was that the URLs you had bookmarked in your browser were automatically placed as blocks within the game.
This is a very unique and playful feature, where the layout of the stages changes depending on the sites you’ve bookmarked.

There is a hidden sound on the GameCube startup screen.

The GameCube’s startup screen and sound effects continue to enjoy enduring popularity even today.
This startup screen features a hidden sound that can be heard by performing a specific action.

Two Types of Hidden Startup Sounds

1. When you turn on
   the single-player sound unit while holding down the Z button on the controller, a special startup sound—different from the usual one—will play.
2. If you connect four Japanese-style sound
   controllers and meet the special condition of all four players pressing the Z button at the same time to start the game, you can hear a “hidden Japanese-style sound” that’s completely different from the usual one.

This hidden feature was also recreated in the “GameCube Classic Edition” released in 2025, which really highlights Nintendo’s strong commitment to detail.

The Game Boy Color automatically detected game cartridges.

On the “Game Boy Color,” which supported color displays, there was a feature that automatically displayed black-and-white games originally designed for the original Game Boy in color.

Analysis Technology on the Device Side

This colorization was not a feature built into the game software itself; rather, it was achieved because the Game Boy Color console analyzed the cartridge’s data and adjusted the color scheme to the optimal settings for each title.

As a specific example, the following color-coding scheme was used.

• "Pokémon Red": Red-based color scheme
• "Pokémon Green": Green-based color scheme
• "Kirby": Purple-Based Color Scheme

It’s fair to say that the system, which automatically identified game titles and assigned the optimal colors, was a highly advanced technology for its time.

A Message of Gratitude Engraved on the Switch Pro Controller

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (Pro Con) has messages from the developers hidden in places you wouldn’t notice during normal gameplay.

The Content and Meaning of Hidden Messages

If you look inside the right stick (in the gap), you can see “THX2 ALLGAMEFANS” engraved in very small letters.

This message means “Thanks to All Game Fans.” Nintendo’s thoughtful spirit is evident in this creative touch of inscribing a message of gratitude to users in a hidden spot that isn’t
usually visible.

There are 40,000 symbols on the PS5 controller’s grip pads

The surface of the “DualSense,” the standard controller for the PlayStation 5 (PS5), features a textured finish to prevent slipping when held in the hand.

40,000 PlayStation symbols

This textured finish isn’t just a simple pattern of raised and recessed areas. If you take a
close-up photo and examine it closely, you’ll see that the four symbols that represent the PlayStation (○, ×, △, □) are arranged in extremely small sizes.

The number is a staggering 40,000.
While it’s difficult to make out each one with the naked eye, an ultra-precise design covers the entire grip.

The PlayStation 2 startup screen kept a record of play history.

The mysterious, geometric “columns” that appear on the screen when you turn on the PlayStation 2 (PS2). The design of those columns wasn’t generated randomly.

The Secret Behind the Number and Height of the Pillars

Actually, that pillar was a visual representation of the “play history data” stored on the memory card that was inserted.

• The number
  of columns indicates the number of game titles launched to date.
• Displays the number of times and duration played for each game, organized by column height
  

In other words, the PS2 startup screen was designed as a kind of work of art that visualized, in real time, the player’s gaming history and memories up to that point.

“Golf,” Hidden on the Switch, and a Tribute to Satoru Iwata

When the Nintendo Switch was first released, the Family Computer version of *Golf* was secretly included in the console’s internal data.

Startup Conditions and Their Meaning

Very specific conditions were required to launch this hidden game.

• The date is "July 11"
• Performing a specific Joy-Con action (pause)

July 11 marks the anniversary of the passing of Satoru Iwata, former president of Nintendo.“Golf” was a title that Mr.
Iwata personally programmed and was deeply involved in developing during his lifetime.
This feature—a tribute from Nintendo to Mr. Iwata—became widely known as a memorial element subtly incorporated into the game to honor him.

It is noted, however, that this hidden golf feature was later removed in a system update.

Real Reviews and User Feedback

In the comments sections of videos and on social media, many people have expressed surprise and nostalgia regarding these hidden features and behind-the-scenes stories.

About the Wii Sensor Bar

• "I had always thought there was a sensor inside the sensor box, so this came as a shock to me."
• "I never knew you could use a candle flame as a substitute."

About the PS2 Startup Screen

• "I didn't know what that pillar meant for over 20 years."
• "When I was a kid, I thought that scene was a little scary."

About the Switch Pro Controller

• "It's been years since I bought it, but I didn't even know there was a thank-you message."
• "Nintendo's sense of fun is truly amazing."

About the GameCube

• "I first heard the hidden startup sound a long time ago at a friend's house, and it really moved me."
• "It was so nostalgic it gave me goosebumps."

Summary

Video game consoles are not merely machines or hardware designed solely to run video games. To entertain players,
developers incorporate a wealth of playful touches and meticulous attention to detail—from the product’s exterior and internal systems to the startup screen—even in places that aren’t immediately visible.

Among the nine secrets introduced here,

• How the Wii Sensor Bar Really Works
• The Play History Feature Hidden in the PS2 Startup Screen
• The Secret "Golf" Game Hidden in the Switch
• A Message of Gratitude Engraved on the Pro Controller

Weren’t those some of the most memorable elements?

If you still have a video game console gathering dust in a closet or room at home, why not turn it on for the first time in a while or take a closer look at its details? You might discover surprising secrets you never noticed
before—or even a touch of the developers’ playful spirit.