For years, there has been speculation and leaks regarding the future of Nintendo’s Gaming Console plan. Those rumors were put to bed earlier this year, as Nintendo finally announced the Switch 2. With what we have seen from the release trailers and Nintendo Direct, it appears that it will be well worth the wait.
On Wednesday, April 2nd, Nintendo gave us a full hour-long presentation focused on the Nintendo Switch 2. Many of the burning questions we had were answered, and the excitement for the upcoming gaming console is palpable. Coming off the heels of the second-highest-selling console of all time, the Nintendo Switch 2 has a legacy to live up to. With today’s reveals, it seems aptly prepared to do so.
What Did We Know About The Nintendo Switch 2 Already?
On January 16th, Nintendo gave us a first look at the new Nintendo Switch 2. While not every specific was ironed out, we had a pretty detailed understanding of the basics. The switch was still the switch; the ability to dock your console or take it on the go is retained. This design strategy is what propelled the original Switch to become one of the highest grossing consoles of all time, and while Nintendo can be known for switching up each iteration of their consoles, they smartly retained this design here.
The joy cons also remain, with a generally similar look and feel, similar button layout, and similar functionality. However, a patent gave us some idea that finger tracking could be in the works. We also knew that the Nintendo Switch 2 would retain the small Nintendo Game Cards from the previous version. This decision is crucial for backward compatibility. It has been notoriously hard to play older Nintendo games across platforms, outside of their recent Nintendo Online strategy. Outside of the Wii (for Gamecube) and Wii U (for Wii), only the handheld consoles had many backward compatibility opportunities.
The Switch 2 being able to play Switch games allows the continued growth of those games, despite a new system coming to market. It allows a new generation to fall in love with previous-gen releases while still marketing new and exciting entries and franchises. It is the best of both worlds and allows Nintendo to continue making money on both ends.
We also got a preliminary look at some of the basic changes between the two systems. While minimal aesthetically, the changes in the new Switch make a world of difference for its functionality. We could tell that the screen appeared an inch or so larger. In the world of on-the-go gaming, size does matter. A second change we noted was to the joy cons; they are more sturdy, magnetically attached, and, again, are larger.
Other minor changes we observed included a sturdier stand, an improved dock, a new USB-C port, additional joy con buttons (like the infamous “secret c” button), and larger internal storage capacity. Although the exact details were not yet out until today, the Switch 2 would be more powerful, thus able to play games that require more intense performance. We also know that the Switch 2 features AI upscaling.
That could only be good for Nintendo, as both Xbox and PlayStation push games with surreal graphics and performance. While Nintendo will never compete there, some of the most iconic, genre-changing games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or the new open world Pokémon Legends and Pokémon mainline series pushed the Switch’s capabilities. A better system will only give those developers an even greater sandbox to play with. We saw a clip of the next Mario Kart game, which looks even more detailed and seems primed to drop along with the console release. Add in on-the-go mobility, and you have a recipe for success.
New Information From Nintendo Switch 2’s Personal Nintendo Direct
Entering Wednesday, there were still many questions out there that fans and gamers needed answered. Everything we knew coming into the massive presentation was generalized, and the gaming industry was clamoring for more specifics. How much will the console cost? What are the specific size, specs, and power of the Nintendo Switch 2? What games will be available upon release? What new features and design mechanics will be added to upgrade the system?
Thankfully, we got a lot of our questions answered in an hour long, Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2nd focused solely on the Nintendo Switch 2. Here are the main details we picked up on during the livestream that we had not previously known:
- The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025.
- The Console will cost $449.99 at launch.
- Improvements in performance include enhanced speakers, a built-in microphone, and noise cancelling technology to filter sound. Sound will feel more immersive and three-dimensional. It will have 256 GB of faster internal storage, 8 times greater than the original. Docking will allow 4K resolution and HDR. Game cards will be higher speed and colored red.
- Changes in design for the Switch 2 include magnetic joy con controllers with a back release button, with larger SL and SR buttons, larger left and right sticks, and the joy cons can also be used as a mouse with compatible games. The back stand on the screen will be larger and able to be adjusted freely. USB-C connections will be at the bottom and top of the device. There is a fan built into the dock.
- There will be an updated Switch Pro controller.
- The Joy Con controller has added a C button. The Nintendo Switch 2 allows for game chat to communicate while playing a game, even if players are playing different games. The player’s voice will be picked up by a microphone in the system while docked or handheld. The feature also includes screen sharing, with options to expand a player’s screen. The added C button allows you to open the menu for this feature and also access a live stream camera feed, and a camera that can be purchased. Game chat will require Nintendo Online, but a free open trial will be available upon launch until March of 2026.
- Switch 2 allows for local game share, which allows for other players to share compatible games between multiple Nintendo Switch 2 systems.
- System data from Nintendo Switch can be transferred to Switch 2.
- The screen size will measure 7.9 inches compared to 6.2 inches. It has nearly doubled the pixels, a 1080 p screen, supports up to 120 frames per second, and has vivid HDR support for contrast enhancements.
- Nintendo Switch Online Plus will now include GameCube games exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, along with a Nintendo GameCube wireless controller for the Switch 2.
- Backwards compatibility has officially been confirmed for most games. There will also be updated games rereleased for Nintendo Switch 2, including Mario Party Jamboree, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime Beyond, Pokemon Legends Z-A, Cid Meyer’s Civilization VII, Shadow Labyrinth, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Players can upgrade their original version by purchasing the upgrade pack.
- New and/or newly remastered games revealed game trailers. These games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 include Mario Kart World, Drag and Drive, Hades II, Elden Ring, Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighter Edition, Daemanic Machina Titanic Scion, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman: World of Assassination, James Bond Project 007, Bravely Default Flying Fairy Remastered, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, Deltarune, Borderlands 4, WW2k, NBA2K, Enter the Dungeon 2, Survival Kids, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, Cyber Punk 2077, The Duskbloods, and Donkey Kong Bananza.
- Additional games for the system that received clips but not full trailers that were announced include Hollow Night: Silk Song, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Goodnight Universe, Two Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, Witchbrook, Puyo Puyo Tetris 25, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Marvel Comic Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws, Nobunga’s Ambition, Fast Fusion, RAIDOU Remastered, No Sleep for Kaname Date, Reanimal, Fortnite, Ridge Racer, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Tamagotchi Plaza, and Human Fall Flat 2.
- Full Details for release dates on announced games can be found at the bottom of the article.
- Mario Kart World will have its own Nintendo Direct on April 17th, where we will learn a lot more about the changes to the game. From the trailer, it appears to be a take on open-world gaming. Yes, Mario Kart may be going open world. The game will also be released as a bundle with the console for $499.99.
With this knowledge in hand, fans will be even more excited for the new console release. With the improvements Nintendo has made to keep up in the current gaming space and maintain Nintendo’s unique design and capabilities, the Nintendo Switch 2 is primed to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps as a global best seller and a history making console success story.
Announced Game Release Dates
Launch Day (June 5th, 2025):
Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Deltarune
Fast Fusion
Fortnite
Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
Hogwarts Legacy
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Mario Kart World
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Split Fiction
Street Fighter 6
Survival Kids
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
June 27th:
Tamagotchi Plaza – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
June 19th:
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
July 17th:
Donkey Kong Bananza
July 18th:
Shadow Labyrinth – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
July 24th:
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
July 25th:
No Sleep For Nakame Date – From AI: The Somnium Files
Wild Hearts S
August 27th:
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
August 28th:
Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World
September 5th:
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Summer 2025:
Drag x Drive
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Winter 2025: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Holiday 2025:
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Witchbrook
Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
TBA 2025:
Borderlands 4
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Goodnight Universe
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Kirby Air Riders
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Professor Layton and The New World of Steam
Reanimal
Star Wars Outlaws
Two Point Museum
TBA 2026:
Enter the Gungeon 2
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
The Duskbloods
TBA:
EA Sports FC
EA Sports Madden NFL
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Hades II
Human Fall Flat 2
NBA 2K25
Project 007
WWE 2K
