Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2
Let's-a-go.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been revealed, with the successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time launching in 2025.
The Switch 2 was unveiled after months of rumours, leaks and speculation, with the first-look trailer showcasing the console's design, which is larger than its predecessor, its revised dock and the first game revealed for the system - a brand new Mario Kart.
While we've at long last gotten our first glimpse of the Switch 2, there's still plenty we don't know - including the exact release date, price and games line-up. More will be revealed in an upcoming Switch 2 Direct, and fans will also get a chance to go hands-on before the console hits shelves thanks to a Switch 2 public tour. If you can't wait for all this, we've rounded up everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 to help you prepare for the eagerly anticipated launch.
Switch 2 reveal
The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially revealed on Thursday 16th January 2025. Nintendo shadow dropped the reveal trailer for the Switch successor without any prior warning that an announcement was coming, though there were whispers a reveal was imminent.
You can watch the first-look trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 below:
As the trailer shows, the Nintendo Switch 2 like its predecessor is a hybrid console which can be played in portable mode like a handheld, or like a home console in docked mode. It also confirmed that the Switch successor, as widely expected, would simply be called the Nintendo Switch 2. This is the first time the Japanese gaming giant has opted to release a numbered follow-up to one of its consoles, and avoids a Wii U-style situation where parents, who don't really follow video games that closely, may not be aware whether the console is new or not.
The Switch 2 has a very similar design to its predecessor, albeit it's larger, the Joy-Cons feature more curved edges as well as an extra button, and it comes with a redesigned dock. The Switch 2 unit showcased in the trailer had a matte black colour scheme, but there's also fluorescent detailing at the base of the analogue sticks, and where the Joy-Cons connect to the Switch 2 console itself. We'll delve more into the Switch 2's design and features later on in this piece.
Switch 2 Direct
More details on the Switch 2 will be revealed in an upcoming Nintendo Direct. When the Switch 2 was revealed in January 2025 with a brief teaser trailer, Nintendo also announced a Direct dedicated to the Switch successor would be broadcast on Wednesday 2nd April 2025. Nintendo has said the Direct will offer "a closer look at Nintendo Switch 2" and that the broadcast time will be announced at a later date.
Switch 2 hands-on
If you can't wait to try out the Switch 2, Nintendo has announced there will be public events happening around the world where you can play the eagerly anticipated console prior to its launch. The hands-on events, which are officially called the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience, will kick-off after the Switch 2 Direct, with the first event in the tour launching on Friday 4th April 2025 in New York. Ticket registration for the Switch 2 Experience will begin on Friday 17th January 2025, and you will need a Nintendo Account to attend.
Switch 2 release date and price
The Nintendo Switch 2 could have a release date window of May or June 2025. That's according to "chatter" Chris Dring, the boss of GamesIndustry.biz, heard at The Game Awards 2024. Dring revealed this in an episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast that was released in December 2024. With the Switch 2 Direct later getting announced for April 2025, and no launch for the console prior to then, it means the Switch successor will be hitting shelves more than eight years after the original Switch debuted in March 2017.
In terms of a price tag, the Nintendo Switch 2 is predicted to cost $400 with games priced at $70. That's according to Dr Serkan Toto, a respected analyst and founder of the Tokyo-based consultancy firm Kantan Games.
When the Switch 2 does hit shelves it should thankfully avoid the type of stock shortages that plagued the PS5 and Xbox Series X when those consoles debuted, and in the aftermath. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said the component shortages which affected PS5 and Xbox Series X stock levels at launch, and led to scalping, won't be an issue for the Switch successor.
Switch 2 design and features
The Nintendo Switch 2 is sticking with the formula that made the original Switch one of the best-selling consoles of all time, which at last count has sold over 146 million units. Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 is a hybrid console that can be played as a handheld or a home console when docked. It has also been confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with both physical and digital Switch games. Apart from this though, exact specs for the console haven't been revealed yet, but the trailer showcased the Switch 2 will be larger than the original Switch and feature a redesigned dock which has more curved corners at the top, as well as a more flexible stand. The teaser also appeared to hint that the console's new Joy-Cons will feature the previously rumoured mouse functionality.
If, however, you were hoping the next-gen console will come with an upgraded display like the Switch OLED then you may be left disappointed. According to VGC, the Switch 2 could have an LCD screen instead of an OLED panel to help cut costs. Bloomberg also backed up these claims, and said the Switch 2 will have an eight-inch LCD screen. In comparison, the original Switch features a 6.2-inch LCD screen.
Opting for an LCD panel instead of an OLED will give Nintendo extra wiggle room in the budget, that could be set aside and used to add the additional internal storage the Switch 2 needs for modern games. In terms of what type of storage the Switch 2 could use, Digital Foundry thinks Nintendo could opt for eMMC storage, which is what the entry-level 64GB Steam Deck uses and offers faster load times than conventional hard drives (but not as speedy as an SSD).
In terms of other features, it's rumoured the Switch 2's Joy-Cons will connect to the main console using magnets. This was originally reported by the Spanish website Vandal, who said the Switch 2 will be replacing the current, fiddly rail system which is used to attach Joy-Cons onto the main Switch and Switch OLED consoles. This feature was later hinted at in the Switch 2 reveal trailer, which showed the Joy-Cons being drawn to and sticking to the main console like magnets.
The new Joy-Cons for the Switch 2 could also make stick drift a thing of the past. As highlighted by Laura Kate Dale, Nintendo previously filed a patent for a new controller design which features Hall Effect joysticks. Unlike other setups, these sticks use magnets to detect movement and don't cause wear and tear on a stick's sensor. This type of stick has already appeared on the third-party Nyxi Wizard controller, and if it ends up being used on the Switch 2 it should mean the infamous stick drift issue doesn't cross over to the next-generation.
The big reveal of the Switch 2 came after multiple alleged leaks of the console's design, improved Joy-Cons and the motherboard, among others. Former staff later went on to claim the deluge of alleged leaks had left Nintendo "very, very upset".
Switch 2 specs
We first got an idea of what the Switch 2 would be capable of in the aftermath of Gamescom 2023. Nintendo's next console was demoed behind closed doors at the event, according to our sources and a VGC report. The Switch 2 is believed to be capable of visuals comparable to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, supports ray tracing, and the ability to run Unreal Engine 5.
Games that were reportedly showcased running on the Switch 2 were an enhanced version of Breath of the Wild and The Matrix Awakens, an Unreal Engine 5 demo that was previously released to showcase the power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 may be capable of visuals comparable to the current generation of consoles, it doesn't mean the specs will be in the same ballpark. As VGC explained, the Switch 2 demo was believed to be running with Nvidia's DLSS upscaling.
This technology is expected to be a major feature of the custom Nvidia chip that leakers have said will power the Switch 2. Digital Foundry has taken a deep dive into this chipset and discussed how DLSS can be used to upscale native 720p visuals into 4K, among other things. It later emerged that Nintendo had filed a patent for upscaling tech that greatly reduces the amount of storage a 4K game would take up on a physical cartidge.
In terms of raw horsepower, it's thought on paper the Switch 2 could be closer to the specs of last-gen hardware like the PS4 than the current batch of consoles. Emails published during the FTC court case with Microsoft indicate Activision Blizzard's former boss Bobby Kotick spoke to Nintendo's Shuntaro Furukawa about the Switch 2 towards the end of 2022.
In the emails, Activision exec Chris Schnakenberg explained the next Nintendo console had "closer alignment to Gen 8 platforms in terms of performance". If that's the case, how could the Switch 2, as has been reported, be capable of ray tracing (even if it's used limitedly) and running Unreal Engine 5? As Digital Foundry explained, looking at just raw horsepower "factors out so much" of what makes a piece of hardware unique. And a clear example of that is the original Switch had similar horsepower to the Wii U and Xbox 360, and we've all seen what that system is capable of.
It's important to point out that, for their part, Nintendo has denied briefing external developers on the Switch 2, and showcasing their next console at Gamescom in 2023. It's also worth pointing out that while what we've heard of the Switch 2 sounds impressive, expectations should be managed.
Switch 2 games
So far, there's one major game that we know for certain will be heading to the Nintendo Switch 2 - the brand new Mario Kart game that was showcased in the console's reveal trailer. As of yet, Nintendo hasn't announced a name for the next Mario Kart, but it is the first brand new entry in the franchise in over 10 years. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is the best-selling Switch game of all time, is just an upgraded version of Mario Kart 8 which debuted on the Wii U in 2014.
Elsewhere, in terms of other potential first-party releases, if we had to gaze into our crystal ball one contender for the Switch 2 is Metroid Prime 4. Samus' highly anticipated new adventure was announced during the Switch's first year on sale, but news on the project then went quiet for almost the entirety of the console's lifecycle after development was rebooted. But all good things come to those who wait, and seven years after it was announced fans got their first look at Metroid Prime 4 in the Nintendo Direct for June 2024. Samus's next adventure was revealed with a gorgeous gameplay trailer, which also announced the game's full name - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
The next Metroid Prime game is launching in 2025, and has already been confirmed as coming to the Nintendo Switch. But the impressive graphics showcased in the trailer led to speculation that Metroid Prime 4 could be coming to the Switch 2, possibly as a cross-gen title. Nintendo does have form in this department, launching both the Wii and Switch with cross-gen games.
One of the Wii's launch games was Twilight Princess, which also came out on the GameCube, while one of the Switch's launch games was Breath of the Wild, which was also available on the Wii U. We previously discussed the possibility of Metroid Prime 4 coming to the Switch 2 in a Newscast. You can also check out our DF Direct about the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, which includes discussions on the Metroid Prime 4 reveal and some of the things Digital Foundry expects from the Switch 2.
Another first-party title that could be heading to the Switch 2 is Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which was announced during the Pokémon Presents for Pokémon Day 2024. What's interesting about the reveal of this new Pokémon game, which is set in a futuristic version of Lumiose City, is that Game Freak said it will have a "simultaneous" worldwide release on "Nintendo Switch systems" in 2025. This wording could indicate that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be a cross-gen game and a Switch 2 launch title. In the lead up to the launch of Z-A, Pokemon developer Game Freak were hit by an unprecedented "gigaleak" which, among other things, reportedly revealed the Switch 2 codename. It's thought Game Freak have internally been referring to the Switch successor by the codename 'Ounce'.
Besides these well-established franchises, there's another upcoming first-party title that could be heading to the Switch 2. Towards the end of 2024 thousands of people were invited to playtest a new Switch Online feature. When the playtest started, some participants ended up streaming the unannounced game on YouTube and Twitch, with the game reportedly looking like a Minecraft-style building game mixed with a social hub.
In terms of third-party titles, hints have also been dropped about a few upcoming titles could be heading to Nintendo's next console from other developers. As previously mentioned, during the behind closed doors demo at Gamescom 2023 a demo of the Unreal Engine-5 powered The Matrix Awakens was reportedly shown running on the Switch 2. The Switch 2 being capable of running Unreal Engine 5 is of particular interest when considering the console's potential games line-up, as it gives us an idea of a whole host of third-party games that could be heading to the console in the future.
Besides UE5 games, according to the rumour mill, a number of games powered by Unreal Engine 4 could also be making its way to the Switch 2. It was previously claimed that a PS5-quality version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is powered by Epic's UE4 engine, was up and running on a Switch 2 dev kit. This report is interesting, as it later emerged Square Enix will be "aggressively pursuing" a
Another Unreal Engine game that could make its way to the Switch 2 is Hi-Fi Rush, which is one of the first few Xbox games to go multiplatform. And that may just be the start of things, as Microsoft bosses are reportedly pushing for "no red lines" around which Xbox games launch on rival platforms.
Speaking of Xbox, it looks like the next mainline entry in the hugely popular Persona series could be heading to the Series X/S, along with the Switch 2 and PlayStation. That's according to industry insiders Nate the Hate and Midori again, who claimed Persona 6 will be multi-platform.
Elsewhere, Layers of Fear developer Bloober Team, who developed the Silent Hill 2 Remake, have teased an in-the-works title that has been dubbed Project M. Studio boss Piotr Babieno has spoken briefly about the game, saying it is "extremely important" to their long-term plans, and that it is heading to "Nintendo platforms". Fans previously thought the mysterious title was linked to a bizarre teaser trailer that ended up being for the latest Famicom Detective Club game.
It also looks like the upcoming remaster of Yooka-Laylee will be heading to the Nintendo Switch 2. A trailer that dropped during October 2024 curiously announced that the game would be coming to "Nintendo Platforms", along with the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The game's developer, Playtonic, took this tease a step further by announcing on X that the game would simply be coming to "Nintendo", with no reference to the Switch and the eyes emoji next to this cheeky hint.
Another developer that looks to have teased an upcoming Switch 2 release is Level-5. The Ni No Kuni and Professor Layton makers have announced their upcoming game Holy Horror Mansion is heading to "secret" platforms. Given Level-5's extensive Nintendo support in the past, this seems to be hinting at a release for the Switch successor. While some developers have subtly teased Switch 2 releases, the makers of My Time At Portia have officially announced their new game as heading to Nintendo's next console. The title, which is called My Time At Evershine, is coming to "future Nintendo platforms".
With the Switch 2 launching in 2025, it also means Nintendo will have some shiny new hardware out in time for the highly anticipated launch of GTA 6. Rockstar's next game is one of the most eagerly awaited games of all time, and it's also due out in 2025. However, according to Digital Foundry, given what we've heard about the Switch 2's specs a port of GTA 6 looks "very, very tricky to pull off". You can watch the full analysis from DF below.
For more Switch 2 coverage, find out how the Nintendo Accounts system will help ease the move to the next-generation Switch. Alternatively, if all this talk of the Switch 2 reveal is bringing back memories of the original console's launch, why don't you take a look at how we covered the big reveal back in 2016, along with Digital Foundry's Nintendo Switch review from 2017.