As the world changes, so do console generations. The Nintendo Switch is over seven years old, so it’s time for an update. Nintendo Switch 2 rumors have been swirling for years, but now we’ve seen some signs. On January 16th, the company officially revealed the sequel to its most successful home video game console in history with a short trailer.
The Switch 2 has a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons, and a sleeker design, but functionally it’s very similar to the original system. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.
While the reveal confirmed some rumors and included some interesting details for those who have been paying close attention, Nintendo is still keeping most of its cards close to its chest. For all the interesting information, we’ll have to wait until a special Nintendo Direct on April 2nd. Annoyingly, that date is on Wednesday, not two days.
Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on January 16th.
Rumors strongly suggested that Nintendo would end sales of the Switch 2 on January 16th, and that’s exactly what happened.
The company hasn’t changed the core form factor. A portable console with removable Joy-Con. You can place Switch 2 on the dock and enjoy big screen games. However, there are some major differences from the original console.
The most obvious is that the next generation Joy-Cons will no longer mechanically slide into place. Instead, it sticks to the main body with magnets. There’s a small connector that’s probably used to charge the controller, presumably eliminating the need to link it via Bluetooth. At this time, it is unclear whether the original system’s Joy-Cons will be compatible with the Switch 2.
Another big (and very welcome) change is the addition of a second USB-C port on the top of the device. This makes it much easier to connect accessories when the Switch 2 is docked. It’s great that Nintendo has left in the headphone jack as well. Let’s hope Bluetooth headphone support starts this time and Nintendo doesn’t make everyone wait four years for that feature.
The kickstand has also been upgraded. Like the Switch OLED, it spans the length of the console. However, according to the trailer, it appears to be fully adjustable, so you can tweak the viewing angle to suit you.
However, there are still so many unknowns about the upcoming console. We don’t yet know the specs or what type of display it uses. It also doesn’t know anything about battery life, UI, or game launches. We will learn a lot on April 2nd.
When will Nintendo Switch 2 be released?
2025. That’s all we know for sure at this point.
It’s highly unlikely that Nintendo will release this console before the dedicated Direct on April 2nd, but that’s not just because it’s the start of Nintendo’s next fiscal year. However, accessory maker Genki, which has been a major source of leaks in recent months, claims the console will be released in April.
In any case, you should know the release date during the April 2nd Direct if you don’t know it yet.
When can I try Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo is planning a worldwide roadshow to let gamers get a hands-on experience with this console. These events will begin in New York and Paris from April 3rd to 6th, with other events taking place over the next two months. This lends credence to some suggestions that Nintendo will launch the Switch 2 in June.
Ticket registration for the Switch 2 Experience event in the US (New York, Los Angeles, Paris) will open on January 17th at 3pm ET and will be accepted until January 26th. You need a Nintendo Account to sign up. Nintendo will randomly select the recipient of the free ticket.
Here’s the complete list of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events:
North America:
New York, April 4-6, 2025
Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025
Dallas, April 25-27, 2025
Toronto, April 25-27, 2025
Europe:
Paris, April 4-6, 2025
London, April 11-13, 2025
Milan, April 25-27, 2025
Berlin, April 25-27, 2025
Madrid, May 9-11, 2025
Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025
Oceania:
Asia:
Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025
Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025
Hong Kong, TBA
Taipei, TBA
Is there anything strange about the Nintendo Switch 2?
Everything we’ve seen so far about this console has been pretty traditional. It looks like the original Switch, but better. That’s great, but will that unpredictable Nintendo magic happen? perhaps! There are two mysterious additions that people can’t hide or make hair out of.
Accessory maker Genki has published a landing page for Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. This landing page features a video with a very detailed look at the Switch 2 mockup. pic.twitter.com/Db7RSk4YlQ
— Bob Wulff (@BobWulff) January 8, 2025
Eagle-eyed people will notice a new button at the bottom of the right Joy-Con. It’s not yet clear what this does. Can you initiate voice chat during gameplay? Can you adjust the controller? Can you create a room-sized hologram of Bowser in your living room? We’ll have to wait and see.
Next, let’s talk about the updated Joy-Cons. There appears to be a new sensor on the connection side of each controller. This is very similar to the optical sensor used in computer mice. This has led to speculation that players will be able to flip the Joy-Cons over and use them like a mouse. What’s notable: The trailer shows the Joy-Con moving along a flat surface with the connector side down, giving it a suspiciously mouse-like appearance.
But why would anyone want this? Three words come to mind. New Mario Paint.
Is Nintendo Switch 2 backward compatible?
The company confirmed in November 2024 that Nintendo Switch 2 will be backward compatible. It also has access to Nintendo Online, allowing users to play all of these old retro titles.
In the initial Nintendo Switch 2 press release, Nintendo reiterated that physical and digital Switch games will work on the new system. However, it states that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.” Details about which games they are will be revealed later.
What about specs?
Rumors about specs are all over the place, so it’s hard to pinpoint them. There’s one thing we know for sure. That means it will be more powerful than the ancient Switch hardware, which was already outdated in 2017. An analyst is said to have obtained the Switch 2’s touted spec sheet from South Korea’s United Daily News. 8-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB RAM, and 64GB internal eMMC storage. This is true for me because these specs are as underpowered in 2024 as they were in 2017 for the original Switch. However, some reports say that the console will come with 12GB of RAM.
Another source suggests that the eight-core CPU will be packaged inside a Tegra239 SoC (system-on-chip) from NVIDIA. This makes a lot of sense considering the current Switch is powered by NVIDIA chips. The CPU is more powerful, but the big differentiator is the Switch 2’s new GPU. It’s almost confirmed that the Switch 2 will support DLSS, NVIDIA’s “Deep Learning Supersampling” upscaling technology, which allows the console to output high-resolution images while internally displaying lower-resolution images. Now you can render your game. (Fun fact: We actually wrote about how perfect DLSS is for Nintendo Switch 2 when this technology was announced with the RTX 20 series in 2018.)
I still have questions about Switch 2 and DLSS. Will the system support new DLSS features such as frame generation? Will existing games be automatically cleaned up by NVIDIA’s algorithms? Regardless of the exact implementation, DLSS upscaling will be It goes far beyond the rudimentary technology available.
There are many contradictory rumors regarding the display. Early reports from reliable sources suggested that the Switch 2 would feature an 8-inch LCD display. The Switch 2’s display certainly looks larger than the original Switch’s when compared side-by-side in the reveal trailer.
Some analysts suggest this is an OLED display, while others say it’s a mini-LED display. A mini LED display is essentially an LCD display with a backlight made from mini LEDs (surprisingly!) rather than edge lighting. This allows local dimming and makes blacks darker. You’re hedging your bets here. I think it will be a standard LCD to reduce cost, and later there will be an OLED or mini-LED model. However, mini LED screens are slightly cheaper than OLED displays, so it’s definitely a possibility when it launches.
As for resolution, recent reports suggest that the console will output 1080p when handheld and 4K when docked. This is much better than the OG Switch. Meanwhile, it’s not yet clear whether the Switch 2 will offer any performance or visual upgrades to the original Switch games.
How much does Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
There’s not much information on pricing, but there’s a lot of history to work with. The original Nintendo Switch launched for $300, which is pretty much the “magic number” for a Nintendo console release in recent years. The Wii U also cost $300.
However, there are numerous rumors circulating that Nintendo may increase the asking price for the Switch 2. Many retailers are reporting that the price could be as high as $400 or more. But the same analyst who said the console would cost $400 was pretty sure it would be released by the end of 2024. Well, that didn’t happen.
If you look back in history, there is some precedence in price increases. The GameCube was $200 and the Wii was $250. The Wii U and Switch are up to $300, and the numbers are only trending higher. At $400, it’s about the same price as the PS5 and Xbox Series X. In other words, it will be the same price as the 256GB LCD Steam Deck.
Again, we’ll have to confirm the price during Nintendo Direct on April 2nd.
Do you know anything about the launch game?
There aren’t that many. The reveal trailer gave us a glimpse of the new Mario Kart game. Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U more than a decade ago and has continued to make money ever since, selling more than 64 million games on its console and Switch. It’s definitely time for a new entry!
Granted, it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a full-fledged 3D Mario adventure, so something new could be the launch title. That would be a hell of a system seller. Other than that, your guess is as accurate as mine. Past the prologue, we can expect something from Ubisoft and some outlandish titles like 1-2-Switch.
If there are gimmicks or hooks related to the console, games that take advantage of them will also be offered. Like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before it, Metroid Prime 4 may also receive a dual release.
It’s pretty much guaranteed that we’ll learn more about the Switch 2’s launch lineup at Nintendo Direct on April 2nd. You definitely need to configure Alarmo for that.
Here’s everything we currently know about the Nintendo Switch 2. This article will be updated with information gathered directly from reliable rumors and sources. Changes made to the article after its initial publication are listed below.
Updated on January 15, 2025, 12:10 PM ET: This article has been updated to include rumors about a possible console announcement this week.
Updated on January 16, 2025, 10:33 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include official details about Nintendo Switch 2 from the reveal trailer and press release.
