The 7 year wait is finally over. Nintendo has officially announced its next console, the Switch 2. Now that the announcement has actually been made after months of speculation, we can all move on to another game, right? Not so fast. The short introductory video actually generated more questions than answers. There’s still a lot we don’t know about Nintendo’s upcoming hybrid console, so let’s take a closer look.
When will it come out?
I don’t understand! Nintendo has a direct livestream scheduled for April 2nd, and we’ll likely get that information there. It will be a little later than that, sometime in 2025. Maybe we can move fast and have it ready for sale by the end of April, but it’s much more likely to be released in the summer. It is also possible that the company will wait until the lucrative year-end sales season begins. However, Nintendo will be holding in-person events around the world from April to June, so you’ll likely be able to play it in the near future.
What are the internal specifications?
This is also a mystery. The introductory video only showed what the console looks like and an updated controller. No mention was made of internal specifications. Of course, there are plenty of rumors about the capabilities of Nintendo’s next console, but nothing concrete. Some analysts predict that the console will feature an 8-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of internal eMMC storage, while others predict that it will feature an NVIDIA-made We expect it to be powered by Tegra239 SoC (system on chip). Most people seem to agree that the system includes some version of NVIDIA’s DLSS “Deep Learning Supersampling” upscaling technology.
What about the screen?
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We saw the screen working, presumably running some version of the upcoming Mario Kart game. The video gives some insight into the size of the display, which appears to be about 30% larger than the current model. This is followed up with rumors indicating an 8-inch screen. However, we don’t know what kind of display the console comes with. Rumors here vary. Some analysts are predicting mini-LED screens, while others are predicting traditional LCDs. It probably won’t be OLED, as the company will likely save it for future upgrades.
How long does the battery last?
There aren’t even any credible rumors about this, but there was speculation last year that the company would include a performance mode feature on the Switch 2. I would be very surprised since Nintendo likes to hit the mass market sweet spot. If your battery life doesn’t match the Switch OLED’s 4.5-9 hours of playback time per charge. This console is certainly more powerful than the OG Switch, but it’s also larger. That extra room can accommodate a heavy-duty battery.
How much does it cost?
This is also unknown. Nintendo will likely reveal pricing information on April 2nd. The original Switch, like the Wii U, was released for $300. But inflation is real and supply chains are unstable. There are rumors that the price could go up to $400 or more. Nintendo tends to increase the base price of its consoles every few generations. The GameCube originally cost $200 and the Wii $250.
Does the controller have an optical sensor?
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There have been long-standing rumors that the Switch 2 would include mouse-like functionality via Joy-Con optical sensors. We don’t have exact confirmation of that, but the introductory video certainly seems to hint at it. Eagle-eyed viewers probably noticed a segment featuring a Pixar-like controller moving around the table like two computer mice. If true, Nintendo will be developing some strange software that combines mouse and controller input. Either way, this addition will definitely make things like Civilization VI easier to play. It could also hint at a new Mario Paint.
What is the unmarked button on the right?
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Viewers likely spotted a new button at the bottom of the right Joy-Con. This was previously rumored to be the “C” button, but it is not marked in the introductory video. We don’t know what it does, so your guess is just as accurate as ours. There is a possibility to adjust the controller or start a voice chat. We’ll probably find out on April 2nd.
What about backward compatibility?
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Yes, the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with original Switch games. This is great news, but the introductory video stated that “some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.” We don’t know exactly what that means or how many titles it will affect. We’re definitely referring to previous generation oddities like Nintendo Labo and Mario Kart: Home Circuit.
Will stick drift be a problem?
We’ll have to wait and see on that, but in the public video, the joystick took a while to make a cute little perfect circle. Previous leaks indicate that Nintendo has learned its lesson about stick drifting and the new console will feature a Hall-effect joystick. We hope so.
What will the UI look like?
The Switch’s user interface is, for better or worse, extremely minimalist and bare-bones. This carries over to the online shopping experience as well. We don’t know if the Switch 2 will incorporate any Nintendo-grade quirks in terms of the UI. My hope is that the long-forgotten social network Miiverse will be revived. It was silly and fun. Modern social media apps have a lot of features, but you can’t call them silly or fun.
Any Nintendo weirdness?
From the headache-inducing 3DS to, well, the equally headache-inducing Virtual Boy, Nintendo has always marched to the beat of its own drum. However, the Switch 2 seems to be a very conservative release for the company. A more powerful and slightly larger Switch.
That Nintendo quirk that saved the company during the Wii era and nearly destroyed it during the Wii U era? I don’t know yet. There’s a good chance that the aforementioned optical sensor and “C” button will lead to some wild and wacky gameplay experiences. There may also be features that have not yet been announced. We’re talking about Nintendo here.
What is a launch game?
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This was completely unknown, but fans expecting a new Mario Kart were certainly shocked by the reveal video. It included quite a bit of footage of what appears to be a brand new Mario Kart, with revamped character designs and the possibility of 24-person racing.
