We’ve all been eagerly awaiting the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and it brought some new details to light as well as some that were expected! There’s a lot to detail, but let’s just start with the system and work from there.
Let’s get the big news out of the way right from the start. The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025. You’ll be able to buy the standard option that just comes with the console for $449.99 or a bundle version that will include the console and the new Mario Kart World for $499.99. Pre-orders will be available to place as early as April 9, 2025, at participating retailers.
Nintendo Switch 2
You’ll be able to enjoy a bigger screen but keep the same thickness as the original Switch. Introducing a 7.9-inch screen with nearly double the pixels, you’ll be able to see more of what’s going on and in better definition! Your games will now be shown to you in 1080p with up to 120 fps. This creates a vivid LCD and, with HDR support, you’re looking at clearer pictures than you’d have from the original Switch.
The Joy Con-2 will connect magnetically and have a release to disengage so you don’t have to worry about the magnets failing. The new controller comes with a new “C” button that will allow you to chat with your friends and a mouse function that’s built-in. We’ll go more into those a bit later.
For now, you can enjoy several new features that will make playing even easier, including:
- Bigger SL and SR buttons
- Larger control sticks
- Mouse control features
- Better speakers
- Built-in microphone that has noise-cancelling filters
- 3D Audio for compatible games
- New stand that you can adjust to several angles
- Two USB-C ports on top and bottom of the system
- Larger, faster storage – 256 GB
- New dock
- 4K Support
- Better fan vents
Along with the features above, you’ll be able to play compatible Nintendo Switch games, both physical and digital on your Nintendo Switch 2. As a side note, you’ll be able to enjoy new Pro controllers that will have the “C” button as well as new backside GL and GR buttons that you can assign controls to and an audio jack!
Going back to the mouse features, both of your joy cons will be able to be moved like a mouse in order to move around the screen. This makes mini-games or moments where you need precision a cinch to handle.
As for the “C” button, you’ll be able to activate something called, “GameChat” with it. While using GameChat features, the microphone built into the system will pick up your voice, and since it has noise-canceling features, it shouldn’t matter where you are for your voice to be heard clearly.
By hitting the “C” button, you’ll pull up a chat menu where you can connect with friends, but this isn’t just limited to voice chat! With the newest addition of the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, you’ll be able to see your friends, as well!
Additional Features
With the use of your camera, you can see your friend’s reactions in real-time. And, as if that wasn’t enough, you can share your game screen with others. This means that you could be playing your own game, but can see live gameplay from your friends. If they have the camera on, you can see them as an overlay over top. It’s like your own personal streaming sessions with your friends!
Playing with your friends has never been easier with the introduction of “gameshare.” You’ll be able to share a compatible game that you own with up to three other Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. So, you don’t have to own the game or have your friends over to enjoy playing together!
The camera and GameChat will be available the same day as Nintendo Switch 2, but it will require an Online membership. For a limited time, you’ll enjoy the benefits without needing the subscription until the end of March 2026.
There will be some parental permissions in place for younger players to ensure online safety when using the camera and chat features.
Game Cards and Game Types
Game cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 are the same shape, but they’re red and have faster data reading speeds. Switch 2 will need a special MicroSD Express Card and won’t be compatible with normal MicroSD cards from the original Switch. Don’t worry about losing things, however! There is a new transfer system that will allow you to transfer data from your Switch to your Switch 2 including save data, digital games, and more!
With the introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2, we’ll see three different game types. You’ll have your standard Nintendo Switch games, Nintendo Switch 2 games, but, also, a third option that almost blends the two.
There are several games that are already out on the Switch that will get a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. This means that games you know, love, and own will be getting a facelift! Generally, this means better graphics, but also new features that use audio recognition, mouse controls, more expressive rumble, and camera capabilities.
If you already own the game on the Nintendo Switch, there won’t be a need for you to buy the game all over again. You can purchase an upgrade pack in order to add those features! There’s no word on how many games will have this upgrade pack or how much that upgrade pack may cost. We have to assume it’s at a discounted price from the MSRP of the game.
And, that’s really everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2. The only thing left to talk about is the massive amounts of games that are coming. Instead of detailing it all, I’m going to just put a bullet point list below.
I’ll be including dates when I have them and if they are out the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2 release, they’ll simply be notated as “Launch Day”.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games
- Mario Kart World – Launch Day
- Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV – July 24
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Launch Day
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Launch Day
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World – August 28
- Donkey Kong Bananza – July 17
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Switch 2 Edition – 2025
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Late 2025
- Kirby Air Riders – 2025
- Drag x Drive – Summer
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – Launch Day
- Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Launch Day
- BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster – Launch Day
- FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE (Which we reported on a rumor here)
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition – Launch Day
- SPLIT FICTION – Launch Day
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – Winter
- NBA 2K
- WWE 2K
- EA SPORTS Madden NFL
- EA SPORTS FC
- Hades II
- The Duskbloods
- Borderlands 4 – 2025
- Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition – 2025
- Street Fighter 6 (new amiibo figures and cards) – Launch Day
- Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion – September 5
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Summer
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut – Launch Day
- Fortnite – Launch Day
- Enter the Gungeon 2 – 2026
- HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition – Launch Day
- Project 007
- STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions
- DELTARUNE – Launch Day
- Survival Kids – Launch Day
- Star Wars Outlaws – 2025
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – 2025
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess – Launch Day
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar – August 27
- Goodnight Universe – 2025
- Two Point Museum – 2025
- Wild Hearts S – July 25
- Witchbrook – Holiday 2025
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S – Launch Day
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Launch Day
- MARVEL Cosmic Invasion – Holiday 2025
- NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening Complete Edition – Launch Day
- Fast Fusion – Launch Day
- Shadow Labyrinth – July 18
- RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army – June 19
- No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – July 25
- REANIMAL – 2025
- Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER – Launch Day
- Professor Layton and The New World of Steam – 2025
- Tamagotchi Plaza – June 27
- Human Fall Flat 2
Online News
Lastly, you’ve enjoyed classics from SNES and more on the Nintendo Switch. You’ll be able to continue to do that with the addition of some GameCube classics joining the retro library! You’ll have to be subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service in order to gain access to them.
It will be available the same day that the Nintendo Switch 2 launches and will include 3 titles at first.
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Soulcalibur II
- F-Zero GX
These games will benefit greatly from being added to the classic library. You’ll be able to enjoy clearer image quality and resolution and more games will be added in the future! Not only will you be able to play your favorites from childhood, but you’ll be able to play like it, too!
On launch day, you’ll be able to buy a dedicated GameCube Controller designed after the original. It will connect wirelessly and have the “C” button like all the controllers in this generation.
There were a few games we saw slated for the future but got no date of release for.
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
- Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Super Mario Strikers
- Chibi-Robo!: Plug into Adventure
- Luigi’s Mansion
- Pokemon Colleseum
That’s a lot of news to absorb about the Nintendo Switch 2 and we’ll likely hear more in the future. For now, what are you excited about most about what has been announced? Personally, I’m excited about Mario Kart World.
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