After long months of speculation, Nintendo Switch 2 details have finally been announced. Following a Nintendo Direct launch, we now know the Switch 2 price, release date and specs and design details
Switch 2 preorders will open on 9 April 2025 (apart from in the US due to the tariffs issue) for a 5 June release date. But will the Switch 2 deserve a place in our roundup of the best games consoles? Read on to learn everything you need to know.
Nintendo Switch 2: everything you need to know
Want to beat the queues? Few retailers have listed the Switch 2 yet, but you can register interest at Nintendo's US store or sign up for notifications at Best Buy or GameStop.
The Switch 2 is an evolution of the original Nintendo Switch rather than a reinvention. As such, it doesn't look hugely different from its predecessor, but there are some key changes in the next-gen console's design and specs.
For a start, the Switch 2 is bigger than the original Switch, following the trend set by the bulky Steam Deck OLED. It measures 11.4cm (4.5in) tall by 27.2cm (10.7in) wide. It's 1.4cm (0.55in) deep, the same thickness as the original console. It will weigh 535g (1.18lbs) with the Joy-Cons attached.
The other big design change is the addition of an adjustable kickstand covering the entire back of the console. It's is significant improvement on the original console's flimsy stand and is in keeping with the stand on the 2021 OLED model. It allows the display to be viewed from multiple angles.
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The console will have a pair of USB-C ports. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 dock has softer, rounded edges, and leaves more of the display is visible.
The Switch 2 kickstand from the side (Image credit: Nintendo)
Display
The display measures 7.9in, larger than the 6.2in on the original Switch and has thinner bezels. It will be a capacitive touch LCD screen with a 1920 x 1080p resolution, around double the pixels of the original Switch, and will be capable of a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It will also have support for HDR.
The dock will be able to upscale games for TVs at up to 60fps at 4K. HDR will be possible on TVs at 2K.
Switch 2 internals
As for the internals, the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a custom chip made by Nvidia. We don't yet have core counts, but Nvidia says the chip has RT Cores to enable real-time ray tracing for more realistic lighting, like on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The chip will also have Tensor Cores to power AI-driven features like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), boosting resolution for sharper details. They also enable AI-powered face tracking and background removal in video chat.
Meanwhile, SSD storage capacity has been bumped from a miserly 32GB in the original Switch to 256GB, providing more space to store games. Nintendo says Switch 2 battery life will be up to 6.5 hours.
Nintendo Switch 2: new features
A fan-made render of the rumoured Switch Pro (Image credit: Nintendo)
A new GameChat feature on Switch 2 will allow voice chat during games, adding a functionality present on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The system makes use of a new in-built microphone on the console. This has a filter to cancel out background noise. The menu for GameChat looks similar to the one in Discord, with each player’s camera showing as tiles onscreen.
Many fans will be delighted to learn that Nintendo Switch 2 also introduces Game Share, a feature that will allow sharing of compatible games with up to three other systems. The feature also supports online play.
Nintendo Switch 2: Joy-cons and accessories
(Image credit: Nintendo)
The Switch 2 Joy-Cons are larger than before and they're magnetic. Instead of sliding on and off to a rail, the magnets allow the Joy-Cons to be snapped onto the sides.
The new Joy-Cons also provide mouse-like controls for more intuitive input in games. You can put both Joy-cons on a table and roll them to control whatever is on the screen, which could make the Switch much more interesting for shooters.
The Switch 2 sees the addition of a 'C' button on the right Joy Con 2. This pulls up a menu for the new GameChat feature mentioned above.
New accessories include the Switch 2 Camera, which can add your face to multiplayer sessions or incorporate your image into games like Super Mario Party Jamboree. Other accessories are familiar, from a new Switch 2 Pro Controller to a wheel, charging grip and case.
Nintendo Switch 2: games
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo has announced several new games for the Switch 2. On launch, the console will be available alone or as bundle with Super Mario Kart World – Yep, not Mario Kart 9, but Mario Kart WORLD. The new installment in the longstanding popular racing franchise will introduce an open world with varied time and weather and more types of vehicles.
Nintendo has also announced a new three-on-three wheelchair basketball game called Drag x Drive and a new 3D Donkey Kong game called Donkey Kong Bananza set for release on 17 June.
Third-party releases will include Elden Ring, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Madden, Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy and a James Bond game from I/O Interactive titled Project 007 for now. DuskBloods from FromSoftware will launch in 2026.
Some existing games, including Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will get upgrades for smoother gameplay, higher resolution and HDR support. The Zelda games are also getting a new app, Zelda Notes, accessible through the Nintendo Switch app and providing a navigation tool to guide you to locations in the games.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility
Nintendo has suggested that the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with the vast majority of existing Switch games. It stressed that since the Nintendo Switch 2 system's hardware is different, some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible, but so far these appear to represent less than around 5 per cent of games.
Nintendo Switch 2: Price
The Nintendo Store is showing US pricing of $449 for the console console alone or $499 with Mario Kart World included. UK pricing is £395.99 for the console and £429.99 for the Mario Kart bundle.
Nintendo Switch 2: Release date
Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on 5 June 2025. Preorders will open on 9 April in most of the world, but Nintendo has said that US preorders will open later because it needs to assess the impact of the government's new tariffs, which could increase the price of the console.
In the meantime, see below for current prices on existing Switch models. You might also want to see our comparison of Nintendo Switch 2 vs Switch OLED if you're wondering whether to upgrade.
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Beth is Creative Bloq’s Ecommerce Writer and has the fun job of finding you the very best prices and deals on creative tech. Beth kicked off her journalistic career writing for Digital Camera World, and has since earned bylines on TechRadar too. With a Masters degree in Photography, Beth loves getting to tinker with new cameras, especially camera phones, as the resident Samsung fan on the team. Her background working as a tester for CeX let her play around with all kinds of weird and wonderful products, including robots, and she’s recently gotten into 3D printing too. Outside of CB, you’ll find her gaming on her PS5, photographing local shows under the alias Bethshootsbands, and making TikToks of her dog, Tilly.
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