Nintendo shared new information on Wednesday about the highly awaited Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console, which will be the company’s first new console since the Nintendo Switch came out in 2017.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5 and will be priced at $450.
At its release, the console will be available individually and as part of a bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a new game for the Switch 2.
What will the Nintendo Switch 2 look like?
The Switch 2 is an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch. It improves on the original design, allowing play both on the go and at home on a TV.
The Switch 2 features a larger console and a bigger screen, although it still has a bezel around the edges. The Joy-Con controllers are heavier and attach magnetically to the sides of the screen. It has a 1080p LCD screen that can support up to 120fps and HDR, which may disappoint users who are used to the OLED Nintendo Switches. However, the dock will support 4K.
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256 GB of storage, which is eight times more than the previous model. Many casual gamers had to purchase a microSD card for extra storage before. It will only work with new microSD express cards for additional storage.
The back of the device has a stronger stand for keeping it upright. There are USB-C charging ports on both the top and bottom of the device, with the top port likely meant for the Nintendo Switch Camera, but it also serves as a more convenient charging option.
The standard color for the Nintendo Switch 2 is matte black with light red and blue accents on each Joy-Con, keeping a nod to the previous design but in a more modern style. We believe Nintendo will allow you to buy as many Joy-Cons as you want in various colors, and hopefully, this time there won’t be any drift issues.
The Joy-Cons will also work like a computer mouse for compatible games. With the gyroscope features, players can have better control over motion controls.
To help users learn about the new Nintendo Switch 2 features, there will be a Welcome Tour game that explains the device, which will require payment. This money might be better spent on Mario Kart World.
Additionally, Nintendo Online will now let players access GameCube games, along with its existing Nintendo 64 and Game Boy games, including titles like Fire Emblem Path of Radiance, Super Mario Strikers, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pokémon XD. Some games will be available on the Switch 2’s launch day, along with a remade GameCube controller that includes a C button.
What does the C button do on the Nintendo Switch 2?
Many fans speculated about a C button on the Joy-Cons, which Nintendo confirmed today is for GameChat, a feature that lets you talk to friends while playing games.
Your voice is picked up by a microphone in the system, allowing you to hear others even in a noisy room. Users can also share their game screens on the console, even if they are playing different games. (Watch out, Discord.) However, during the demo, the video of another player’s game screen was a bit choppy.
The right Joy-Con has another C button for other chat functions, like muting your microphone if you need to do something else.
GameChat will be available for all users until March 31, 2026, but after that, a paid online membership will be required to use it. Nintendo briefly mentioned that parental controls will be available on GameChat but did not provide more details.
What hardware is being released with the Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch Camera, which can be attached to the console to overlay your face onto your game, making it great for GameChat.
Nintendo demonstrated the camera by showing people playing Mario Party together, with players’ faces appearing in speech bubbles next to their characters, displaying their reactions to the game. These new features will work with some older games, including Mario Party Jamboree.
Additionally, there will be a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller that features a new C button.
What games will be available for the Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo has confirmed that a new exclusive Mario Kart game, called Mario Kart World, will launch on the same day as the Switch 2.
Mario Kart World appears to be Nintendo’s version of an open-world Mario game. It features a large map with different regions and courses, and players can explore freely in single or multiplayer mode without worrying about red shells.
The Switch 2 will support games from other developers, including some that are still in development and others that have already been released. These games include Hades II, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Street Fighter, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4, Yakuza 0, Borderlands 4, Enter the Gungeon 2, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, a Final Fantasy VII remake, Silksong, and more. Deltarune chapters 3 and 4 will be available on the day the Switch 2 launches.
A new game in the Zelda universe, called Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, will be a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom and is expected to release this winter.
Kirby fans can look forward to Kirby AirRiders, set to launch in 2025, which is a remake of the original Kirby Air Ride GameCube game from 20 years ago. A new Switch 2 game, Donkey Kong Bananza, will be released on July 17, 2025.
FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods is being developed for Nintendo Switch 2 and will be released exclusively in 2026.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will allow players to buy upgrades for existing games they have for the Switch, as well as special Switch 2 versions of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends Z-A, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Mario Party Jamboree. However, these upgrades will require payment.
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