Everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2

Well that’s it folks - we finally got a better look at the Nintendo Switch 2 and everything Nintendo had cooking for the last eight years. The brand-new handheld is set to launch on June 5, 202, as revealed in the packed Nintendo Direct presentation held on April 2, which was full to the brim with new details surrounding Ninty's new machine.

The console is confirmed to cost $450 / £395.99 at launch, with a Mario Kart World bundle available for $499.99 / £429.99. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will drop on April 8, where you'll be able to get your hands on all the new features, including 256GB of internal storage, magnetically attached Joy-Con 2 controllers, a GameCube NSO game library, mouse controls, a bigger 7.9 inch 1080p 120Hz LCD display, and a wealth of new games, including Switch 2 Enhanced versions of older releases.

It's safe to say there was a lot that Ninty unleashed upon us during the last Nintendo Direct, so we've gathered all you need to know about the console so far in one place, to make it easier to digest. There's still Switch 2 live events on their way, and more Directs on their way, so we'll continue to gather every bit of news and details about the Switch 2, so you can prepare yourself and your gaming setup for what's still to come.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 launch?

Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer - YouTube

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The Nintendo Switch 2 will release worldwide on Thursday, June 5, 2025, for $450 / £395.99. At launch, both the standard console and a Mario Kart World bundle (with a digital copy of the game) will be available to purchase, with the bundle costing $499.99 / £429.99, respectively.

The release date for the upcoming handheld was unveiled during the April 2 Nintendo Switch Direct presentation, with the price shared through official channels shortly afterward. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will go live on April 8, 2025, just days after the April 2 Direct from the official Nintendo website and selected retailers.

On April 4, however, Nintendo announced that Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will be delayed in the US "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions." The launch date will remain "unchanged" according to the statement released by Nintendo (shared by GameSpot's Tamoor Hussain on Twitter), but pre-orders will no longer go live on April 8, 2025, in the US.

In a likely bid to prevent re-sellers getting ahold of the new console in the UK and Europe, the opportunity to pre-order the Switch 2 from the official My Nintendo Store will be limited and initially offered on an invite-only basis to selected Nintendo Switch Online members. To be one of those lucky few, you have to match a series of criteria, which include being a Nintendo Switch Online member for at least two years continuously by March 31, 2025, and having an active NSO subscription the day of pre-orders.

Additionally, you have to have spent a "certain amount of time" playing purchased and paid Nintendo Switch games, and then, if you've opted to receive promotional emails from Ninty, you should be opted in to receive a pre-order invitation on the day.

Nintendo Switch 2 Specs

During the April 2 Nintendo Direct presentation, we finally got a huge in-depth look at the upcoming handheld. Using what we officially know so far from both Nintendo Switch 2-centered Directs, and the still remaining spec rumours, the specs are looking to include:

• Custom Nividia chip (still rumored)
• 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM (still rumored)
• 256GB internal storage
• 7.9-inch LCD  1080p 120Hz display with 120Hz refresh rate
• Dock with 4K and HDR (in TV mode) support
• Magnetically attached Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse controls
• MicroSD Express card reader
• USB-C 'Nintendo Switch 2 Camera (sold separately) compatibility

Display

The Nintendo Switch 2 is armed with a larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz screen with HDR abilities, while its docking station will allow players to ramp things up to 4K on external gaming TV and monitors. To pull off those enhanced resolutions, the dock also has a built-in fan to keep the system cool, which makes sense, seeing as even the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally will struggle to deliver UHD visuals in newer games.

Storage

The Switch 2 has 256GB of storage included with the Switch 2, which Nintendo claims is faster than the 32GB flash memory used by the original system.

That should help improve load times in more demanding games or existing adventures like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Enhanced Edition. It also opens the door for bigger, bolder outings since the handheld will be able to pull data much faster than before. The caveat is that the new game cards are now simply keys that allow you access to a download, which ties in the idea of faster memory beyond the old cartridges.

Unlike the original handheld, the best Nintendo Switch SD cards won't be compatible with the Switch 2, and instead, you'll have to grab a microSD Express card for $49.99 / £49.99 to get an additional 256GB worth of storage. As of typing, these are only available via the official Nintendo Switch 2 website alongside those lucky enough to get invited to pre-orders for the brand new console.

Joy-Con

The brand new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Switch 2 are very similar to their predecessors, but feature all-black colorways with dabs of the iconic blue and red iconic Switch-branded colors poking out from around the sticks and magnetically connecting edges.

The new controllers are the same width as before but are now half an inch taller and feature a brand new 'C' button (on the right Joy-Con 2) to activate the new 'GameChat' feature - a Discord-like chat system that allows Switch 2 users to chat to their friends and share gameplay footage.

One of the biggest changes with the new Joy-Con controllers is with their mouse gameplay mechanics. These brand-new mouse controls are included in both controllers and, when held on their side against a flat surface, can be dragged just like a gaming mouse. Within the Ask the Developer Vol. 16: Nintendo Switch 2 — Part 2 blog post, producer Kawamoto stated that the mouse controls can be used to "move your character around with the control stick, while using the right Joy-Con 2 as a mouse to aim and shoot" in games like Metroid Prime 4 Beyond.

So far, there's been no official mention of the new inclusion of hall effect sticks to prevent Joy-Con drift. According to a patent spotted by Laura Kate Dale the Nintendo Switch 2 could be using the tech in the Joy-Con sticks to avoid the wear and tear-induced stick drift that the current controllers are prone to. However, Kawamoto stated that the sticks are larger and more durable, with "smoother movement" and that the L and R buttons have been lengthened for comfort.

What wasn't revealed yet was if they can be used upside down. A patent discovered on February 12, suggests that the new Joy-Con 2 controllers can be attached to the handheld upside down. The patent in question contained an illustrative diagram that shows the Switch 2 upside down, hinting that when the Joy-Con controllers are attached the 'wrong way', the screen may flip 180 degrees to offer up a different orientation for players. The patent itself states that Switch 2 users can "use the game system by mounting the right controller and the left controller on the opposite side to the main body device."

amiibo

Nintendo announced that brand-new Street Fighter 6 and The Legend of Zelda amiibo figures will be available at launch on June 5, 2025.

Fighters Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly have received their own amiibo figures, which will launch alongside the Switch 2 version of Street Fighter 6 Fighters Edition and unlock "exclusive in-game content" and the ability to save and load your favorite character's outfit, control style, and button settings.

Alongside the figures, 22 amiibo cards featuring a range of Street Fighter 6 characters are currently in development. The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom was also confirmed to be receiving more amiibos of its own, with figures based on Tulin, Yunobo, Riju, and Sidon. These will also be available on June 5, and unlock fabric for Link’s paraglider, as well as weapons and materials like previously existing Zelda amiibos.

Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed that the brand-new Joy-Con 2 controllers will feature the same NFC-reading tech as the current Switch, however, it's upcoming new amiibo releases all but confirm the figures, new and old, are compatible with the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 design

Nintendo officially showcased the first look of the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year on January 16, where it was revealed that the design and overlook are similar to that of the original Switch. During the short video, the brand-new handheld was shown off in all its upgraded glory, featuring an all-black colorway, with hints of the original blue and red design visible on the side of the controllers and around their sticks.

Nintendo has revealed that the Switch 2 is still 13.9mm thick just like the original, but now wields a 6.9-inch screen. It also has longer gamepads known as the Joy-Con 2 controller that connect magnetically to the side of the device, although there are connecting pins - which hopefully won't be subject to damage like the mounting rails of the original console. The new Switch also features an updated kickstand design, which, similar to that of the Nintendo Switch OLED, is a lot bigger than the classic Switch and offers up more angles for its tabletop gaming mode.

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility

The Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with original Switch games, including physical game carts, digital downloads, and the official Nintendo Switch Online game libraries.

However, the official Nintendo website states that due to the difference in hardware between the two consoles, "some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2" but that the tech giant is continuing to improve compatibilty including by " working with publishing and developing partners."

You can check the official Nintendo backwards compatibility list full an in-depth look at every game that's affected by the change of hardware. Additionally, some original Nintendo Switch games will still require the use of the older Joy-Con controllers, and we've gathered them all below:

• Ring Fit Adventure
• 1-2-Switch
• Everybody 1-2-Switch
• Game Builder Garage
• Nintendo Switch Sports
• WarioWare Move It!
• Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit
• Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit
• Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit

Just as we suspected, games like Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Labo are effected, namely as of their reliance on the old Joy-Con controllers. Ring Fit Adventure is only playable by using an existing Joy-Con controller, as the Joy-Con 2 is not compatible with the Ring Con, and is too large for the leg strap. The new controllers also don't feature an IR Motion Camera, so the older versions of the Joy-Con are required to play games like 1-2-Switch and Everybody 1-2-Switch.

During a game-focused Nintendo Direct presentation held on March 27, Nintendo showed off its new Virtual Game Card system. These new virtual game cards will "also work with Nintendo Switch 2 at launch" according to the presentation, and replace the icons of digital Switch games with icons that look more visually like physical game cards. According to the Direct presentation, these digital game cards will allow you to lend Switch games to any members of your Nintendo family group and will become available as part of a system update in April, 2025.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

During the big April 2 Nintendo Direct, we got our first official look at the brand-new games coming to the Switch 2 - which started off with a bang with Mario Kart World. The latest iteration of the iconic kart racer takes things up a notch by being the first open-world Mario Kart game to date, and it will be available the same day the Switch 2 drops - on June 5, 2025.

New screenshots of a mysteriously new looking Mario Kart were originally shown off during the January 16 video, however, it wasnt until April 2 that we got confirmation of not just the game's name, but that it will be host to a ton of new tracks, new modes, and even new characters like the the Moo Moo Meadows Cow, and a series first with 24 racers hitting the track all at once. The game will also be available as part of a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle at launch, with a digital copy packed inside.

Fortunately, Mario Kart World wasn't the only game that Ninty unveiled during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, there's a plethora of new (and old) titles making their way to the handheld. Alongside Mario Kart World, we got confirmation that Super Mario Party Jamboree will be receiving its own Switch 2 edition, with Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. Other than being a mouthful of a title, the game will have opportunities to use the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), the new Joy-Con 2 controller mouse mechanics, and a ton of new modes and new features.

Additionally, Metroid Prime 4, and Pokemon Z-A will also be making their way onto the Switch 2. Originally, these games were set to release on the current Switch, as shown off during the March game-focused Nintendo Direct presentation. And they are, but Switch 2 owners will be able to grab 'Enhanced Switch 2' versions of the games, but buying upgrade packs. These upgrade packs are also available for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

As far as brand-new Switch 2 exclusives, we also got a look at a return of the big man himself, Donkey Kong, in Donkey Kong Bananza set to release on July 17, 2025, and everyone's favorite pink puffball, Kirby, is returning in Kirby AirRiders, directed by Masahiro Sakurai and due for release on the new handheld later this year.

So you know exactly what Nintendo Switch 2 launch games you'll be able to play on the Switch 2 from day one, we've gathered them all below:

• Mario Kart World
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• Split Fiction
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Street Fighter 6
• Sid Meier's Civilization 7 (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
• Fortnite
• Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
• Deltarune
• Survival Kids
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
• Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Fast Fusion
• Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer

When it comes to physical games, the carts for the Switch 2 are the same size as the original Switch games - however, now, they're red instead of black to distinguish themselves from what came before.

Unlike the original Switch, the Switch 2 won't be compatible with the current best Nintendo Switch SD cards, and instead, only Express SD cards will work with the upcoming handheld. This also means that any of the officially licenced Nintendo cards will have to remain with your older handheld.

Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories

The Nintendo Switch 2 already has a number of official accessories, most of which were shown off in the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, and we've listed them below:

• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
• Nintendo GameCube (GCN) Controller - Nintendo Classics

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller, Switch 2 camera, and the GameCube controller are due to release on June 5, 2025, the same day as the console. Alongside these brand-new peripherals, an official Joy-Con 2 charging grip, Joy-Con 2 wheel (set of two), Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector, and Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case are also on the cards for launch day.

Alongside first-party accessories, third-party devices for the upcoming handheld have appeared online, including Dbrand's NS2 Killswitch case, which began reservations minutes before the Nintendo Direct on April 2. An officially licenced HORI Piranha Plant Switch 2 camera, although yet to be officially announced by the brand, has been spotted online. It switches out the simplistic look of the official camera to instead look like the official Super Mario series baddie.