With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcase behind us, we now know extra in regards to the console than ever earlier than, together with its launch date (June 5) and value ($450). We’re additionally retaining a detailed eye on how the recently-announced tariffs in the US are affecting Nintendo’s launch plans. Pre-orders within the US and Canada kicked off on April 24, and now the Swap 2 is bought out at on-line retailers.
Due to Nintendo’s January 16 teaser trailer, we have lengthy identified what the Swap 2 will appear like, and that it’s going to arrive in 2025 — over eight years after its predecessor. The Nintendo Swap 2 seems similar to the unique system, albeit with a bigger show, magnetic Pleasure-Cons and a sleeker design. The upcoming console will likely be backwards suitable with Swap video games.
Trying to atone for the whole lot we all know in regards to the Swap 2? Check out our final preview of the console earlier than it arrives on Thursday and skim on for the whole lot else.
What are the important thing new options of the Nintendo Swap 2?
Show and dock
The Nintendo Swap 2 has a 1080p 7.9-inch show with a 120Hz refresh and HDR compatibility. It additionally helps as much as 4K output at 120Hz (with variable refresh charges) when docked.
Pleasure-Con and Professional Controller
The brand new Pleasure-Con 2 for Nintendo Swap 2 attaches magnetically with a button to launch them. They’ve bigger SL and SR buttons (those hidden when the Pleasure-Con are connected) to make enjoying multiplayer video games on particular person Pleasure-Cons extra possible. These buttons are additionally fabricated from metal and connect to the Swap 2’s magnets.
The analog sticks are not tiny nubs, and are nearer in dimension to those you would possibly discover on a PS5 or Xbox controller. Nevertheless, they do not have Hall effect sensors, the usage of which might decrease the danger of the “stick drift” subject that plagued the unique Pleasure-Cons.
The Pleasure-Con 2 have what Nintendo is looking “HD Rumble 2” in-built, which appears to be a refinement of the unique (and nonetheless superb) vibration operate. Lastly, each Joy-Con 2 has an optical sensor that allows you to use it as a mouse, and a C button, which we’ll get to in a minute.
The brand new Professional Controller for the Nintendo Swap 2 comes with the whole lot you’d anticipate primarily based on the refreshed Pleasure-Con 2: Particularly HD Rumble 2 and the C button. There are additionally remappable GL/GR buttons across the again and an ordinary audio jack for connecting a headset.
Each choices include Amiibo help in-built. The Swap 2 comes with two Pleasure-Con 2, as you’d anticipate, and extra pairs are priced at $95. The Professional Controller will value $85.
The C button stands for “chat”
The brand new C button is a devoted solution to enter a chat session with associates. In addition to the usual options you’d anticipate from voice chat, Nintendo has constructed a Discord-like video-sharing characteristic, which helps you to present your gameplay to others and see different individuals’s screens whilst you’re enjoying.
The GameChat function works with a mic constructed into the console, although headsets are additionally supported. Nintendo may even promote a $55 digital camera that plugs into the USB-C port on the highest of the console, which can assist you to stream your face alongside along with your recreation.
GameCube help
The Switch 2 will work with GameCube games by way of the Nintendo Swap On-line Enlargement Pack. The three titles obtainable at launch will likely be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II.
Improved specs
Maybe the most important characteristic, although, is one you’ll be able to’t see: The Swap 2 has an all-new processor and GPU and considerably extra storage (256GB vs 64GB within the Swap OLED), together with help for quicker and extra capacious microSD playing cards. It will clearly result in higher first-party video games and upgraded Swap experiences, however extra importantly it should imply multi-platform video games that needed to skip the unique, underpowered Swap will have the ability to be ported over. With games like Cyberpunk 2077 coming to the Switch 2 at launch, it looks like way more ports will likely be possible than on the unique console.
Digital Foundry has been capable of affirm a bunch of the details of the Switch 2’s specs that Nintendo hasn’t defined publicly, however the highlights are the consoles customized chip and quicker storage. The Swap 2 makes use of a NVIDIA chip with eight ARM Cortex A78C cores, six of which can be found to builders, and a GPU with the corporate’s Ampere structure. That is alongside 12GB of LPDDRX RAM and a customized FDE (file decompression engine) that decompresses recreation information with out drawing energy from the Swap 2’s CPU.
One other main enchancment comes within the type of networking — the Swap 2 helps Wi-Fi 6, which can enhance the unique’s typically glacial obtain speeds. Equally, the brand new dock sports activities an Ethernet port for a rock-solid connection.
Digital recreation playing cards
Digital Sport Playing cards are Nintendo’s means of constructing digital games replicate the experience of physical copies. They allow you to lend digital video games to family and friends, letting them benefit from the recreation on their system with out shopping for a separate copy.
After all, there are caveats. Very similar to a bodily cartridge, just one system can play every Digital Sport Card at a time. You possibly can solely mortgage video games to as much as eight individuals, and every will must be on the identical Nintendo Household Account and native community. Lastly, you’ll be able to solely share one recreation at a time, and the lending interval lasts solely two weeks. Though that’s a wholesome listing of limitations, the characteristic remains to be greater than different consoles have provided — and, if we’re fortunate, it is going to be one thing Sony and Microsoft are pressured to undertake.
Maybe better of all, the characteristic isn’t unique to the Swap 2. It’s already available for the first Switch.
Sport-Key playing cards
Game-Key cards are bodily Swap 2 video games that solely include a portion of their recreation knowledge. The primary time you fit one in, your Swap 2 will obtain the remainder of the sport to your native storage and the Sport-Key card turns into the “key” you have to use anytime you need to play it.
Nintendo says you will should have an web connection the primary time you boot up the sport, however afterwards the cardboard itself needs to be sufficient to allow you to play. You may additionally have the ability to resell your Sport-Key card in the identical means you’d a standard cartridge or disc.
This fusion of digital and bodily has turn into pretty frequent on different consoles as the dimensions of video games has grown bigger, however it’s comparatively novel for Nintendo. Because the Swap 2 goes to be working extra demanding, high-fidelity video games, although, it is a compromise that lets individuals nonetheless benefit from the commonsense advantages of bodily recreation playing cards.
What’s it wish to play?
Nintendo gave the press an opportunity to take a look at the Swap 2 and some of the video games it highlighted. You possibly can learn our impressions of Mario Kart World in addition to extra normal ideas on how the Switch 2 feels in person. Proper off the bat, Mario Kart World appears like an excellent launch title, with extra depth and higher visuals than we have ever seen from a Mario Kart recreation. The core formulation is undamaged, however there are quite a lot of new options and play types to dig into.
As for the Swap 2 {hardware}, it appears like a serious step ahead from the unique Swap — it has grown up so much and feels way more polished and refined. And whereas it might not have an OLED display, the 7.9-inch LED show Nintendo did use is excellent.
When will the Nintendo Swap 2 come out?
June 5, 2025.
When do pre-orders open for Nintendo Swap 2?
Switch 2 pre-orders had been initially set to start on April 9, however the next week, Nintendo said it was suspending pre-order plans within the US “indefinitely” in response to a slate of tariffs imposed by President Trump.
Lastly, when pre-orders opened on April 24, a scorching mess ensued. Those that stayed up late attempting to snag a Swap 2 had been typically left empty-handed as Walmart, Finest Purchase and Goal’s web sites weren’t absolutely geared up for the demand. Many shoppers had been left with unmoving queues and error messages — a well-recognized course of for a lot of who’ve tried to pre-order a scorching gaming or tech product lately. (Of us who pre-ordered a PS5 during the pandemic caught the nastiest case of deja vu.)
No retailers are at present taking Swap 2 pre-orders. Though there’s at all times the possibility one will drop an surprising inventory refresh, the best choice proper now could be to register your interest with Nintendo. That will not result in a launch-day console, as Nintendo has warned, however it received’t probably be a loopy delay like these familiar to GPU buyers. And in case your Nintendo cred ticks the suitable bins (you’ve got been subscribed to Swap On-line for at the least 12 months, have opted in to share gameplay knowledge, and have at the least 50 whole gameplay hours), your odds will enhance.
Costco is a dark-horse candidate for day-one availability. The retailer doesn’t seem to have taken any Swap 2 pre-orders, however a product listing claims it should have Mario Kart World console bundles in inventory on launch day.
In any case, Nintendo says the console’s June 5 launch date is unchanged.
In a considerably disappointing replace, Nintendo seems to be shipping “sold out” signs to retailers in order that they’ll rapidly let individuals know the Swap 2 is not in inventory. We will solely learn a lot into that, however it appears probably that if you cannot seize one on launch day from a retailer, you will be ready some time for them to come back again in inventory.
How a lot will the Nintendo Swap 2 value?
On April 2, Nintendo introduced that the Swap 2 would value $450 standalone, or $500 with a bundled digital copy of the brand new Mario Kart recreation, Mario Kart World. That’s considerably dearer than the unique Swap, which launched at $300, and has remained at that value ever since. It’s additionally dearer than the entry-level current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
The comparability seems slightly higher up in opposition to Valve’s Steam Deck, which prices $400 for the LCD mannequin or $550 for the essential OLED mannequin. The Steam Deck is extra reasonably priced than most PC handhelds.
When Nintendo delayed the pre-orders from the unique date of April 9, it stated it was doing so “in an effort to assess the potential influence of tariffs and evolving market circumstances.” With heavy US tariffs levied on Nintendo’s Asian production centers, the implication was that may have little alternative however to cross at the least a few of these prices on to American customers. However Trump’s April 9 tariff pivot — reverting to 10 % throughout the board for 90 days for all international locations besides China, which now will get a triple-digit hit — additional muddied the waters. That is as a result of it is unclear how a lot, if any, of the elements and meeting of US-bound Swap 2 consoles will originate in China.
The administration exempted some electronics from reciprocal tariffs, however they will quickly be topic to new levies on semiconductors. Some analysts counsel that Nintendo will likely be promoting consoles at a loss within the US with even a 10 percent tariff.
However, the corporate is retaining the value of the Swap 2 at $450 and the Mario Kart World bundle at $450. Nevertheless, it famous that it needed to enhance the costs of Swap 2 equipment “resulting from altering market circumstances” and added that different value modifications might happen sooner or later for the same purpose.
How a lot do the Nintendo Swap 2 equipment value?
When Nintendo introduced the rescheduled Swap 2 pre-order date for the US and Canada, it confirmed value will increase for lots of the console’s equipment. The present US costs for the equipment are as follows:
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Nintendo Swap 2 Professional Controller — $85
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Pleasure-Con 2 Pair — $95
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Pleasure-Con 2 Charging Grip — $40
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Pleasure-Con 2 Strap — $14
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Pleasure-Con 2 Wheel Set — $25
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Nintendo Swap 2 Digital camera — $55
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Nintendo Swap 2 Dock Set — $120
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Nintendo Swap 2 Carrying Case & Display Protector — $40
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Nintendo Swap 2 All-In-One Carrying Case — $85
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Nintendo Swap 2 AC Adapter — $35
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Samsung microSD Specific Card – 256GB for Nintendo Swap 2 — $60
The worth of the Pleasure-Con 2 strap has gone up by $1, however the costs of different merchandise have risen by between $5 and $10, with the dock set getting the bigger enhance. Fortunately, your Nintendo Swap 2 will include a dock. Nintendo additionally launched a list of accessory prices for Canada.
How lengthy will the Swap 2’s battery final?
Nintendo says that the Swap 2 will final between 2 and 6.5 hours on a single cost. That is just like the unique Swap, which was rated for two.5-6.5 hours, although later revisions upped that determine considerably. The corporate cautions that “this time is an estimate … battery life will rely upon the video games you play and utilization circumstances.”
Based on video Nintendo shared within the Nintendo As we speak app, a technique the Swap 2 will lengthen the longevity of its battery over time is with a brand new “battery preservation mode.” When enabled, your Swap 2 will cease charging when it reaches 90 %, saving its battery from the damage and tear of charging to 100% each time. This can be a pretty frequent characteristic on smartphones, and it is sensible for a handheld console you cost every single day.
A brand new battery mode will not change the Swap 2’s estimated battery life, however it should gradual the harm charging the console has, which retains it usable for longer.
When can I attempt the Nintendo Swap 2?
Nintendo is internet hosting a worldwide roadshow to let avid gamers go hands-on with the console. These occasions began in New York and Paris on April 4-6, with others happening all through the next two months.
Ticket registration for lots of the Nintendo Swap 2 Expertise occasions has closed, however waitlists are available. Nevertheless, provided that Nintendo is taking a primary come, first served strategy, your probabilities of attending the roadshow when you do not have already got a ticket (or until you signed up for the waitlist instantly) appear very small at this level.
The total listing of Nintendo Swap 2 Expertise dates is as follows:
North America:
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New York, April 4-6, 2025
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Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025
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Dallas, April 25-27, 2025
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Toronto, April 25-27, 2025
Europe:
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Paris, April 4-6, 2025
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London, April 11-13, 2025
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Milan, April 25-27, 2025
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Berlin, April 25-27, 2025
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Madrid, Could Sept. 11, 2025
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Amsterdam, Could Sept. 11, 2025
Oceania:
Asia:
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Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025
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Seoul, Could 31-June 1, 2025
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Hong Kong, To be introduced
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Taipei, To be introduced
Is the Nintendo Swap 2 backwards suitable?
Nintendo confirmed in November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. It’ll additionally characteristic entry to Nintendo On-line, so customers will have the ability to play all of these previous retro titles.
Within the preliminary Nintendo Swap 2 press launch, Nintendo reiterated that bodily and digital Swap video games will work on the brand new system. Nevertheless, it famous that “sure Nintendo Swap video games will not be supported on or absolutely suitable with Nintendo Swap 2.” We now have extra data on which video games are working due to a guide Nintendo put together.
As of April 1, the overwhelming majority of Swap 2 video games are marked as suitable, however many well-liked video games are stated to have some points. Nintendo has marked most of those as “below investigation,” suggesting a repair could also be on the best way in time for launch. Nintendo says it’s manually testing each Swap recreation for compatibility.
Just one title is marked as incompatible: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Package. This was a part of Nintendo’s Labo vary of video games that labored with Cardboard equipment, and is incompatible because the Swap 2 doesn’t bodily match within the VR headset.
Will previous video games be enhanced in any means?
The unique Swap has, to place it mildly, struggled to run some of the late-generation software that is come down the pike. Might these video games be enhanced to make the most of the elevated horsepower of the Swap 2? That’s unclear. In an “Ask the Developer” web page on its website, Nintendo says that previous video games are working by way of a real-time translation system, which sounds just like how Rosetta permits fashionable Macs to run previous software program. With that stated, the brand new and previous Swap are a lot nearer in {hardware} than that.
In the identical developer interview, it’s stated that in its testing of previous video games for compatibility, there have been some events “the place loading instances grew to become quicker, or recreation efficiency grew to become extra secure,” however we don’t have any element past that.
In addition to backward compatibility, Nintendo can also be providing up premium “Swap 2 Version” upgrades for a choose few video games. These have improved resolutions and body charges, and (in some instances) bonus options and content material. What precisely meaning will range, however Nintendo did affirm that Metroid Prime 4: Past could have 4K/60 fps and 1080p/120 fps choices on the Swap 2.
Video games confirmed to have a Swap 2 Version thus far embrace:
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Tremendous Mario Get together Jamboree
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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Kirby and the Forgotten Land
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Pokémon Legends: Z-A
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Metroid Prime 4: Past
Within the case of the 2 mainline Zelda video games, these upgrades will likely be included with a Swap On-line + Enlargement Pack membership or value $10 every. Upgrades for the opposite video games are additionally paid, however Nintendo has not stated how a lot these will value.
What’s going to the cartridges style like?
You could do not forget that the unique Swap cartridges taste absolutely awful. This was on goal, to discourage of us from placing the video games of their mouth.
Equally, the Swap 2 carts are additionally stated to style horrible, largely to cease youngsters or pets from by accident ingesting them. It’s not but clear what substance Nintendo has coated the Swap 2 cartridges in to make them style foul, however Nintendo’s Takuhiro Dohta suggested in opposition to licking all of them the identical.
“We do not need anyone to be susceptible to any undesirable consumption,” he informed GameSpot. “Now we have certainly made it in order that if it enters your mouth, you will spit it out.”
What are the launch video games?
We anticipate this listing to alter considerably over the approaching weeks and months, however the titles at present confirmed to be obtainable on day one observe:
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Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
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Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
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Cyberpunk 2077
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Deltarune
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Quick Fusion
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Fortnite
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Hitman: World of Assassination
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Hogwarts Legacy
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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
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Mario Kart World
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Nintendo Swap 2 Welcome Tour
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Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
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Break up Fiction
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Road Fighter 6
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Survival Children
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Yakuza 0: Director’s Minimize
That is the whole lot we all know in regards to the Nintendo Swap 2 at the moment. We’ll replace this text with any data we are able to collect instantly from sources. Any modifications made to the article after its preliminary publishing will likely be listed beneath.
Replace, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate hypothesis about value, potential recreation enhancements and the style of cartridges.
Replace, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This story has been up to date to notice the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct begins.
Replace, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate hypothesis about storage and details about the brand new microSD Specific commonplace.
Replace, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This story has been up to date to notice current FCC filings to point the presence of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC help.
Replace, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate pricing and gross sales hypothesis from analysts.
Replace, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Up to date to incorporate a be aware in regards to the Seattle Mariners new jersey patches that includes Nintendo and the Swap 2.
Replace, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Up to date so as to add particulars in regards to the C button, Nintendo As we speak! and Digital Sport Playing cards.
Replace, April 1, 2025, 10:16AM ET: Up to date so as to add hyperlink to livestream and particulars on its size.
Replace, April 2, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added particulars from the April 2 Nintendo Direct occasion, together with specs, value, launch date and launch titles.
Replace, April 4, 2025, 11:17AM ET: Added particulars about pre-orders being placed on maintain.
Replace, April 7, 2025, 1:56PM ET: Added particulars in regards to the Swap 2 cartridges nonetheless (reportedly) tasting horrible, the dearth of Corridor impact sensors within the controllers and recreation improve pricing.
Replace, April 9, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added context on how the altering guidelines on the Trump tariffs might or might not have an effect on Swap 2 pricing within the US.
Replace, April 11, 2025, 7:11PM ET: Re-affirmed that Could 8 is when Nintendo is confirming the primary batch of pre-orders by way of its website, after a defective report on-line prompt in any other case.
Replace, April 18, 2025, 10:33AM ET: Added particulars in regards to the new pre-order date for the US and Canada, in addition to accent pricing.
Replace, April 30, 2025, 3:24PM ET: Up to date pre-order data and added a Digital Sport Card breakdown.
Replace, Could 14, 2025, 11:50PM ET: Added data on Sport-Key playing cards, battery preservation mode, and the Swap 2’s specs.
Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.
