Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Window, Size, Games, Price Speculation, And What We Know
Nintendo has finally and officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2.
After seven years on the market, 146 million systems, and more than 1 billion games sold, Nintendo has finally announced the Nintendo Switch 2. The rumor mill was heating up in January, and this culminated with Nintendo officially announcing the console with a debut trailer on January 16. A Nintendo Direct event dedicated to the system will take place on April 2. Also in April, fans will get to try the system out for themselves at pre-release "Experience" events taking place around the world.
This post covers what we know about the system's form factor, rumors about the the Switch 2 release date, price, launch games, backward compatibility, and more.
There are plenty of unanswered questions remaining about the Switch 2, but for now, here's all the essential information we have. And no, you can't buy one yet, although you can sign up for notifications on Switch 2 preorders at Best Buy.
Switch 2 Trailer
The debut trailer for the Switch 2 landed on January 16. The video showed off several new details about the Switch 2. Among other things, the trailer showed the physical look of the hybrid home and handheld gaming console, which is expected to have beefier specs and several other improvements compared to its predecessor. The trailer shows off the new magnetic Joy-Con controllers, which will apparently snap into place with the magic of magnets. The trailer showed off the console's generally more ergonomic-looking design and its larger display size as well. Take a look at the trailer for yourself below.
Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
A Nintendo Direct broadcast dedicated to the Switch 2 will take place on April 2, at which time Nintendo is expected to divulge more key details about the new console. It's possible news could come before that, as Nintendo holds its next earnings briefing on February 4, 2025, and investors and analysts will surely ask Nintendo management questions about the console.
Switch 2 Rumored Release Date
We don't know for sure. But most recently, a report said the Switch 2 could could launch in May or June 2025. The Switch 2 has been cited by industry experts as having the potential to help the video game industry rebound in 2025, so it's no surprise to hear some high-level executives say they hope Nintendo will take its time and release the console at the right moment.
Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann recently told IGN that his company "obviously" plans to develop games for the Switch 2 and that he "can't wait for it to be out." However, he's also OK with Nintendo taking its time to get it right.
"I mean, honestly, I'd rather have them wait a year and get it perfect than rush it to the market and then we all complain about what doesn't work. Switch has been such a fantastic product, I can wait another year if I have to," he said. "And from development, I think most non-Nintendo developers are not exclusively doing titles for the Switch. They're always part of a portfolio mix of platform mix. Just wait."
Size Comparison
A part of the Switch 2 announcement video discussing backwards compatibility revealed a look at the original Switch and the Switch 2 side by side. As you can see, the Switch 2 is slightly larger. Nintendo has not yet, however, revealed the full specifications for the Switch 2, so we don't know its exact dimensions and weight.
According to a recent leak from accessory manufacturer Genki, the Switch 2 is roughly 1 inch wider, a half-inch taller, and sports a one-inch wider screen. Those specifications were reported before the official reveal, however, and have not been confirmed by Nintendo.
Another image shows how much larger the Switch 2's new Joy-Cons are compared to the original model.
New Joy-Cons
As noted above, the new Joy-Cons are not just larger, but they attach to the system magnetically. There are two trigger-like inputs toward the top of the back of the Joy-Cons, and based on imagery on the official Switch 2 website, those will release the controllers from the system itself.
Another change many will welcome is a change to the design of the sticks themselves, featuring a concave design on the dome rather than the convex style of the original Switch Joy-Cons.
The Joy-Cons also feature more prominent shoulder buttons when used while detached from the system. While the first Switch's Joy-Cons had functioning shoulder buttons, they were made more easily usable when the wrist strap was attached, which would increase the size of those buttons. That doesn't appear to be the case here, although we do see that the wrist straps themselves return, which should help to stop you from throwing the controllers by mistake.
Additionally, we see the Joy-Con grip is returning--this is an accessory that you can connect the Joy-Cons to have them form the shape of a more traditional controller. There's no word yet on whether a new Pro controller will be released as well, though it seems like a safe bet.
How To Play Switch 2 Early
Nintendo has revealed that fans will get to try the new system ahead of launch through what's called "Experience events" that begin in April at locations around the world.
The event kicks off on April 4 with events in New York and Paris, before expanding to places like Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto, London, Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei.
Fans must have a Nintendo Account to participate. Ticket registration opens on January 17 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET. Nintendo is expecting a lot of demand, apparently, as tickets will be given out in a free-to-enter drawing, with participants randomly selected.
Nintendo Switch 2 Experience host cities and schedule. All dates are local.
North America:
- New York, April 4-6, 2025
- Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025
- Dallas, April 25-27, 2025
- Toronto, April 25-27, 2025
Europe:
- Paris, April 4-6, 2025
- London, April 11-13, 2025
- Milan, April 25-27, 2025
- Berlin, April 25-27, 2025
- Madrid, May 9-11, 2025
- Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025
Oceania:
- Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025
Asia:
- Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025
- Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025
- Hong Kong, To be announced
- Taipei, To be announced
Switch 2 Potential Specs
Digital Foundry reported that the Switch 2 may use Nvidia's new custom variant T239 processor. The site compiled a PC based on what it believed the Switch 2's specs could be and found that it could capably run Death Stranding at 1080p at an average of 35 fps.
Nintendo consoles are historically less powerful than the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and many believe that might be the case for the next system as well. But no one knows for sure. Whether or not the Switch 2 could be a 4K-capable device or offer cutting-edge graphics and performance is unknown.
Vandal (via VGC) recently reported that the Switch 2 will use Joy-Con controllers once again, but this time, they will attach to the system magnetically. Whether or not the existing Joy-Cons you might own already will work on the system is unknown. The report also mentioned how the current Switch Pro controller will be compatible with the Switch 2.
On the Broken Silicon podcast recently (via IGN), Moore's Law Is Dead and The Phawx had a conversation in which it was suggested by Moore's Law is Dead that the Switch 2 will be "clocked faster than we expect" in its docked mode. In undocked mode, it's "going to be clocked crazy low," apparently. The goal, apparently, is to help the Switch 2 have a longer battery life when played on the go compared to the original Switch.
While Switch sales boomed during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global semiconductor shortage presented new challenges for Nintendo as it struggled to meet demand. For the Switch 2, Nintendo doesn't "anticipate" this to be a problem ahead of the launch of the Switch 2. At the same time, Nintendo's sales forecast for the financial year doesn't currently factor in Switch 2 sales, but that could change in time.
Gen AI?
Artificial intelligence, or more specifically, generative artificial intelligence, continues to be a major talking point in the world of video games--and technology in general. But will Nintendo implement genAI for the Switch 2 and its games? It remains to be seen, but Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently weighed in to say Nintendo will carefully consider the use of genAI.
During a recent Q&A with investors, as translated by TweakTown, Furukawa is reported to have said AI has been used in video game development for ages already for things like controlling enemy characters. But genAI is a different story.
"Generative AI, which has been a hot topic in recent years, can be more creative, but we also recognize that it has issues with intellectual property rights," he said. "We have decades of know-how in creating optimal gaming experiences for our customers, and while we remain flexible in responding to technological developments, we hope to continue to deliver value that is unique to us and cannot be achieved through technology alone."
Halo on Switch 2 And Backward Compatibility
It's widely expected that Nintendo will release a new Mario Kart game for its next home console, and the Switch 2 announcement video in fact showed footage of what many believe could be a new Mario Kart game. Intriguingly, the video showed a race lineup with spots for 24 racers, and that should be the biggest in Mario Kart history. There are also rumors of a new 3D Mario game being made for the Switch 2.
In terms of other games, multiple reports said Microsoft was preparing a number of games for release on Switch 2, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Subsequently, another report said the Switch 2 could welcome titles like multiple Assassin's Creed games and Metal Gear Solid Delta, among others.
As for backward compatibility, on November 6, Nintendo confirmed backward compatibility for the Switch 2. Not only that, but Nintendo Switch Online will work across Switch 1 and Switch 2. Nintendo has said the Switch 2 will play Switch 2-exclusive games and Nintendo Switch games, for both physical and digital. However, Nintendo said "certain" original Switch games "may not be supported or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." Nintendo said it will share more information later.
Switch 2 Price
The Switch 2 has not been announced, so everything is guesswork at this stage. But one analyst recently predicted that the Switch 2 will cost $400 and that its top-tier games will sell for $70. The original Switch launched at $300, and its relatively low price point no doubt helped the system perform exceptionally well in the market. Whether or not the next Nintendo console launches with just one SKU or multiple editions, at various price points, remains to be seen.
In terms of the prediction about game costs rising to $70, that wouldn't be very surprising. After all, Nintendo already charged $70 for Tears of the Kingdom, and it was a sales juggernaut at that price point. Nintendo said that was a one-off for Switch game prices, but charging $70 for Switch 2 games would bring Nintendo in line with what companies like Microsoft and Sony, as well as a variety of third-party publishers, charge for their leading titles.
Switch 2 News
Nintendo's previous consoles had their own account systems and players had to create new accounts for subsequent hardware launches. But the new overarching Nintendo Account changes this, and this could help ease the transition to the next Nintendo console.
It "allows us to communicate with our players if and when we make a transition to a new platform, to help ease that process or transition," Nintendo's Doug Bowser said.
"Our goal is to minimize the dip you typically see in the last year of one cycle and the beginning of another," he added. "I can't speak to the possible features of a new platform, but the Nintendo Account is a strong basis for having that communication as we make the transition."
Nintendo's CEO, Shuntaro Furukawa, said in 2023 that the next Nintendo console will use the same Nintendo Account system as the Switch, so hearing Bowser suggest something similar is no big surprise.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Yijia Zhai of Macquarie Group Ltd. said the next Nintendo console is not going to be able to match the success of the Switch.
"We do not think the new console will be as successful as the Switch, and see potential profit-taking after the announcement," Zhai said, further noting that Macquarie had downgraded Nintendo's stock analysis to "neutral."
Goldman Sachs analyst Minami Munakata, meanwhile, said the next Nintendo hardware likely won't increase the total addressable market for Nintendo. However, the firm isn't married to that idea and says its forecast could change if the system "turns out to be new concept hardware rather than a successor along the same lines as the Nintendo Switch."
A console not being as successful as the last one might not tell the whole story and isn't necessarily totally bad news for Nintendo. The Switch, of course, performed exceptionally well in terms of hardware and software sales. And that success is all the more apparent following the dismal performance of the Wii U.
In September 2024, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said the next Nintendo console may "disrupt" the video game industry.
"A couple of things will really impact how things go: Nintendo's next hardware device, expected to arrive next year, could significantly disrupt the market," he told GI.biz. "Of course, not much is known about this device beyond rumor, but a highly successful new Nintendo device could apply downward pricing pressure across other devices. But we'll have to wait and see."
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