Nintendo Switch 2 Preview: Everything You Need to Know

The Swap is Nintendo’s best-selling residence console of all time, and broadly beloved for its wealthy library of video games—a dramatic flip from the middling Wii U earlier than it. But it surely’s been eight years because the Swap launched, and followers are getting antsy for Nintendo’s subsequent huge factor.

Fortunately, it is coming. Following years of leaks and rumors, and even a pair official acknowledgments that the next-gen mannequin was coming, Nintendo formally revealed the Swap 2 console in January 2025.

From what we all know formally and what’s been broadly reported, the Swap successor will pack in additional energy than the unique whereas sustaining its successful mix of residence console and handheld performance. Here is every thing you should know.

What’s the Nintendo Swap 2?

It is official: Nintendo is making a successor to its wildly common Swap console. Granted, that is no shock to anybody that is adopted the online game trade for greater than a minute. However now we have seen what’s coming.

Nintendo shared the primary official teaser video under on January 16, 2025, sharing many key particulars for the Swap 2 whereas nonetheless enjoying coy on others. We have realized rather a lot from this video, little doubt, however there’s nonetheless lots we need to know.

However this is not the primary time that Nintendo has formally commented. On Could 7, 2024, Nintendo’s official company account tweeted the following statement:

“That is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We are going to make an announcement concerning the successor to Nintendo Swap inside this fiscal yr. It’s going to have been over 9 years since we introduced the existence of Nintendo Swap again in March 2015. We might be holding a Nintendo Direct this June concerning the Nintendo Swap software program lineup for the latter half of 2024, however please remember that there might be no point out of the Nintendo Swap successor throughout that presentation.”

Even forward of the Could 2024 announcement, Nintendo was clearly planning for what’s subsequent. In response to a fan query in June 2023, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said, “As for the transition from Nintendo Swap to the next-generation machine, we need to do as a lot as attainable with a view to easily transition our prospects, whereas using the Nintendo Account.”

When will the Nintendo Swap 2 come out?

Experiences had lengthy pointed to a late 2024 launch goal, however that did not occur. Now, with the official trailer launch, all we’ve is a “2025” launch window.

We are able to make some educated guesses right here, nevertheless. Nintendo will maintain an hourlong Direct livestream on April 2, 2025 at 9am ET to presumably share far more concerning the console. After that, on April 3-4, Nintendo’s “Treehouse” staff will host livestreams showcasing hours of gameplay from Swap 2 video games.

Nintendo will then maintain hands-on occasions in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas all through the remainder of the month, with the final introduced occasion ending on April 27.

Nothing is official, however a June launch goal has been broadly reported, together with in a late March report from Insider Gaming citing retailer launch paperwork. Pre-orders are anticipated to start both April 2, following the stream, or per week in a while April 9.

Any in-demand console launch is inevitably tormented by shortages, however Nintendo’s president says the corporate is already considering forward to how one can reduce the impression the subsequent time round.

In an investor-centric Q&A from June 2024 translated from Japanese by IGN, Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned that Nintendo is considering forward to provide points and searching into how native legal guidelines and rules might assist stymie the resale market that many consoles get snapped up and bought into at inflated costs. Moreover, the agency does not anticipate significant factor shortages that would gradual console manufacturing.

“Though we have been unable to provide ample portions of Nintendo Swap {hardware} final yr and the yr earlier than because of a scarcity of semiconductor parts, this case has now been resolved,” he mentioned. “Right now, we don’t imagine that the scarcity of parts could have a major impression on the manufacturing of the successor mannequin.”

In February 2025, through the agency’s newest earnings name, Furukawa reiterated that the corporate is aiming to discourage scalpers from shopping for up out there inventory for the resale market.

“We are going to take all attainable measures primarily based on the expertise we’ve gathered so far (concerning scalpers and the like). We’re making preparations,” he mentioned, per Nikkei (through VGC).

Even with Nintendo’s preparations, nevertheless, there’s concern that launch provides will not meet demand. The unnamed “giant U.S. retailer” that supplied paperwork to Insider Gaming is anticipating a day-one pre-order sellout, for instance.

How a lot will the Nintendo Swap 2 price?

Formally, we do not know but: Nintendo hasn’t mentioned something on this entrance. However there’s been loads of hypothesis.

The unique Swap launched for $300 in 2017, with the purely handheld Swap Lite rolling out for $200 in 2019. With some premium enhancements (together with a bigger, bolder display screen), the Nintendo Swap OLED mannequin shipped for $350 in 2021.

In October 2023, a leaker—who WCCF Tech mentioned has beforehand shared dependable data—claimed that the value level for the Swap 2 might be $449 for the bottom mannequin and $400 for a model that’s absolutely digital with out cartridge assist. The official Swap 2 trailer didn’t showcase or level to any absolutely digital mannequin, nevertheless, so that won’t truly be within the works.

The Swap 2 will launch into an more and more aggressive handheld panorama that features many PC gaming units. Valve’s common Steam Deck, for instance, begins at $399 for the bottom mannequin with an LCD display screen, whereas extra strong fashions with OLED panels begin at $549.

What’s going to the Nintendo Swap 2 appear like?

After a complete ton of hypothesis, a lot of which was proper on-target, we are able to lastly say: The Swap 2 appears to be like like an even bigger Swap, largely.

Nintendo fortunately is not ditching the Swap’s smash-success hybrid design, delivering a handheld that may simply be docked for TV use. At its core, the Swap 2 does not change too a lot. However there are some notable tweaks and upgrades we’re seeing from the trailer and official imagery thus far.

First off, the display screen and Pleasure-Con attachment controllers are undoubtedly bigger. If we needed to guess on display screen measurement, we would estimate someplace round 7-8 inches, in comparison with 6.2 inches on the traditional Swap. However Nintendo has but to launch official specs.

The mannequin proven within the first trailer ditches the daring crimson and blue Pleasure-Con designs of the unique launch mannequin, as an alternative going for a modern black or maybe darkish grey scheme with crimson and blue accents beneath the analog sticks and within the connective tissue between the console (display screen) unit and controllers.

As a substitute of getting these Pleasure-Con controllers slide into place, they will plug in through an adapter port and be held in place with what look like magnets. There had been vital hypothesis that the Swap 2 will use electromagnets to maintain the controllers in place. We are able to additionally see from the trailer that there is a new launch button on the again of every Pleasure-Con that triggers a small plunger to disconnect them from the unit.

Moreover, there seems to be a brand new sensor on the Swap 2 Pleasure-cons that lets them be used like a pc mouse on a flat floor, as soon as plugged into the wrist strap attachments. This seems to verify hypothesis concerning mouse-like performance, enabling extra superior management schemes for video games like shooters, technique sims, and possibly even artistic apps.

Nintendo even has the Pleasure-Cons scurrying round like little techie mice within the trailer—and in a teaser picture shared on April 1, in the future earlier than the subsequent huge livestream, Nintendo once more showed the Joy-Con in a mouse-like place. However the correct Pleasure-Con seems to ditch the infrared digicam discovered on the unique mannequin, which was barely utilized by many video games anyway.

Different fascinating particulars from the trailer: The brand new kickstand is way bigger and hopefully sturdier than that of the unique Swap, permitting for extra freestanding positions. Additionally, there are actually two USB-C ports—one on high and one on the underside. Is the additional one meant to allow probably new equipment?

In an up to date render shared by Nintendo in late March, the small button on the backside of the face of the correct Pleasure-con controller now has a “C” emblazoned on it. Will or not it’s a “Solid” button for streaming, or is it one thing else completely? We must always discover out subsequent week.

And we all know that the Swap 2 will proceed to make use of the identical bodily cartridges from the Swap—sure, enabling backwards compatability—together with downloadable video games.

How highly effective will the Nintendo Swap 2 be?

Nintendo hasn’t shared official specs but, and the one sport from the trailer did not give an ideal sense of a visible improve. However we definitely anticipate a notable step up from what the unique Swap might deal with.

Experiences recommend that Nintendo won’t attempt to compete with the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Sequence X because the standard-bearers for residence consoles and as an alternative ship a gaming expertise with a bit much less constancy. That is been the usual Nintendo method for a couple of generations now. Even so, it seems like a major enchancment over the Swap.

In September 2023, leaked paperwork from main sport writer Activision confirmed that the corporate had evaluated the {hardware} in late 2022, finally surmising that the Swap successor could have related energy to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One {hardware}.

Whereas these are 10-year-old residence consoles, it nonetheless could be a notable step up from what the unique Swap can deal with. The Swap’s hybrid home-plus-handheld mannequin additionally implies that Nintendo has to bear in mind a slim type issue and battery life expectations, so it’s unlikely that we’d even see a Swap-like system with top-end internals at an inexpensive worth.

Eurogamer reported that Nintendo confirmed off non-public tech demos for the Swap 2 to builders on the Gamescom convention in August 2023, and that it used an upgraded model of 2017’s hit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as an illustration of the brand new {hardware}’s capabilities.

VGC supported that report and added that Nintendo additionally used Epic Video games’ The Matrix Awakens tech demo for Unreal Engine 5, with capabilities like ray tracing (practical lighting results) and AI-driven visible upscaling tips enabled. One other rumor factors to the use of “ray reconstruction,” a much less hardware-intensive means of delivering ray tracing results with the assistance of AI, via Nvidia’s DLSS 3.5 tech.

All informed, this will level to {hardware} that’s truly extra succesful than the PS4 or Xbox One, even when it doesn’t fairly match the benchmarks of the current-gen PlayStation 5 or Xbox Sequence X. It could possibly be comparatively effectively outfitted when it comes to RAM, nevertheless, with famous leaker Felipe Lima suggesting that the system with have 12GB onboard—that is greater than the Xbox Sequence S console at 10GB.

A February 2024 report from Reuters cites a supply claiming that the Swap 2 will use a customized Nvidia chip, very similar to the unique Swap {hardware} did.

In accordance with a January 2024 report from Bloomberg, Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase says that Nintendo has picked a large 8-inch show for the Swap 2, and the show will use LCD tech as different reviews have beforehand famous. Nintendo declined remark. The present Swap OLED mannequin has a 7-inch display screen, so this may be bigger than any unique Swap system.

Mobapad additionally factors to an 8-inch show, which it says or not it’s upgraded from 720p HD decision on the unique Swap to 1080p Full HD decision on the successor.

What video games will the Nintendo Swap 2 have?

We all know one for certain: a brand new Mario Kart, revealed within the Swap 2 trailer. We do not have an official title but; Mario Kart 9 would make sense primarily based on the collection’ mainline entries, although earlier rumors pointed to a reputation of Mario Kart X to account for the cell sport Mario Kart Tour launching since Mario Kart 8 on Wii U (and later Swap).

Regardless of the ultimate title, the brand new Mario Kart appears to be like very similar to what we have come to anticipate from the collection, although the transient tease seems to point out 24 beginning spots on the observe—so there could also be far more racers than standard.

You may wager that we’ll see Nintendo’s tried-and-true franchises like Tremendous Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and lots of others within the combine earlier than lengthy, although Nintendo hasn’t proven the rest moreover Mario Kart simply but. Earlier rumors have pointed to video games like a brand new Donkey Kong or Ubisoft’s subsequent as-yet-unannounced Far Cry sequel, however these stay unconfirmed for now.

The long-delayed Metroid Prime 4: Past remains to be set to launch on the unique Swap in 2025, Nintendo confirmed in February—however it’s been broadly rumored to additionally launch on Swap 2.

In reality, many players have suspected that the sport’s trailer is definitely exhibiting Swap 2 footage, however that hasn’t been confirmed. However actually, why would not Nintendo launch it throughout each consoles? There’s precedent too: Nintendo launched The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the identical date throughout Swap and Wii U, and Zelda: Twilight Princess simply weeks aside throughout Wii and GameCube.

Digital Arts seems to be onboard with the Swap 2, and whereas which may sound apparent, EA hasn’t put a brand new Madden NFL sport on a Nintendo console since 2012. It is true: Madden by no means hit the Swap, and the corporate has been fairly selective with Nintendo video games prior to now.

“Any time a brand new console comes into {the marketplace}, that is of a profit to us,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson mentioned throughout an earnings name in February 2025, per GameSpot. “It offers us the flexibility to entry and purchase new gamers. Usually, we have had franchises carry out very effectively on Nintendo platforms. Actually, our expectation is that merchandise like [EA Sports] FC and Madden and others may discover actual power on the platform as they’ve carried out prior to now.”

Microsoft can be planning to assist the Swap 2 with Xbox video games, as a part of the agency’s current growth to deliver its owned franchises to different {hardware}. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in January 2025 that he is “actually trying ahead to supporting” Nintendo’s subsequent console with video games.

After Rockstar Video games’ official reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is at present introduced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X and S, it begs the query: Will it come to Swap 2, too? And maybe extra pressingly, will the Swap 2 be highly effective sufficient to run it?

There is no official phrase for now, in fact, and there would not be till Nintendo truly reveals its subsequent console. However within the meantime, the technical consultants at Digital Foundry are doubtful that the Swap 2 could have sufficient energy to deal with Rockstar’s subsequent huge sport—not less than primarily based on the leaks thus far.

“I’d like to say it might occur. I don’t suppose it would, realistically,” mentioned Digital Foundry founder Richard Leadbetter in a YouTube video (through IGN). “It’s a cell chipset. We’ve seen a number of wonderful issues on the Swap 1. Swap 2 goes to be rather a lot higher, a correct generational leap, and forward-looking in some ways. However the stuff they appear to be rolling out for GTA 6 is presumably past that.”

“It appears a step past,” he added, “and out of character with what we find out about Rockstar’s M.O.”

Will it play unique Swap video games?

Sure! Nintendo tweeted on November 5, 2024 that the “successor to the Nintendo Swap” can even be capable of play unique Swap software program. This had been rumored and reported beforehand, however the gaming large cleared up any questions on Swap house owners making a swish transition to the brand new system. The Swap On-line service can even return on Swap 2.

Nintendo repeated the message within the January 2025 trailer, exhibiting that Swap cartridges will match into the Swap 2, and noting that digital video games can even be supported. A bodily copy of Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel was proven within the trailer. Nevertheless, there was a caveat: Some video games will not be supported or work in full.

What does that imply? Whereas we do not know for certain but, it is seemingly that some video games designed for the scale and form of the unique Pleasure-Cons—like health sport Ring Match Journey, which had gamers snap their controllers into an adjunct shell—merely will not work with the Swap 2 controllers. And the uncommon few video games that used the IR digicam on the unique proper Pleasure-Con, like 1-2 Swap, equally will lose performance on Swap 2 {hardware}.

The opposite lingering query about backwards compatibility is whether or not the Swap video games will merely run as-is, or if they may make the most of the Swap 2’s anticipated efficiency bump—whether or not that is an computerized improve, or one which builders could must code and patch in.

A report from Eurogamer in February 2024 advised that Nintendo will let customers play their unique Swap video games (each bodily and digital) within the Swap 2 {hardware} with enhancements. Builders will reportedly must replace their video games to unlock such upgrades, nevertheless, which suggests not each sport will essentially make the most of the Swap 2’s improved energy.

Editor’s notice: This story was initially revealed on September 19, 2023 and final up to date on April 1, 2025.