Nintendo recently released its Switch 2 special direct earlier today, on April 2, 2025. The console was shrouded in mystery (well, at least until the leaks took over), with Nintendo barely revealing anything officially about the console.
A lot was revealed during the hour-long presentation, and a lot of prior released leaks turned out to be true as well – for better or worse. Readers can refer to a summary of the entire showcase below, detailing the major bits of the presentation.
How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to cost around $449.99, as per a recent press release. Interestingly, the company curiously omitted all mentions of pricing during the presentation. The console is expected to come in a bundle of sorts, with the upgraded joycons and dock included.
There will also be a Mario Kart World bundle for $499.99 – which includes a digital copy of the game.
Nintendo Switch 2 release date
The Switch 2 console officially arrives worldwide on June 5, 2025. Unfortunately, Nintendo is yet to specify details on additional aspects, such as pre-orders and availability.
Other major takeaways from the Nintendo Switch 2 direct
New accessories and upgraded hardware
The Nintendo Switch 2 is by all means an upgrade to the last-gen Nintendo Switch. For starters, the console has been greatly upgraded (more info on those leaked specs here), featuring a larger, 8 inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate at 1080p. The display is, however, confirmed to be LCD, without any mention of VRR support. It does include HDR though, which is a nice addition.
As far as the upgraded joycons go, they seem to incorporate a familiar design, with magnetic locks this time around. Interestingly, the joycons also have a dedicated mouse mode of sorts too.
The system now comes with 2 USB-C ports, one of which can be used for the webcam accessory – a perfect fit for the GameChat function, which functions similarly to Discord. There is also a dedicated C button for accessing the GameChat function.
The dock has also been upgraded, and is capable of delivering up to 4K resolutions. It also comes with a built-in fan to cool down the console.
New cartridges and a game sharing feature
The Switch 2 also supports physical game media, which is quite appreciated. The cartridges are red in color this time around, and are probably just as inedible as with the prior generation. A new Pro Controller was also teased, which looks to be largely the same – save for the addition of some new buttons (C, GL and GR) and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Another big highlight of the reveal was the new game sharing feature. In short, it allows players to share their already existing library of digital games locally with up to three other players, with online play supported out of the box.
Game support is still a bit limited currently though, but this is expected to change very soon.
A very big focus on third-party support
Nintendo seems to be finally focusing on third-party support this time around, and a large chunk of the game’s presentation was centered around it. There were some surprise reveals, including Cyberpunk 2077, Deltarune and the ever elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong, all of which are expected to launch in 2025 (along with a surprise FromSoftware exclusive).
Additionally, Nintendo Switch Online brings with it Gamecube support, which is quite nice. The Switch 2 also includes remasters of older Nintendo Switch 2 games, with the modern day Zelda games having both HDR support and higher frame rates. It isn’t a free upgrade though – players will need to spend extra for the definitive versions.
As far as first party reveals go, they were quite disappointing to say the least. There were barely any exciting new reveals, save for the end. A new Kirby game, a new Hyrule Warriors and the launch title – Mario Kart World were perhaps the most interesting of them all.
