After at least two years of speculation, the Nintendo Switch 2 was finally unveiled earlier this month. Over the last couple of weeks, Nintendo has confirmed many details for its upcoming console, and we’ll endeavor to compile them all in this article.
Release date and pricing
On April 2, 2025, a dedicated Nintendo Direct stream revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 would launch on June 5, 2025. The pricing was not mentioned at all during the one-hour show, but it was communicated immediately afterward in the press releases and on the official website.
The new console is priced at $449.99 in the United States, $629.99 in Canada, $699 in Australia, €469.99 in Europe, and £395.99 in the United Kingdom. Japan will get an exclusively cheaper version at ¥49,980 (around $330), but this version is region-locked. A region-free version will only be sold in the country via Nintendo’s online store.
Pre-orders opened in most countries on April 9. However, they were delayed in the United States and Canada due to the looming threat of Donald Trump’s US tariffs. Analysts and customers alike were very worried that Nintendo would be forced to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2, which was already higher than the rumors had suggested prior to the announcement.
Thankfully, earlier today, Nintendo confirmed that there would be no price increases for the hardware. The same won’t apply to accessories, though, which all received a price bump.
Hardware Specifications
The Nintendo Switch 2 follows closely in the design footsteps of the predecessor. It wasn’t since the Super Nintendo that the Japanese company decided on an iterative rather than innovative design.
The new console will still be a hybrid of handheld and home console, powered by NVIDIA Tegra technology. Its screen is now considerably larger, has higher resolution (Full HD), supports High Dynamic Range, and has an NVIDIA G-SYNC-powered Variable Refresh Rate that goes up to 120 Hz. However, it is unclear if VRR is also available in docked mode because Nintendo removed that specific detail from several official websites. When docked, the Nintendo Switch 2 can reach 4K resolution at 60Hz, and the dock includes a cooling fan to help keep temperatures stable.
The integration of NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution upscaling technology (though other upscaling options are also available to developers) will undoubtedly be invaluable in achieving stable frame rates in this mode. The console technically supports ray tracing, too, but at this stage, it appears unlikely that most developers will take advantage of it, as it would weigh heavily on the hardware’s capabilities.
The Joy-Con 2 controllers also return with improvements. They now attach magnetically to the console, which is sure to be a fan-favorite change. While the joysticks do not support Hall Effect sensors (despite rumors to the contrary), Nintendo said they are smoother and also more reliable. The SL and SR buttons have been enlarged and will be easier to press, but the biggest addition is that the Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used like a computer mouse in games that support the feature by sliding them on their side.
Moreover, there is now a C button that activates the brand new Game Chat feature, which allows up to 12 users to join a voice chat while playing games (even different ones). Players can also share their screen in real time, and when connecting the USB-C camera accessory (sold separately), they can see each other in video chat. GameChat is being offered by Nintendo for free until March 31, 2026; afterward, users will need an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use it.
| Size | Approximately 116mm x 272mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Con 2 attached) The maximum thickness from the tip of the Control Sticks to the protruding parts of the ZL / ZR Buttons is 30.7mm. |
| Weight | Approximately 401g (With Joy-Con 2 controllers attached: approx. 534g) |
| Screen | Capacitive touch screen / 7.9-inch wide colour gamut LCD screen / 1920×1080 resolution / HDR10 support / VRR up to 120 Hz |
| CPU/GPU | Custom processor made by NVIDIA |
| System memory | 256 GB (UFS) |
| Communication features | Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6) / Bluetooth In TV mode, it’s also possible to use a wired LAN connection. |
| Video output | Maximum resolution: 3840×2160, 60 fps Supports 120 fps when 1920×1080/2560×1440 resolutions are selected Please note: output via HDMI cable in TV mode. In tabletop mode and handheld mode, the maximum resolution is 1920×1080, which matches the screen resolution. Supports HDR10 |
| Audio output | Supports linear PCM 5.1ch Please note: output via HDMI cable in TV mode. Surround sound effect can be applied when outputting to headphones or to the built-in speaker (surround sound effect when outputting to the built-in speaker requires a system update). |
| Speakers | Stereo The independent enclosure structure provides natural, clear sound quality. |
| Microphone | Built-in microphone (monaural) Noise cancellation, echo cancellation and auto gain control provide a more comfortable voice chat experience. |
| Buttons | POWER Button / Volume buttons |
| USB ports | 2 USB Type-C ports The port on the bottom is used for charging or for connecting to the Nintendo Switch 2 dock. The port on the top is used to connect accessories or for charging. |
| Audio jack | 4 pole stereo 3.5mm mini plug (CTIA standard) |
| Game card slot | Both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch game cards can be inserted. |
| microSD Express card slot | Compatible with microSD Express cards only (up to 2 TB) Please note: a system update via an internet connection is required to use microSD Express cards. Regular microSD cards can only be used to copy screenshots and videos from Nintendo Switch. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, and mouse sensor located in each Joy-Con 2 controller. Brightness sensor located in the console. |
| Operating environment | Temperature: 5 – 35°C / Humidity: 20 – 80% |
| Internal battery | Lithium ion battery (capacity 5220 mA) |
| Battery life | Approximately 2 – 6.5 hours |
| Charging time | Approximately 3 hours (while the console is in sleep mode) |
| Size | Approx. 115mm x 201mm x 51.2mm The height includes the 2mm added by the feet on the bottom of the dock. |
| Weight | Approx. 383g |
| Connectors |
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Nintendo Switch 2 Confirmed Games
Being a game console, the primary purpose of the hardware is to play videogames. Right from the reveal day, it was clear that the Nintendo Switch 2 would feature a lot more third-party support than its predecessor did in its early years, with developers and publishers like 2K, Bandai Namco, CAPCOM, CD Projekt, Electronic Arts, FromSoftware, IO Interactive, Koei Tecmo, KONAMI, Marvelous, SEGA, Square Enix, THQ Nordic, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. all announcing games. Here’s the full list of known Switch 2 games:
- Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
- Bestiario
- Borderlands 4
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2027: Ultimate Edition
- Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion
- Deltarune Chapters 1-4
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Drag x Drive
- The Duskbloods
- Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
- Enter the Gungeon 2
- FAST Fusion
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
- Fortnite
- Fur Squadron Phoenix
- Goodnight Universe
- Hades 2
- Hitman: World of Assassination
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Human Fall Flat 2
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road
- Kirby Air Riders
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion
- Mouse Work
- My Time at Evershine
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
- No Sleep For Kaname Date
- Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
- Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Street Fighter 6
- Split Fiction
- Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Survival Kids
- Synth Beasts
- Reanimal
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
- Two Point Museum
- Wild Hearts S
- Witchbrook
- Yazuka 0 Director’s Cut
- Yooka-Replaylee
One slightly controversial tidbit was the pricing of certain games, such as Nintendo’s own Mario Kart World (priced at $80). In select cases, owners of a game on the original Switch will be able to upgrade to the improved Switch 2 version for $10. These are called ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games’, and there’s currently twelve of them.
Game Share
The Nintendo Switch 2 console allows users to share compatible games via the new Game Share feature so that you can play with friends and family who do not own a specific game. Interestingly, while only a Switch 2 console can initiate the sharing, a Switch 1 console can receive the sharing. This works locally and also online (albeit not with all games) via the aforementioned GameChat.
Here’s the current list of titles with confirmed Game Share support:
| Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV | Yes | No |
| Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain | Yes | Yes |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | Yes | Yes |
| 51 Worldwide Games | Yes | Yes |
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Yes | Yes |
Backward Compatibility
As previously confirmed, the Nintendo Switch 2 supports Switch games, with a single exception at the time being: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. Not all games may run flawlessly, though. There is an official website where users can track the backward compatibility status.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controllers will be forward compatible with the console, too.
First Impressions
Wccftech was invited by Nintendo to attend the press-exclusive hands-on event that took place on the same day as the public reveal. Here’s an excerpt from Nathan Birch’s first impressions article about the new console:
If you’re one of the sizable number of folks who have affection for their trusty Switches, it seems quite likely you’ll enjoy the Switch 2. The system looks better, feels better, the Joy-Cons are sturdier and more versatile, and playing Nintendo games with some decent hardware grunt behind them is a nice change of pace. Whether the Switch 2 reaches the commercial heights of the OG Switch will largely depend on its library of games, but titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza show Nintendo can still deliver fun, and sometimes unexpected, experiences with their long-running franchises. While I need more time with the Switch 2 to render a final verdict, it feels like the pieces are there for another hybrid hit.
