After a prospicient eight - year waiting , Nintendo has finally revealed the heatedly counter Nintendo Switch 2 , and it ’s due to be unloose very soon .
The newfangled console offers a totally raise experience with boost performance , with support for 1080p at 120fps in handheld mode and 4 atomic number 19 in telecasting mode , along with a enceinte , fast screen , redesigned controllers , new chat boast , new accessory and a swathe of Modern computer software lineament to boot .
It really does count like it could be one of thebest secret plan consoleswhen it launch in the UK , US and other regions later this yr – but for now , here ’s everything you need to know about the console , from release engagement and pricing to the key new features on offer .
We ’d also advocate stop outseven important details you might ’ve missed from the Switch 2 announcement , for more on the current Switch line of business - up , visit our guides to theNintendo Switch vs Switch Lite , Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo SwitchandNintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite .
We ’ve also rate some of our favourite console and game in our best lists , include thebest Nintendo Switch cabinet , best Switch gamesandbest game console .
At a glance
Nintendo Switch 2 release date & pre-orders
Nintendo has confirm that the Nintendo Switch 2 , along with fresh games and accessories , will all be usable to bribe on5 June 2025around the humankind .
However , the pre - ordering situation is a little complicated . Nintendo confirmed during the Switch 2 bring out that pre - fiat would go live in the UK on 8 April , but it seems like third - party retail merchant have jumped the heavy weapon as it ’s already available to pre - order at retailers likeArgos , SmythsandVery , withAmazonusing an invite organization for potential pre - orders .
The situation is a little more complicated in the US , however . Despite confirming that pre - social club would go live on 9 April in the US , issues with President Trump ’s raw wholesale tariffs have now caused a delay .
Nintendo confirmed that pre - orders wo n’t get down on the 9th as design to “ value the possible impact of duty and evolve mart conditions ” , with new timing yet to be confirmed . Despite this , the console is still on running to launch in the US in June .
That suppose , itemization for the Switch 2 are already resilient atBest BuyandWalmartin the USA , though you ca n’t pre - ordering on either website just yet .
If it ’s anything like the PS5 and Xbox Series X launches from a few year ago , pre - ordering is recommended if you need to get it on day one .
Nintendo Switch 2 pricing
While Nintendo did n’t support pricing during the announcement stream itself , the company later confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will begin at £ 395.99/$449 for the console by itself , or £ 429/$499 if you want it wad with the new Mario Kart World game .
That ’s a pretty high price , considering the first - gen Switch retailed at £ 279/$299 at launch . It ’s worth noting that Nintendo has confirmed that duty are n’t the rationality behind the higher US monetary value ticket , though we could see Nintendo ’s position change on that as the company reassesses its pre - order plans follow Trump ’s tariff promulgation .
Nintendo Switch 2 Experience
Nintendo has schedule a number ofExperience effect in cities around the worldto give fans a first hands - on look at the new cabinet . These start on April 4 and enfold up on June 1 , just ahead of the console table ’s 5 June launch .
While the deadline to register for all the Experience events has now passed , you could connect the waitlist for your desired metropolis viaNintendo ’s Switch 2 Experience Sir Frederick Handley Page .
you may find the full tilt of cities and the date the Experience outcome will take place below :
North America
Europe
Oceania
Asia
Nintendo Switch 2 design & screen
The Nintendo Switch 2 retains the same overall looking and find as its predecessor , sodding with detachable comptroller , but practically every element has been ameliorate .
That come out with the screen , which offers a sizable parachuting from 6.2 to 7.9 inches with the new Switch 2 and an increase in resolution from 720p to 1080p to pit . There ’s also support for a tiptop - placid 120Hz refresh charge per unit , though Nintendo say that ’ll only be available in supported titles .
It ’s still an LCD rather than the OLED filmdom technical school we reckon with the Switch OLED , but it ’s extremely probable we ’ll see an OLED - powered variant appear somewhere down the line – just do n’t expect it any meter presently .
Flip the Switch 2 around , and you ’ll find a completely redesigned viewpoint organization that ’s both path larger than the original and more tough . It apply a bar - manner excogitation and provides more exemption in term of Angle than the original . While we have n’t tested it for ourselves yet , it looks style sturdier , too .
There ’s also an extra USB - C port , with ports atop and below the sieve , though it ’s worth noting that only the bottom USB - vitamin C embrasure will support video output . According toGNN News , “ the video recording output of Switch 2 is limited to the USB - degree Celsius port at the bottom ; the USB - C at the top can not output images ” despite the fact that the top USB - C supports data conveyance for camera compatibility .
Despite all these improvements , the Switch 2 measures in at the same 13.9 mm thick as the original Switch , meaning it ’s just as portable as ever .
The accompanying bobtail has also had an rise to equal , with a new conception sporting built - in fan to keep your console nerveless and stabilise performance over long periods of child’s play . That ’s peculiarly significant now that the dock suffer aboriginal 4 KB turnout , offering a 4x hike compared to the 1080p turnout of its precursor .
There ’s also 256 GB of national storage , an 8x boost on the 32 GB of the original Switch , and it can be further exposit – though there is a catch . Unlike the original Switch that bear out even microSD cards , the Switch 2 only supports more premium microSD Express cards due to the fast read speed on offer .
JoyCon 2 & other accessories
It ’s not just the body of the Switch 2 that has had a much - needed facelift – the attach to JoyCon restrainer have been overhauled to equalise . The new JoyCon 2 restrainer might look similar to the original controllers , but there ’s a magnitude of differences on offering .
apart from a tweaked design that makes the comptroller nicer to take hold , complete with larger shoulder buttons and big analogue pin , the JoyCon 2 controller snap into place on the sides of the console using powerful magnets . Magnets so knock-down that , according to Nintendo , you ’ll demand to use a consecrated discharge button on the rump to remove them .
New sensors within the restrainer also enable a raw black eye control manner , where you carry the JoyCon horizontally and swipe it across a desk , much like you would with a controller . Both Nintendo and third - party developers are building secret plan with experiences specific to this functionality , with approaching Switch 2 games like Drag x take concentre entirely on the new form of input signal .
There ’s also a young ‘ vitamin C ’ button on the correct controller that has a new function tie to it – but more on that shortly .
Many Switch gamers were hoping that Nintendo would take up the Hall Effect control stick design in a bid to battle the joystick drift that has plagued the first - gen Switch since its release , butNintendo has since confirmedthis is n’t the case . It ’s a redesign organization that feel different to the first - gen analogue sticks , but it ’s not Hall Effect .
Along with the JoyCon 2 controllers , Nintendo announced a new Switch 2 Pro controller with new rearward triggers and a Gamecube - style restrainer for utilisation with the new GameCube Classic collection available as part of the Switch Online service . Both are set to go on sale alongside the console in June .
For more on the new restrainer , take a look athow the Switch 2 JoyCons equate to the original accountant .
Nintendo Switch 2 software
Nintendo did n’t just focus on hardware during the Switch 2 reveal ; it teased a range of package features headed to the console afterward this class .
The biggest new feature is undoubtedly GameChat , which is basically voice communication when playing games . you may confabulate with friends and family in games that you ’re play together , or alternatively , chat away while you all toy disjoined titles . There ’s a new mike in the console itself to support this , with noise cancellation features to minimise environmental phone .
As well as confabulate , you may also portion out your screenland for others to see – great if you ’re play a racing plot and want to see who ’s ahead at a glance . This can be display in a provender at the bottom of the screen or , if you desire to get a better face , you may see them in full - screen modality too .
That ’s where the fresh C button on the comptroller make out into play ; pressing the push brings up your Old World chat menu , where you’re able to cursorily perform action like muting your microphone or disconnecting altogether .
Plus , if you peck up the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera , you ’ll be able to deal a video recording provender in chats and even in game themselves , bring the real you into the virtual world in titles like Mario Party .
Nintendo is also making it easier to play topically on multiple console with GameShare . It basically allows a group of ally to toy a biz on multiple devices using only a single transcript of the biz . It allows you to play together in games where you do n’t require to partake in the screen – like card games – and works with both the OG Switch and the new Switch 2 .
Nintendo Switch 2 game compatibility
Nintendo has affirm that the Nintendo Switch 2 can play original Switch titles , though only those that have been upgraded to be compatible . Importantly , just because a game is compatible does n’t mean it ’ll use the new computer hardware on offer from the Switch 2 .
For that tier of support , you ’ll need to hunt down Switch 2 Edition games . These are titles originally modernise for the Switch with upgrades to take vantage of Switch 2 hardware , be it in force quality texture and higher resolutions or new input modes that take advantage of the console ’s new mouse control modality .
Nintendo has already confirmed a flurry of Switch 2 Edition games , include darling like The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom and Legend of Zelda : intimation of the Wild . At launch , 51 titles will be useable .
Of naturally , there will also be a orbit of Nintendo Switch 2 games to play on outlet , including an all - newfangled unveiling to the pop Mario Kart franchise , Mario Kart World .
The latest title convey sweeping changes to the game ’s format , offer an open world experience for the first time . What ’s more , with maps based on tangible - world locations , element like atmospheric condition will reflect the real - world weather in that position .
There ’s also the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour that basically allow for a fun and interactive direction of showcasing the Switch 2 ’s technical school , from the adaptive vibration motors to the new JoyCon mouse support . The collar ? Nintendo has confirmed that it ’ll cost $ 9.99 at launch in June – a surprise to many , this writer included .
For more on all the game headed to the console at launch and later this class , take a flavour at our list ofconfirmed Nintendo Switch 2 game .
