The new handheld gaming console features upgraded hardware, new gameplay capabilities, and an extensive lineup of launch titles, including Mario Kart World.
Nintendo finally released more details about the much-anticipated Switch successor at its latest Nintendo Direct event. Packed with upgraded hardware, new online features, and an exciting lineup of games, the next-gen console aims to elevate both handheld and home gaming experiences.
Here are some key highlights from the latest Nintendo Direct presentation.
Nintendo Switch 2 Arrives on June 5
The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available beginning June 5 and will cost $449.99. The new console has new hardware features, including a 7.9-inch LCD screen that displays games at 1080p with a new dock that can output up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120fps. The updated Joy-Con connects to the Switch 2 via a magnetic snap and comes with new features like mouse control and a new ‘C’ button that syncs with a new online feature called GameChat.
The gaming console comes with 256 GB of internal storage, screen sharing capabilities, two USB-C ports, a built-in microphone, a new adjustable stand, improved speakers with 3D audio, larger control sticks, and more.
“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said in a press release.
Nintendo also announced a Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle priced at $499.99, including a console and a code for the new game dropping on June 5 with the Switch 2. This is the first new major Mario Kart title since 2014, when Nintendo dropped a title for the Wii U. Pre-orders will open at US retailers on April 9.
Subscribe for the biggest stories in the business of sports and entertainment, daily.
Key Features
Nintendo introduced GameChat, a new feature that allows players to talk and play together as if they were in the same room, even if they’re miles apart. Players can start a voice chat with up to 12 friends using the built-in microphone, and up to four friends can share their screens. Video chat is also possible. Until March 2026, GameChat will be available without a Nintendo Switch Online membership, but after that, a subscription will be required.
Another new feature, GameShare, allows players to share and play compatible games with friends who don’t own them. If one person has a game, others can join in through local play on their Nintendo Switch 2 or Switch system. GameShare also works with GameChat for online play, enabling voice and video communication while gaming together.
Nintendo is also introducing virtual game cards, making managing and sharing digital games easier. These cards let users play games on two different systems, even offline, and lend or borrow games among family group members via local wireless communication.
Nintendo Switch Online now includes GameCube, bringing classic titles like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX to the new Switch system. A wireless GameCube-style controller will also be available for purchase by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.
Classic Nintendo GameCube games are coming exclusively to #NintendoSwitch2 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members! #NintendoDirect
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
►The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
►SOULCALIBUR II
►F-Zero GX pic.twitter.com/NP9hS6VozJ
New Titles Coming to Switch 2
Nintendo announced 20 launch games for the Switch 2. Check out this complete launch day list from GameRant and a more comprehensive layout of Switch 2 games from The Verge.
As the first major title drop from the franchise in over a decade, Nintendo developed a more interconnected environment for Mario Kart World, letting players drive virtually anywhere, including off-course areas. It also looks like all the tracks are connected on one main course. Nintendo is hosting a Mario Kart World Direct on April 17 at 9 a.m. ET to share more details on the Switch 2 launch title.
Classic games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Super Mario Party, Elden Ring, Madden, EA Sports FC, and Street Fighter 6 are getting Switch 2 editions at launch. The new console will also be compatible with most Switch 1 games.
The Switch 2 is also set to receive some exciting new titles. Donkey Kong Bananza swings onto the console on July 17 as a 3D platforming action adventure game. This summer, an online three-vs-three basketball game dubbed Drag x Drive will be released. Looking ahead to 2026, The Duskbloods will introduce players to a gothic-inspired world in a player-versus-player-versus-environment experience.
Read More:
NFL Makes Major Changes During Owners Meetings
Klutch Forecasts $100B Impact from Sports Mixed-Use Districts
The Future of TKO Amid WME, Endeavor Changes
Revving Up for a New Era: Bianca Bustamante’s Journey to GB3
Gunnar Henderson on the Business of Baseball
