Nintendo has revealed that the long-awaited Switch 2 console, its successor to the phenomenally successful Nintendo Switch, will launch on June 5, 2025, with its key launch game being Mario Kart World, a new open-world entry in the beloved kart racing series.
The Switch 2 will go on sale for $450 in the US, or $500 with a download code for Mario Kart World included. In the UK it will be priced at £395 for the base console or £429 for the bundle, while Canadians can expect to pay $630 or $700 CAD, and Australians will be paying $699 or $769 AUD.
Like the original, the Switch 2 remains a hybrid device, capable of on-the-go gaming in handheld form and connecting to a big-screen TV at home. However, it's bringing several key improvements over its predecessor.
After an initial reveal back in January, which itself followed months of leaks, we now know that the Switch 2 will boast a larger 7.9-inch screen in handheld mode. Disappointingly, it's a return to an LCD display after the gorgeous OLED model for the original Switch, but it does see a bump in native resolution to 1080p and offers HDR for supported games. It's also capable of a frame rate up to 120 fps, though this will again depend on the game.
Audio gets a boost too, with improved speakers and support for 3D audio (via headphones, although a system update is planned to offer support for this through the in-built speakers), and a microphone is built into the top of the console. Despite the bump in screen size and the addition of that mic, the handheld remains only 13.9-mm thick, though no mention was made of its weight.
The console boasts two USB-C ports, one on the top and one on the bottom. The latter will connect to the new dock—more on that in a second—while the top one can be used to either charge the console when used in handheld mode (a small but welcome improvement for anyone who's struggled to balance holding the Switch with a charger coming out of the base) or to connect peripherals.
The controllers are similarly revised, with the newly dubbed Joy-Con 2 controllers connecting via "strong magnets,” with a release button to disconnect them. Confirming long-standing rumors, they'll also be able to be used as mouse controllers, while the SL/SR shoulder buttons incorporated onto them are now larger and easier to press when used as a single controller. Thumbsticks are also larger than before.
The right-hand Joy-Con 2 also sees the addition of a new C button, which will be used to bring up audio controls, allowing users to access new GameChat features using the mic. GameChat will allow users to speak openly, with noise-canceling tech cutting out background noise, while a new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera peripheral will allow onscreen group playing.
Screen sharing will also be possible, again accessed from the C button menu, and you'll be able to shrink or enlarge other players’ screens, with an example shown of helping a lost player find their friends elsewhere in a game world. It all speaks to an even greater social focus for the Switch 2 (though it's worth noting that all those GameChat features will be require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription).
The C button will also make an appearance on a new Switch 2 Pro controller, a more “conventional” joypad akin to an Xbox or PS5 controller. Nintendo has long offered these types of pads—even the Wii had one—but the company looks to be going a step beyond for this generation. The Switch 2 Pro Controller will see the addition of new rear-mounted paddle buttons, dubbed GL/GR. Expect more info to follow, but we'd expect these to be mappable buttons like those found on some of the best game controllers. Nintendo will also introduce a dedicated, wireless GameCube controller for use with classic games from that console coming to Nintendo Switch Online—more on that shortly, too.
The Switch 2 Dock isn't a huge overhaul at a glance, but it does boost the Switch 2’s output when connecting to a television. Nintendo says it will allow for up to 4K output and retains HDR support but doesn't clarify whether this is achieved via upscaling or if it has some added oomph built in. The dock now also includes a fan, for built-in cooling to improve system performance.
Nintendo was cagey on more specific specs. While it confirmed that onboard storage would leap to 256 GB—eight times more than the base original Switch model—and that it would be "faster" for reading and writing data, no mention was made of the Switch 2's processor, amount of RAM, or other hardware metrics. We'll bring you more details on this as soon as we have it.
The only other key hardware spec of note was in relation to Switch 2 Game Carts—again, "faster" than those of Switch 1 and now in red to make them stand apart—and that the console will only support microSD Express format cards for storage expansion. That means that you won't be able to swap other MicroSD card formats directly from your original Switch into the Switch 2—you'll need to use the System Transfer tool.
New Games Incoming
Nintendo also spent a lot of time talking about what you'll be playing on the Switch 2 come June 5. Mario Kart World is likely to make the biggest impression—its predecessor Mario Kart 8 has been a huge success on both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, but the new game looks to be a significant evolution of the series.
The gameplay footage shows hints of new tracks and power-ups, but it's the move to an open-world, globe-trotting racing adventure that will most shake things up. As well as the dedicated, on-track races, players will be able to freely drive around the world for the first time. The game will also support up to 24 players in multiplayer races, the most in the series' history.
Also particularly noteworthy was the reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a playable how-to guide through all of the new console's features. It looks to be as educational as it is entertaining, and highlights all the potential of the hardware in front of you—a bit like Astro's Playroom on the PS5. Unlike that game though, this one is paid for, so unless it's extremely cheap, this may be little more than a curiosity.
One of the most interesting reveals was Drag X Drive, which looks like Rocket League meets wheelchair basketball. Set for release in summer 2025, it uses both Joy-Con controls as mouse controllers at the same time. It's also shaping up to be a great bit of representation of disability in gaming, with each team of three players racing around a court in hi-tech sporting chairs.
Other first-party games include Kirby AirRiders, directed by Super Smash Bros. maestro Masahiro Sakurai. It’s a sequel to a 2005 GameCube release and is set for launch later in 2025. Elsewhere, Donkey Kong Bananza (get it?) sees the return of Nintendo's great ape, now in an open-world adventure with at least the occasional 2D level, like Donkey Kong Country. Bananza emphasizes DK's strength, with him able to rip chunks out of the very world around him, and showcases his new character design, first spotted in Mario Kart World. It's a July 17 release for this one.
Nintendo also has a huge amount of third-party dev support going into Switch 2. The reveal highlighted dozens of games from outside studios, with the likes of Split Fiction, Hitman: World of Assassination Signature Edition, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Deltarune, Square Enix's classic JRPG Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition all launching alongside the console. Some third party launch games, like Civilization VII and Hogwarts Legacy will also make use of the new Joy Con 2 features (with mouse controls on Civ VII particularly fitting).
Need more? Other titles coming to Switch 2 later include Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades II, Street Fighter 6 (which will feature 26 fighters and amiibo support and will use unique Switch 2 controls), a new Daemon x Machina, Borderlands 4, Hollow Knight Silksong, and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade—along with a tease that the rest of the FF7 remake trilogy will be coming. Sports fans will eat well too, with EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, WWE 2K, NBA 2K, and Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater 3+4 to look forward to, the latter set for release sometime in the summer.
Perhaps the biggest third-party tease was that of IO Interactive's unnamed "Project 007,” a James Bond title. There's no release date even hinted at for that one, nor confirmation it's a Switch 2 exclusive, but given Nintendo's long association with the British super-spy thanks to the iconic GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64, it's fitting that whatever the game is will make an appearance on Nintendo's new console.
Nintendo also revealed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, developed with Koei Tecmo. Unlike the earlier Hyrule Warriors games, this one looks to have far more canonical importance to The Legend of Zelda series, with its events said to lead into Tears of the Kingdom. This crossover effort only gets a "winter" release window though.
The third-party carousel ended with the surprise announcement of The Duskbloods, a brand-new game from Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, directed by that game's Hidetaka Miyazaki. A vampiric action game set in a steampunk city, it's a visual departure for the studio but looks fantastic. More interesting is that this is set to be a Switch 2 exclusive when it launches in 2026. The Duskbloods' darker tone, and its placement as the big, final third-party game announcement of the stream, also hints at Nintendo being more comfortable in positioning the Switch 2 as a console that caters to older players as much as families.
Backward Compatibility
Nintendo also clarified how different types of games will work on Switch 2, splitting them into three categories. Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World will be exclusive to the new hardware, requiring its boosted performance to run. Then there are some original Switch games that will be backward compatible with the Switch 2—but not all (we have asked for more clarification on those titles or requirements). Finally, there are “Switch 2 Edition” games, which will be original Switch 1 games receiving an upgrade for Switch 2. This latter category will see both physical and digital releases—so expect a fair few re-releases in the Switch 2's future—but users who already own one of the games can buy upgrade packs through Nintendo eShop.
Super Mario Party Jamboree was the first Switch 2 Edition game showcased. The enhanced edition will see new modes added, including Bowser Live, which brings players into the game using the Nintendo Switch camera, and Carnival Coaster, which uses mouse controls. This one will be available shortly after launch, arriving July 24.
Other Switch 2 Edition games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which boast improved frame rates and HDR support. There's also a new Zelda Notes feature, which offers second-screen support for maps via the Switch App on smartphones, and allows sharing auto-build creations in Tears of the Kingdom using QR codes.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land, from 2022, will be getting a Star-Crossed World expansion via the scheme, while the long (long, long) in-development Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have both a Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Edition released. The latter will incorporate mouse controls—perfect for a first-person shooter—and offer a choice between 4K, 60 fps, HDR “quality mode” or 1080p, 120 fps, HDR “performance mode” when docked. Pokémon Legends Z-A will get a similar release.
GameCube Returns
Finally, Switch Online, Nintendo's service allowing online multiplayer and a catalogue of retro games is also getting an overhaul. The dawn of a new console generation is bringing the addition of GameCube classic games to the platform, although these will be exclusive to Switch 2.
The service launches day one with Switch 2 and sees The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, and F-Zero GX kicking things off. These appear to be largely unchanged from the original GameCube releases—SoulCalibur II still has Link as a guest fighter, and Wind Waker will presumably have none of the changes made to the Wii U rerelease—but those that support multiplayer, like F-Zero, will now be able to be played online.
Other games will follow, with Super Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Pokémon Colosseum and its sequel XD: Gale of Darkness, Mario Smash Football, Chibi Robo, and Luigi's Mansion confirmed but undated. Subscribers will need to have the Expansion Pack tier of Switch Online to access any of these games, whenever they arrive
This is, of course, where that new wireless GameCube controller comes in. Long rumored to be on the way, the revamped grip is largely identical to the classic version but incorporates a few updates. That new C button is added on top, alongside the Switch's Home and Snapshot buttons, and a small ZL button has been added as a second shoulder button (the original had only the purple Z button on the right, which remains).
The wireless GameCube controller will also be available at launch but will be exclusively available for Switch Online subscribers, sold directly by Nintendo. If you're not able to snag one, all GameCube games will be playable on regular Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers or the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and controls can be remapped from a system menu.
In many ways, the Switch 2 is playing it safe—as we expected. It is somewhat surprising how much key info wasn't in this announcement though, with details like the processing power and weight still TBC.
Still, Nintendo will have delighted its hardcore fanbase with today's reveals, especially the return of GameCube classics, and will likely have won over some converts with the announcements of some heavy-hitting third-party titles too. If Nintendo can stick the landing, Switch 2 could outdo even its lauded predecessor.
