Rejoice, fellow Nintendo enthusiasts! On Wednesday, the clouds parted, the sun rose, and the divine hand of Miyamoto graced us with the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2. After years of speculation, we finally have a clear look at this mysterious console hybrid.
Sadly, while sleek, compact, and powerful, the rumors are untrue. The Switch 2 does not pack a tiny Reggie into every GPU. But after spending an hour during the Direct glued to every word, dissecting it, screenshotting every image, and poring over captured video for tiny clues to its form and function, we can finally provide solid facts, showcasing how it leaves its beloved predecessor in the dust.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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Switch 2 packs in a lot more raw graphical power than Switch
This revelation, though expected, is significant. Every next-gen Nintendo console has improved over its predecessor, and the Switch 2 is no exception. When released in 2017, the original Switch was not a cutting-edge powerhouse compared to Sony and Xbox consoles, and it struggled with demanding games after eight years.
This week's showcase promised a vastly improved experience: handheld resolutions up to 1080p, docked up to 4K, both with HDR, and framerates extending up to 120 fps. This upgrade should allow a wider variety of games to come to the Switch 2. We're already seeing the benefits in EA’s decision to bring soccer and football games to the platform, and 2K's plans for wrestling and basketball.
Third-party developers revealed current-gen games that demonstrated the Switch 2’s increased capabilities, including titles like Elden Ring and Street Fighter 6. Nintendo's new first-party offerings looked simply gorgeous.
Switch plays GameCube games. Switch doesn’t
The iconic purple lunchbox now comes to Nintendo Switch Online, exclusively available on Switch 2. This move effectively separates online experiences between the original Switch and the Switch 2, meaning those who want to play some of Nintendo’s best retro games will need to upgrade. Currently, only three games are available, but they are stellar choices: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and the incredible Soul Calibur 2, complete with Link.
Seriously, Soul Calibur 2 is a gem. If you’ve never played it with a friend, you're in for a treat.Switch 2 recognizes the existence of the Internet
When historians catalog this momentous day in video game history, the opening chapter won't focus on Mario Kart's new Forza Horizon-like features, Donkey Kong’s return in Bananza, or the secret project Duskblood. Instead, it will highlight the most un-Nintendo-like development of the week: easy integration of online features commonly available on other platforms.
Nintendo, once known for Friend Codes, now introduces GameChat, a feature-rich communication and visual sharing tool for Switch 2. A noise-cancelling mic picks up your voice and shares it with friends. An optional desktop camera allows you to share your face, both in window-corners and in compatible games like Mario Party. You can also share screens across consoles remotely. It's the straightforward tool for playing with friends we've been waiting for.
Talk to your friends! See your friends! Easily! At last, Nintendo. The potential here is immense, especially for games like Monster Hunter, where teams of four can benefit from shared screens as they pursue and trap their prey. Nintendo has finally stepped into the future of online gaming.Magnetic Joy Cons
As expected but still impressive, Joy-Cons now magnetically snap to the Switch 2 body rather than slotting in. Nintendo demonstrated how the steel shoulder buttons on each controller attract to the magnetic facing along the sides of the screen, locking them securely. A simple press releases the magnetic grip.
This feature is a game-changer for my home setup, where a shelf top often obstructs removing the Joy-Cons without removing the entire Switch from the dock, sometimes leading to knocking everything down. I'm a fan.
A bigger screen
While bigger isn't always better with handhelds, the Switch 2's 7.9-inch screen at a sharper 1080p resolution should be a net gain for most players. The original Switch sacrificed screen real estate for portability, but Nintendo's decision to give these feature-rich games more space to shine is a smart move.
Mouse controls
Nintendo was excited to show off its innovative Joy-Con mouse features. A Switch 2 Joy-Con laid on its side can be moved across a tabletop, with its telemetry tracked to provide precise pointing and rotation. This feature is heavily supported at launch by games like Drag x Drive, Civ 7, and Metroid Prime 4.
I love Nintendo's quirky ideas. While the mouse feature might not see much use beyond the launch window, I'm thrilled about playing Metroid Prime 4 with a mouse. As a PC gamer, I often find FPS games with controllers less enjoyable, so this feels liberating. Fingers crossed for Mario Paint 2.More storage
The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of external storage, a significant upgrade from the original. However, with the increased graphics capacity, game files will be larger, potentially offsetting this advantage. The memory is also quicker to handle these larger files, meaning you'll need a new, faster memory card for supplemental storage.
Quality of life improvements are no small deal on Switch 2
Nintendo has refined the Switch hardware based on nearly a decade of feedback. The Switch 2 now features two USB-C ports, with one added on top to assist in charging while playing in kickstand mode. A fan in the dock aids in cooling consistency. Larger sticks and improved sound capabilities enhance the experience.
Even the Switch 2 Pro Controller is upgraded, featuring an audio jack and assignable buttons. It remains to be seen if it contains the same miniaturized star that gives the original Switch Pro Controller its near-unlimited battery life.
One of the most subtle yet useful features is the adjustable screen angle in kickstand mode. This is a game-changer for tabletop play, especially in varying lighting conditions or tight spaces like airplane tray tables. Coupled with the new mouse feature, this could make playing serious games like Civilization 7 on the go a reality.Switch 2 gives you more choices
The Switch 2 is backward compatible, which is always a plus. Microsoft set a great example with Xbox's optimized backward compatibility, and Nintendo has followed suit, making most Switch games playable on the new hardware. This backward compatibility helps sell consoles in their first year.
While backward compatible with Switch games, the Switch 2 also supports special Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of certain titles like Metroid Prime 4. These editions offer new features, including a choice between a higher-res Quality Mode or a faster frame rate in Performance Mode.
One exciting feature of these Nintendo Switch 2 Editions is that if you already own the original game on Switch, you can purchase a simple Switch 2 Edition upgrade to enjoy all the new features on your new hardware. Let's hope it's not too expensive.There's also potential for Switch 2 Editions of Switch’s notoriously janky Pokemon games to be improved. While throwing hardware at problems doesn't solve everything, it can certainly help.
You need Switch 2 to play the newest games by the best developers on earth
Mario Kart World delivers everything we expect from Mario Kart and adds two key elements: continuous world traversal in a Forza Horizon-style, and an increased field size to 24 carts. It sounds like absolute chaos, and I can't wait.
Nintendo took its time showing off new games, but toward the end, we got a glimpse of Kirby’s Air Riders, a new Kirby’s Air Ride game. While the original Air Ride was lackluster, the involvement of Masahiro Sakurai, known for his dedication and status as the god of Smash Bros, has me fully invested.
Then there was The Duskbloods, which initially had me thinking it was Bloodborne 2 or a licensed FROM Software take on Castlevania. It turned out to be an entirely original Miyazaki game exclusive to Switch. FROM Software never disappoints. You'll likely die, dodge roll, and have a blast.
AnswerSee ResultsAnd of course, Donkey Kong makes his triumphant return to 3D with Donkey Kong Bananza. It's a moment of redemption for Nintendo, 26 years after Donkey Kong 64. With more capable hardware, Nintendo has iterated on ideas that wouldn't have been possible on a basic Switch, promising a landmark adventure.
