Nintendo Switch 2 official reveal

Nintendo Switch 2 reveal: Everything we know about the new console!

The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been revealed, confirming many leaks and raising some new questions. Here's what you need to know.

The internet has been abuzz with rumors and speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2 for awhile now, and the official reveal has finally happened. On Thursday, January 16, Nintendo threw back the curtains on the follow-up to its wildly successful hybrid console, the Switch. It’s about time, and it’s only natural that the Switch 2 is on everyone’s lips lately. After all, the original Switch is almost eight years old now. That’s a very long time when it comes to video game hardware.

Admittedly, the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal didn’t bring any huge surprises. Thanks to recent Switch 2 leaks and insight from industry insiders, we already knew a few things about Nintendo’s next console. The reveal trailer confirmed a lot of these leaks, but also raised some new questions. Read on to see everything we learned from the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal and what the new console may bring when it’s released later this year.

Also, while you wait for the Switch 2, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch deals on system bundles, games, accessories, and more. With that out of the way, let’s dive in!

Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2
Image: Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming in 2025, but we don’t know when

Early speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2 established a 2024 release window, with the actual date likely falling in the third or fourth quarter of the year. Those predictions were optimistic, to say the least. Nintendo fans now expect a Switch 2 release in the first half of 2025, likely in May or June. The original Switch dropped in March 2017 so an early 2025 launch is fitting for its successor. That will mark an eight-year run for the Switch! That’s the longest release cycle for a Nintendo console since the original Famicom in 1983, which was succeeded by the Super Famicom in 1990.

In May 2024, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said on Twitter/X that the company would make an official announcement regarding its new console within the next fiscal year. That means before March 31, 2025. While vague, this was the first official word from Nintendo about the Switch 2.

Later, in December, Nintendo insider Samus Hunter stated on Twitter/X that the company may announce the Switch 2 before the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns, which launched on January 16, 2025. This prediction turned out to be right on the money. The Switch 2 reveal trailer dropped precisely on that day.

Nintendo is sticking to the formula with the Switch 2 design

Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con design
Image: Nintendo

Another thing we’ve learned from leaks, and which the Switch 2 reveal confirmed, is that Nintendo isn’t shaking up the hybrid formula. The Switch 2 retains the hybrid handheld/console design, albeit with magnetic Joy-Con controllers. Sticking to the convertible design makes sense. The Switch has been an absolute money-printer for Nintendo. Given its versatility and adaptability, that’s no surprise. Nintendo would be foolish to mess up a great thing.

People still love having a console they can play on their TV, but it’s also awesome to pull the Switch off of its dock and take it with you anywhere. Returning to a “traditional” console that’s tied to a TV would feel like a huge step backward. Conversely, going for an entirely handheld device like the Switch Lite makes even less sense. That said, given the resurging popularity of handheld gaming devices, it’s probable that we’ll see a cheaper handheld-only version of the Switch 2 down the line.

In September 2024, we saw a photo of a Switch 2 prototype showing off the purported design. The alleged prototype was incredibly detailed, right down to the battery compartment and PCB, making it unlikely to be fake. Based on these leaks, it appeared as if the Switch 2 will be quite a bit larger than the original system. This was also in-line with the rumor that the Switch 2 will come with an eight-inch display. Once again, the official Switch 2 reveal proved that these leaks were on the right track.

The Switch has amassed an impressive catalog of great games, so the Switch 2 featuring a different design would create problems for backwards compatibility. Many Switch games might not be fully playable without the console’s hybrid form factor, removable Joy-Cons, and touchscreen. And speaking of backwards compatibility…

The Switch 2 is backwards compatible with the Switch library

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility
Image: Nintendo

Backwards compatibility is a hot topic surrounding any new console, and the Switch 2 is no exception. Much of the appeal of the Switch is its portability. A lack of Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility would defeat the purpose of having a console that lets you take all your games anywhere.

Nintendo has a pretty good track record with backwards compatibility. Backwards compatibility was largely off the table for the Switch, however, as the hybrid console can’t play disc-based games. Support for legacy platforms is limited to Nintendo’s emulators and select games provided as part of the Switch Online service. This only includes titles up to the Nintendo 64 era (and for that, you have to pay extra for the Switch Online Expansion). Nintendo’s emulation also isn’t on par with what today’s third-party emulators can do. Still, it’s better than nothing.

Nintendo Switch next to a GameCube
We want to see GameCube emulation on the Switch 2, Nintendo!

The good news is that the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with (almost) the entire Switch library—digital and physical. Many players wanted to see that, considering the Switch’s excellent catalog. However, Nintendo noted that some Switch games may not be fully supported on the new consoles. Many gamers, ourselves included, have built up an extensive Switch library over the console’s long lifecycle. Hopefully, Nintendo will also bring more games and platforms to its Switch Online service. We’d love to see emulation for systems like the GameCube and Wii or possibly even modified versions of DS and 3DS titles!

Nintendo Switch 2 hardware isn’t exactly next-gen

This one should come as no surprise. Nintendo consoles have never been powerhouses relative to the competition and have been underpowered since the Wii (if not the GameCube). The Nintendo Switch was underpowered even at the time of its 2017 launch. That’s mobile hardware released eight years ago! The Xbox Series X and PS5 are capable of 4K gameplay at 60fps, which is a far cry from anything the Switch can handle.

Nintendo Switch 2 playing Mario Kart 9
Image: Nintendo

The full Switch 2 specs aren’t known yet, but considering its hybrid design, we’re looking at mobile hardware in the Switch 2. That’s not a bad thing. Mobile hardware has become really good in recent years, evidenced by the fact that we have handheld gaming PCs now. Even Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking notes for their next consoles. One wonders whether traditional gaming consoles will even exist in 5-10 years. (All signs point to “no.”)

The original Switch runs on Nvidia’s Tegra X1 mobile architecture. Nintendo appears to be sticking with this chip maker for the Switch 2, which packs a new custom Nvidia GPU under the hood. More specifically, it will be a customized version of the Nvidia Tegra T234 dubbed the “T239.” Leaker Zuby_Tech alleged on Twitter/X that this GPU will be paired with an eight-core Arm Cortex A78C CPU and backed up by 12GB of DDR5 RAM.

The Nvidia T239 looks to be on par with last-gen consoles like the PS4 on paper, but could offer better overall performance thanks to modern advancements like DLSS and ray tracing. Most gamers will surely be happy with PS4-like graphical horsepower on the Switch 2, provided the console’s price stays reasonable.

Nintendo Switch 2: Open Questions

Nintendo Switch 2 rear kickstand
Image: Nintendo

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

Nintendo doesn’t focus on raw power but on making hardware that’s “good enough” to play games and keeps costs reasonable. That’s been the Nintendo playbook for decades, and it’s why Game Boy sales crushed the more powerful Sega Game Gear. That strategy has also paid big dividends for the Switch if official sales figures are any clue.

The Switch launched at (and still sells for around) $300, while the Switch OLED will set you back around $350. Compare that to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, retailing for $500. Microsoft and Sony consoles may be more muscular but are much more expensive. Remember when you could get a new PS4 Slim on Black Friday for $200? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

It’s still speculation, but analysts predict the Nintendo Switch 2 may cost $400. Recent leaks have also been all over the place, with the Switch 2 price ranging anywhere from $350 to $500. It’s anybody’s guess at the moment. Some have also predicted that the price of games will increase to $70, but we certainly hope not. Switch games are expensive enough, and discounts aren’t deep for the most in-demand titles. Only time will tell.

What kind of display does the Switch 2 have?

Nintendo Switch 2 dock
Image: Nintendo

We had hoped the Nintendo Switch 2 would have an OLED screen, but we’re not counting on it. It looks like the console will sport a 1080p LCD. On the bright side (pun intended, sorry), a mini-LED panel is also a possibility, according to some analysts. A mini-LED display offers better backlighting than a traditional edge-lit LCD screen. That’s a welcome improvement, even if it will likely be an LCD screen instead of OLED.

Early leaks suggested that the the Switch 2 screen was going to get a size boost, and it definitely did. The Switch 2 display measures roughly 8 inches diagonally, which is a welcome upgrade over the diminutive 6.2-inch 720p display of the original Switch. Gamers are also well aware of the original console’s enormous screen bezels. Nintendo tightened things up with the Switch 2, which has noticeably trimmer bezels.

How much storage will the Nintendo Switch 2 come with?

The first Switch has an anemic 32GB of onboard storage, which was tight even in 2017 when the console launched. Nintendo gave this a decent boost with the Switch OLED model, which has 64GB of room for digital downloads. That’s still not very much. Larger games like Skyrim or The Witcher 3 will quickly eat up that storage space. You can expand it easily with a microSD card, but that’s an additional cost.

Leaked parts lists indicated that the Nintendo Switch 2 may have 256GB of onboard storage. That’s a marked improvement from the first-gen Switch and even the Switch OLED. A microSD card slot is also almost a certainty. Nintendo could offer different storage sizes at various prices, as Valve does with the Steam Deck, but we’re not expecting that at launch.

The next official Nintendo Direct streaming event is happening on Wednesday, April 2, and we’re sure to get more details about the Switch 2 then. We’ll also add new info as we get it, so stay tuned to this article for updates about the Nintendo Switch 2!