Nintendo held its long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 Direct today where the company finally unveiled the hybrid console’s June release date, its price, new features, and plenty of the games that will be coming to the system at launch and beyond.
First thing’s first: the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025, and will cost $449. A bundle that includes the newly announced Mario Kart World will also be available for $499. Pre-orders begin on April 9 at select retailers.
You can also sign up to receive an email invitation to pre-order the system through the My Nintendo store, although there are some requirements. You must have had a Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months, opted in to share your gameplay data, and have at least a total of 50 gameplay hours. The first set of invitations will go out on May 8 and further batches will periodically go out until purchasing is open to all. Invitations will initially be sent on a first-come, first-served basis to those who meet the criteria, and you’ll have 72 hours from receipt of the email to buy the system.
Now let’s talk about the specs. The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen that can reach 120fps and supports HDR. When docked, the system can output a 4K resolution. The new dock will also come equipped with an ethernet port, just like the dock for the current Switch OLED model. When it comes to storage, the Switch 2 comes with 256 GB of internal memory. This can be expanded by 2TB with microSD Express cards only. As for battery life, Nintendo estimates that it’ll last for 2-6.5 hours before needing to be charged depending on the game that’s being played. This is less than the 4.5-9 hour battery life of the current Switch. The charge time is stated as being 3 hours.
A key point of speculation following the January reveal was whether or not the Joy-Cons would feature a “mouse mode,” and today’s Direct confirmed this to be true. Both Joy-Cons can be used in select games like a computer mouse. This was demonstrated in various games, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, with the right Joy-Con using “mouse” controls for aiming and the left Joy-Con being used in a traditional manner for movement with the analog stick. A brand new sports game titled Drag x Drive seems to revolve around “mouse” controls being used for its wheelchair basketball gameplay.
Another point of curiosity surrounding the Joy-Cons was the mystery button beneath the Home button on the right Joy-Con. Now we know that it’s the C-button and it’s how we’ll engage with the system’s new GameChat feature. Here you can create a system-level voice-chat lobby that’s akin to Discord. Video chat is also possible here with the new Switch 2 camera accessory. This camera will be available when the system launches for $50 and plugs into the USB-C port on top of the system. If you already have a USB-C camera, you can use that with the console instead. You can share your screen with GameChat as well, allowing everyone in the lobby to see what each other is playing. A Switch Online membership is needed to use GameChat, however, it will be open for all Switch 2 owners to use regardless of their membership status until March 31, 2026.
As for the games, there are three classifications. Nintendo previously confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with games that were released for the current Switch, however, the company has shared two separate lists about their functionality. One list is for games that currently start up on Switch 2, but have some in-game compatibility issues. The other list is for games that currently have issues starting up on Switch 2.
Then there are Switch 2 Enhanced games. These are titles that were previously released on the original Switch, but are now receiving a new version with enhanced visuals, performance, and features. Looking at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, they were shown running at much smoother frame rates on the Switch 2 at a higher resolution. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have a Quality Mode that runs at 4K 60fps and a Performance Mode that runs at 1080p 120fps. Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land are also some of the other games that were highlighted to be getting a Switch 2 Enhanced version. These updated versions will be available physically and digitally for $80. If you already own the original versions, you can upgrade to the new ones by purchasing an upgrade pack, although a price has not been disclosed. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can access the upgrade packs at no additional cost.
As for games that are made for Switch 2, Nintendo had plenty to show. The big launch title will be none other than Mario Kart World. We got a tease of the latest installment in the long-running series when the Switch 2 was first officially announced, and this new look showed a game that looks like it’ll be just as fun and chaotic as other entries in the franchise. Grand Prix has you participating in four races, but you also drive across the game world to each course between races. A free roam mode lets you explore at your leisure solo or with others, and even take pictures with a photo mode. Vehicles will also transform into boats and snowmobiles on select courses. A Mario Kart World direct will happen later this month on April 17 to provide more info on the game. One thing to note is that Mario Kart World will cost $80 upon release.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a guided demo of the system’s various features, but what’s most surprising is that this is being sold separately instead of being a free pack-in title. Kirby Air Riders will be released later this year, 20 years after the original first came out on the Gamecube, and Masahiro Sakurai is returning to direct it. Donkey Kong Bonanza will take the iconic ape on a 3D platforming adventure when it comes out on July 17, 2025. Nintendo is also teaming up with Koei Tecmo again to release Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment this winter. This latest collaboration tells the story of the Imprisoning War that we received glimpses of in Tears of the Kingdom, putting us in the shoes of Zelda and the various Zonai allies she encountered during the war.
A slew of third-party developers and indie teams also appeared during the show to announce their games will be coming to the Switch 2. Here are some of the games that appeared:
- Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Deltarune
- Borderlands 4
- Hollow Knight Silksong
- Elden Ring
- WWE 2K
- NBA 2K
- Madden NFL
- EA Sports FC
- Yakuza 0
- Enter the Gungeon 2
- Hades II
- Street Fighter 6
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Civilization VII
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Split Fiction
Perhaps most notable was the announcement of The Duskbloods. Developed by FromSoftware exclusively for the Switch 2 and set for release in 2026, this new multiplayer game has an environmental design that has shades of steampunk aesthetics and the ambiance of their beloved PS4 exclusive Bloodborne.
The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be receiving a new addition for Switch 2 owners in the form of Gamecube titles. Many will be coming over time, but some of the confirmed games include The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine, Soul Calibur II, F-Zero GX, and Luigi’s Mansion.
There was a lot in today’s Switch 2 Direct, most of it good in my opinion, and some of it bad. I think the new features they showcased for the system such as mouse controls and GameChat are neat additions, and it’s excellent that the system supports 4K HDR content at up to 120fps. The games that are coming to the system also look great, with the declaration of intent from third-party developers being especially reassuring. While the $450 price tag may cause a bit of sticker shock for some, I’m not too surprised by it since I figured the Switch 2 would cost anywhere from $400 to $450.
What’s most shocking is Nintendo’s strategy with some of their games. Not including Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is baffling enough, but the company’s decision to start charging $80 for its games at a base level is the biggest red flag for me. Mario Kart World is sure to be a great game and will likely be worth the money, but the fact that Nintendo feels comfortable enough to make such a move when no other company in the games industry has done so is telling. Is this Nintendo getting cocky and thinking they can charge more than the $70 standard that was implemented with the arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S? Or is this a move that was done out of necessity due to global tariffs implemented by the President of the United States? It’s not clear, but what is clear is that other companies are sure to follow in Nintendo’s footsteps now that they’ve ripped the band-aid off.
There will be more to talk about regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 in the weeks and months ahead of us. But for now, despite the bad news that came today, I’m still very much looking forward to the console and will be trying to score a pre-order when they go live next week.
TheComfySpot 