After years of leaks and speculation, it’s finally official: Nintendo has announced its next-generation console — the Nintendo Switch 2.
As the name suggests, it’s an evolution of the original Switch, maintaining its hybrid handheld-console design with detachable controllers and a dock for TV play.
Unlike Nintendo’s usual approach of radically rethinking hardware with each new console, this is a more iterative upgrade. But it makes sense. The original Switch has sold over 150 million units since its 2017 launch, making it Nintendo’s second most successful console and third overall in global sales.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, Nintendo is refining what already works — especially as modern gamers expect to carry their game libraries forward, which discourages drastic design overhauls.
The big question is whether current Switch owners will make the jump. The Switch 2 starts at $449.99, a $150 jump from the original’s launch price. Flagship titles like Mario Kart World are priced at $79.99, which could make upgrading a tough sell for families and long-time fans.
What’s New with Switch 2?
Nintendo revealed key details in an April Nintendo Direct, including the release date, hardware features, and an initial wave of games. One of the standout features is GameChat, a Zoom-like video communication tool accessed via a new “C” button on the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which now include a built-in microphone and camera.
The Joy-Con 2 also offer mouse-style controls, usable in games like Drag x Drive (a wheelchair rugby game), Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Sid Meier’s Civilization 7.
Nintendo confirmed several Switch 2 exclusives, including:
- Donkey Kong Bananza – a 3D action-adventure focused on digging and destruction, launching in July.
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – a virtual exhibition of the new hardware.
- The Duskbloods – a multiplayer action game from Elden Ring developer FromSoftware.
- Kirby Air Riders – a follow-up to Kirby Air Ride, directed by Masahiro Sakurai.
Nintendo Switch 2Some first-party Switch titles are also getting “Switch 2 Edition” upgrades, with improved visuals and additional content. These include:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Tears of the Kingdom
- Pokémon Legends Z-A
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Metroid Prime 4 will have a native release for both Switch and Switch 2.
Release Date and Pricing
Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025. The $449.99 base package includes the console, Joy-Con 2 controllers, dock, HDMI cable, AC adapter, and controller accessories. A bundle with Mario Kart World will be available for $499.99.
International pricing is:
- €469.99 in Europe
- £395.99 in the U.K.
- 49,980 yen in Japan
This marks Nintendo’s most expensive console launch yet (excluding inflation). Unlike previous generations, don’t expect quick price drops. Global chip shortages, inflation, and slower tech evolution have changed pricing dynamics across consumer electronics.
This pricing puts the Switch 2 in competition with PC handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED ($549) and Asus ROG Ally ($499) — and may risk alienating Nintendo’s core family audience.
Adding to uncertainty, new U.S. tariffs were announced the same day as the Switch 2 reveal. The Trump administration’s tariffs on countries like Vietnam — where Nintendo manufactures consoles — could increase costs. Given the short timeframe between announcements, Nintendo may not have adjusted pricing to account for this.
Third-Party Games
In addition to Nintendo’s lineup, third-party developers are bringing a robust library to Switch 2, including:
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Elden Ring
- Fortnite
- Street Fighter 6
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Madden NFL
- NBA 2K
Lastly, Nintendo Switch Online is adding classic GameCube games — but only for Expansion Pack subscribers and exclusively on Switch 2. Confirmed titles include:
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Soulcalibur 2
- F-Zero GX
