We are fast approaching the big unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2. Sure, the console has been announced, but on April 2, Nintendo will reveal the games and dive deeper into the tech inside.
We’re hoping to hear about its retail price and actual release date.
What’s the latest on the rumour mill? A report floating around social media suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 may have an impressive-sounding 120Hz LCD screen with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
What does this mean? It’s not what you might initially guess. A 120Hz screen can display high 120fps frame rates, and VRR lets the screen match the game frame rate. But we don’t envisage many games actually running at 120fps.
For Nintendo Switch 2, the real benefit may be letting developers aim for 40fps when playing handheld and 60fps when docked to a TV. 40fps looks far smoother than the 30fps we often get with the original Nintendo Switch.
This rumour is more interesting than it is necessarily believable. But sometimes, it’s fun to speculate on what Nintendo might do—or, in this case, might have done. We’ll find out on April 2.
Now that the Switch 2 is official, all eyes are on its price — and it’s shaping up to be Nintendo’s most expensive console yet.
Industry insiders with ties to Nintendo and its partners have repeatedly suggested it could cost $400 (£301) or more.
In the UK, that could translate to around £350 to £380, putting it in the same price range as the PS5. For comparison, the high-end Switch OLED sells for £309.99.
The Switch 2 announcement video also contained a glimpse of a new Mario Kart game
Nintendo
Sure enough, the gaming site VGC has reported the console will stick with cartridges alongside digital downloads. This could also increase game prices — like we’ve seen on Xbox and PS5 before.
The hybrid device resembles a larger version of its seven-year-old Switch predecessor. It features a larger display, an extra USB-C port on the top, and a pair of Joy-Con controllers that snap onto the sides.
The back of its tablet-like touchscreen features a slimmer stand, allowing for more tilt when placed on a table or desk. The larger dock, meanwhile, still enables you to connect the console to a TV for big-screen gaming when not in handheld mode.
Notably, the new gaming machine looks virtually identical to the leaked models that have trickled out over the past few weeks. The console is almost all-black apart from the blue and orange colour accents on the sides and thumbsticks of the Joy-Cons.
Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 in a brief promotional video, including a glimpse at a new Mario Kart game. Worryingly, it did not commit to a concrete release date — just 2025.
That still leaves many questions. Thankfully, a wave of leaks offers some answers, including key specs and a more concrete launch date.
Nintendo Switch 2 release date
So, when can you buy the new console? In addition to the vague 2025 launch window, Nintendo may have inadvertently dropped a major hint about its release.
The Switch 2 comes with a larger dock for big-screen gaming and can also be played in handheld mode
Nintendo
The gaming giant will host global demo events, giving the public hands-on time with the Switch 2. In a hint at the console’s potential release date, the last of these events occurs between May 31 and June 1 in Seoul, South Korea.
This aligns with the prediction made by the gaming podcast Nate the Hate, which accurately flagged the reveal date.
When is the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct?
Fortunately, there’s not long to wait until we learn more. A Nintendo Direct presentation devoted to the Switch 2 is confirmed to be occurring on April 2. As usual, you can watch the show live on Nintendo’s YouTube channel.
Nintendo Switch 2 leaked design and features
Over the past few weeks, various computer-generated images and display models have laid bare the Switch 2’s design.
Created by separate Switch accessory makers, a pair of realistic mock-ups pointed to a larger handheld with a slightly thicker build, an eight-inch screen and magnetic controller attachments.
Canadian accessory maker Dbrand got the ball rolling last December with an in-motion render that it claimed was based on a 3D scan of the actual console. Based on its measurements, the Switch 2 will be 270mm wide, 116mm tall and 14mm thick, making it larger and taller than Nintendo’s Switch OLED and the base Switch.
A mock-up of the Nintendo Switch 2 inside a case that Dbrand says is based on a 3D scan of the actual console
Nintendo
The console’s screen will reportedly measure eight inches, with a subsequent render from Onleaks and 91 Mobiles suggesting it will be an OLED display, resulting in deeper blacks and far greater contrast.
Where are all these clones coming from? A high-profile leaker, who goes by the name of Kang online, claimed that the official console is being sold on the Chinese black market.
For its part, Nintendo downplayed the CES leak, dismissing it as “unofficial”.
In addition, gaming analyst James McWhirter from research firm Omdia told the Standard that the Switch 2’s larger screen could make it roughly the same height as the Steam Deck OLED, despite its eight-inch, 16:9 display.
Mr McWhirter told the Standard that the new controllers would probably have improvements, such as increased durability and analogue triggers for enhanced sensitivity — potentially addressing issues including Joy-Con drift while adding precision for racers and platformers.
In the official Switch 2 announcement video, the gamepads were shown gliding across a surface. This indicates rumours of the new Joy-Cons featuring optical sensors, similar to those found in computer mice, might be true. How this new function will be incorporated into games remains to be seen.
The larger size, combined with reports that it will almost certainly feature a custom Nvidia T239 chip, leads Mr McWhirter to believe the Switch 2 will require a bigger battery and heftier active cooling.
“There will be more grunt under the hood and we expect it will be more power-hungry,” he said.
Behind closed doors, Nintendo has reportedly demonstrated the new Switch running some impressive tech typically reserved for the latest consoles and PCs.
A leaked image of the Switch 2’s alleged motherboard containing its core hardware
According to VGC, the device packs Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. This allows it to boost a game’s visual resolution using AI, meaning it could upscale full HD to 4K quality. It is also said to have ray tracing enabled to produce incredibly realistic lighting effects.
The new processor will allow the Switch 2 to run more power-hungry games. In a secretive showcase last August, Nintendo reportedly fired up The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, originally released to illustrate the power of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021.
Before you get too excited, that doesn’t mean the new Switch will rival those machines in terms of performance.
Several games have been confirmed for the Switch, most from external developers.
For its part, Nintendo revealed a new Mario Kart during the Switch 2 announcement trailer. Digging up clues from that fleeting preview, fans reckon it might feature 24-player races, retro karts and character designs, and brand-new power-ups.
The company previously confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, allowing it to run Switch games and support Switch Online. The latter is a subscription service that lets you play compatible games online and access a library of classic titles.
Nintendo reportedly showed developers an improved version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild made for its new console
Nintendo
Behind closed doors, Nintendo also allegedly showed the new console running an enhanced version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could indicate that it will offer next-gen editions of existing games in the vein of the PS5.
Here are all the confirmed and rumoured games for the Switch 2:
- Mario Kart 9 – Briefly spotted in the Switch 2 reveal, though not officially announced.
- My Time at Evershine – The next entry in the cosy RPG series from Pathea Games. This was the first officially announced game for the Switch 2, surpassing $2.9 million (£2.2m) in Kickstarter funding.
- Bestiario – A retro-inspired RPG reminiscent of the PS1 era, confirmed for both the original Switch and the Switch 2 via its Kickstarter page.
- Yooka-Replaylee – A remastered version of Yooka-Laylee, the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, listed as coming to “Nintendo”. This could hint at a Switch 2 release.
Nintendo games in development
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Announced over seven years ago, this long-awaited sequel seems destined for the Switch 2. Its FPS gameplay and intricate level design could benefit from the console’s rumoured new features.
- New Pokémon game – Set in Lumiose City, this upcoming entry may introduce Pokémon Mega Evolutions and would be a natural fit for the new hardware.
- New Super Mario game – A fresh Mario adventure is almost guaranteed for the Switch 2, following in the footsteps of Super Mario Odyssey.
- Zelda: Breath of the Wild Enhanced – Nintendo reportedly showcased an upgraded version of BOTW running on the Switch 2, suggesting next-gen enhancements for existing titles.
Rumoured third-party games
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Diablo 4
- A Call of Duty game
- Fallout 4
- Starfield
- Tekken 8
- Elden Ring
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Metal Gear Solid Delta
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
