Nintendo is ready to enter a new era of handheld gaming with the official reveal of the Switch 2. Announced on Jan. 16, the new console builds on the success of the original Switch, which launched in 2017 and has since sold over 130 million units worldwide. Known for its hybrid design and iconic exclusives such as Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Switch became one of the most popular consoles of all time.
Nearly a decade later, Nintendo is pushing the hardware forward while sticking to what made the original successful—mobility, versatility and an exciting lineup of first-party games. The Switch 2 launches globally on June 5 with a stronger internal build, new features and several high-profile titles ready to go.
Fans can expect new Joy-Con 2 controllers with magnetic holsters, improved haptics and an added “C” button for GameChat. This feature is Nintendo’s answer to built-in voice and video during multiplayer sessions. The system also introduces GameShare, allowing multiple users to locally play a game with just one copy. Backward compatibility is a key part of the launch. Most Switch titles will carry over, ensuring fans keep their collections and digital libraries intact. For longtime players, it means fewer trade-offs and more reasons to upgrade.
Nintendo also announced several launch window titles, including Metroid Prime 4: Resurrection, Mario Kart X, a remake of Kid Icarus: Uprising and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Depths, a direct sequel to 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom. Third-party support includes Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong and a port of Elden Ring, now optimized for the Switch 2. Anyone considering picking up Nintendo’s new console will not need to worry about a limited selection of games.
For anyone more technologically curious, the console boasts a 7.9-inch LCD screen with 1080p resolution in handheld mode and a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother gameplay. When docked, the Switch 2 can output 60 frames per second in 4K with games that support the resolution. It should be worth noting that having 4K capability in such a small form factor is very impressive. Most of the time, graphical components tend to have a large chassis to support proper cooling and energy output for high-resolution tasks. It also ships with 256GB of internal storage, which is 4 times more than what came with the original Switch, and runs on a custom NVIDIA processor designed for improved performance.
Priced at $449.99, the Switch 2 enters the market just above its predecessor but below the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Nintendo will start sending pre-order invitations on May 8, though new U.S. tariffs may cause delays. The original Switch proved that Nintendo did not need cutting-edge specs to dominate the market—it just needed fun games and a fresh approach. The Switch 2 doubles down on both. If the first system was about flexibility, this one is about refining it. With a launch lineup composing of some huge and notable titles, Nintendo seems ready to “switch” it up again.
