Specs, Price, Features, Pre-order and Release Date Info for the Nintendo Switch 2

gaming, News, Nintendo, switch

Its been eight years since the Nintendo Switch released. Since then 150 million units have been sold worldwide. In its lifespan we have seen legendary games on the Switch such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s sequel Tears of the Kingdom and the lockdown sensation Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The Nintendo Switch initiated a change in the tides of the gaming industry. It showed companies that there is a large market for gamers on the go. It inspired devices such as the Steam Deck, Legion Go, and Asus Rog Ally. But despite the successes of these systems, at the end of the day, fans want more Nintendo.

Fans have long awaited the Direct that took place today, showcasing the new Nintendo Switch 2 alongside all the new games that will come out alongside it. To see our coverage of all the new games, click HERE.

Specs

7.9 inch Screen
Double the pixels. 1080p up to 120fps on handheld
HDR Support (handheld included)
Joy-cons attach magnetically. Detach easily with a release button.
Bigger L2 L4 buttons and joysticks are larger.
Each Joy-Con can be used as a mouse for compatible games.
Built in Mic and Speakers. Noise cancelling microphones and 3D audio output.
Large sturdy stand that can recline all the way to its back.
2 USB C ports
8X storage of the Switch – 256GB of storage
New Dock supports 4k 60fps
Fan ventilation built in to dock

Backwards compatibility is confirmed for an undisclosed amount of Switch titles. The new cartridges will be red to stand out apart from the first Switch games. Micro SD express are the only cards you can use for storage. Old cards/standard micro SD will not be compatible. You can transfer all your data from one console to the other locally.

New Features

So what is the new C button on the controller? The button is used for you to easily access the chat menu for the new Game Chat feature.

Game Chat is the new add on to Nintendo Online that enables you to talk with friends, video chat, and even share your screen. If you are sharing video, games like Mario Party will show your friends faces alongside their characters in the game. You will need Nintendo Online to access this feature, but if you want to try out the feature for free, there will be open access for all until March 31st, 2026.

This is a demonstration of how you can see your friends while you play.

Another improvement the Nintendo Switch 2 will provide is the ability to play regular Switch games that are upgraded with better visuals and frame rates. The upgrades are called Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games are only available for select titles and can include extra content. If you already own the game, you can purchase an upgrade.

Some games that were announced to include Switch 2 Editions.

Like we covered the other day, Nintendo is introducing game share. Alongside that feature, they showed us today during the direct that you can have up to 3 players link to a game at the same time locally. Everyone can play the same game together at the same time on different consoles. It only takes one cartridge.

Release Date and Price

The Nintendo Switch is set to release on June 5th, 2025 worldwide. Console only will cost $450 USD and the Mario Kart World Bundle will cost $500 USD. Pre-orders open on April 9th.