Nintendo Switch 2 Thread.

[Selbaek]

Nintendo Switch 2 Thread

Home page | Nvidia blog | Switch 2 Direct thread

Please feel free to point stuff out I may have missed! I'll add it to the main post post-haste (heh).

Well, it's been fully revealed, priced, spec'd out, and all that's left is waiting for launch day. I'm going to try and compile all of the information about the system here, because there's quite a bit, and it's scattered all over the place.

The Skinny

• Launches June 5, 2025 for $449.99. There is a bundle with Mario Kart World for $499.99
  • These prices are officially stated to have not been related to ongoing tariff situations in the US.
• The bundle with Mario Kart World will be at retailers, but you can also try for a lottery system within the My Nintendo Store.
  • The FAQ on the page lists May 8 as the starting date for invitations to go out.
• The chip inside can produce 10x the graphical performance of the original Switch.
• Screen: 7.9" LCD display at 1080p with 120fps, VRR, and HDR.
• Dock: Capable of outputting 1080p 120fps or 4K 60fps to compatible TVs. Has a built-in fan for extra cooling. CEC and ALLM as well
• Joy-Con 2 connect to the system via magnets. No more slide rail
• Joy-Con 2 can also act as mice, and dual-mice mode will be an option in some games.
• The right Joy-Con 2 features a new "C" button that opens up the menu and options for GameChat.
• The joysticks and face buttons of the Joy-Con 2 have been enlarged from the original Joy-Con counterpart.
• Backwards compatibility with most, but not all, Switch 1 games
  • here's a page highlighting the complications
• Switch 2 cartridges will continue to have that nasty taste to dissuade swallowing.
• The eShop will not bring back any music in the background. The decision was made to focus attention on the multitude of videos for games.

GameChat

"All Together, Anytime, Anywhere"
This functions similarly to Discord. There has not been any mention of text-based messaging with this feature, as this seems to only handle voice and video calling, as well as screen sharing, on the system level.

GameChat is free for all Nintendo Switch 2 owners for a limited time. It will be locked behind an NSO subscription come March 31, 2026.

GameShare

This works sort of like the Download Play option from Nintendo DS and 3DS, with the added benefit of being able to do it over the internet. Locally, Nintendo Switch 2 can share any game with a Nintendo Switch 1 system. Over the internet, all involved need Switch 2 as the feature is only done through GameChat. GameChat will not be coming to Switch 1. Select Switch 1 games played on Switch 2 will be eligible for GameShare after a free software update.

Games
There are three ways to enjoy games on a Switch 2:
1. Switch 2 exclusive software. These are the games developed with the Switch 2 in mind. They are not compatible with Switch 1.
2. Switch 1 software. These are the games that were developed for Switch 1, but should be compatible via Switch 2. These may get free updates/patches that allow the Switch 2 hardware to run them a little more efficiently.
3. Switch 2 Edition software. These are Switch 1 games that get a substantial patch that renders them only playable on the Switch 2 hardware whether it be because of a graphical or performance upgrade, or because of features exclusive to the Switch 2. There is a nominal fee involved in applying these patches, however that exact price is unofficial currently. Yen conversion puts them at around $10-$15. Some Switch 2 Edition upgrades will be free to NSO+Expansion Pack subscribers. Currently only Zelda BotW and TotK are confirmed for that.

Starting near the end of April for Switch 1, Nintendo is starting a service called "Virtual Game Cards" that will allow you to lend your digital games out to friends. It allows the friend to download the game and play the title without needing an internet connection for 2 weeks, before the key is yoinked on the server side back to the original owner. This will continue with Switch 2.

Switch 2 will also start the trend for "Game-Key Cards." Instead of holding the game on the cartridge itself, it will allow the user to download the game digitally from the store, and use the physical cartridge as the activation key to allow said user to launch the game. The key is held on the physical cartridge itself, so you will be able to sell this cartridge to someone else to relinquish your ability to play that digital download and give whoever buys it from you the ability to download and play.

Current store listings list first-party software at the $80 range. There are two titles that are $69.99, which is BotW S2Edition and Donkey Kong Bananza. All other titles, including other S2Edition games are listed at $79.99. That being said, third party software seems to have not gotten the memo, because I haven't seen prices go above $59.99. Bravely Default HD is launching at $39.99, which is incredibly favorable, especially from Square Enix.

Accessories

• The dock comes with the system, but a standalone dock is sold for $119.99.
• The Joy-Con 2 controllers come with the system, but you can buy another pair for $94.99.
  • There does not currently seem to be an option for a single Joy-Con 2 of either side.
• The Joy-Con 2 straps come with the system, but you can get an extra pair for $13.99.
• New Pro Controller. Complete with a "C" button and GL/GR triggers on the grips that can be assigned to any other button for $84.99.
• There is a Charging Grip. This also comes with GL/GR triggers on the grips for $39.99.
• There is a Joy-Con 2 steering wheel set (no singles, only sets of 2) for $24.99.
• There is a first party camera on a stand meant for GameChat and supporting game software going for $54.99.
• An AC adapter comes with the system, but an extra one will cost you $34.99.
• There is a Carrying Case that comes with a screen protector for $39.99
• And finally, an All-In-One carrying case for the system, dock, other accessories for $84.99.

Achievements?
It was confirmed via Polygon that there will be no account-tied achievement system. Though, there was something close with the new Zelda Notes feature coming to the Nintendo Switch app for the S2Edition Zelda games. They unlock as you achieve them in-game, and your stats with them are compared against global metrics. No word on if you can shrink those metrics down to just friends, though I would hope that would be an option. With this in mind, I'm leaning on the idea that there are no account-wide achievement systems in place.


Having said that, ThunderStash Gaming reported (timestamped) on the Nintenbyte Podcast that the Welcome Tour $10 instructional game will also have Medals based on information he was told at the Nintendo Switch 2 event. We will see if that winds up being true, and what that may mean for other games if so.

Ongoing unknowns

In the Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo pointed out that the Switch 2 cartridge looks almost just like a Switch 1 cartridge. The only difference they listed was its color. In an off-screen shot taken at one of the Nintendo Switch 2 events held over the weeks after the Switch 2 Direct, someone pointed out via the Welcome Tour game that the Switch 2 cartridges actually do have a difference to them over the Switch 1 cartridge. There is a small notch in the lower backside corner of the Switch 2 cartridge, which has no explanation currently (though probably will once someone gets their hands on Welcome Tour).

Personally, I believe this is so that Switch 2 Edition cartridges, which will be red in color because they are Switch 2 cartridges with Switch 2 content, will be compatible when inserted into a Switch 1. The way Nintendo has described Switch 2 Edition games has never once specified that these are Switch 2 games. It has always been that these are Switch 1 games with Switch 2 exclusive content. The official page for Switch 2 Edition games also states that you are getting all of the Switch 2 exclusive content in addition to the Switch 1 game, and the way everything is worded just sounds like this is going to be the case. Time will tell, but I lean on it.

[Random Encounter]

I've expressed a lot of my feelings about this in the announcement thread, but I will say that the GameChat feature is probably the most interesting thing I see so far. This looks like a good stand-in for Discord, and I wonder if this will push Sony and Microsoft to add comparable features to their platforms.

[Destian]

[Althena]

Nice to finally see some questions get answered. I'll be honest, not a fan of some of the decisions Nintendo is making here, and I wonder how it's going to work out for them.

[Sarah Valentine]

Children are going to demand it, parents who either are clueless or willing to indulge them regardless will buy it, Nintendo will continue to make hella bank. Until that stops happening, they're not incentivized to treat their customers any better. Nintendo likes to play the role of family-oriented game company but we can't forget profit is the only reason any corporation exists.

[Althena]

I was talking about that last night with Random Encounter. There was a time when Nintendo could rest on its laurels of great software development. Nowadays, they don't have the market cornered on that. I am actually getting similar vibes to the PS3 launch with Sony's "We're Sony, of course you'll buy it" levels of hubris. Nintendo, don't be like Sony.

[Selbaek]

I'm seeing some statements echoed that physical versions of these games will be $90, but I'm not seeing that reflected in any stores so I'm not sure where people got that from.

It is quite asinine that Mario Kart World can be valued at $50 as part of a console bundle, but $30 more expensive if you get it standalone.
Nintendo has shown off quite a bit of gameplay in its live Treehouse event today, and I really like what I'm seeing. I hope I luck into a bundle because I would love to play it and feel very comfortable paying $50 for it via the $500 bundle.

[Selbaek]

I was talking about that last night with Random Encounter. There was a time when Nintendo could rest on its laurels of great software development. Nowadays, they don't have the market cornered on that. I am actually getting similar vibes to the PS3 launch with Sony's "We're Sony, of course you'll buy it" levels of hubris. Nintendo, don't be like Sony.

Now that I think about it, this feels like the 3DS launch year. Within the year, because of poor sales, they wound up reducing the cost by a substantial amount to the point that they created the Ambassador program for those that paid the original hefty price for the system.

Yesterday during the Treehouse livestream where Nintendo employees played some of the newly announced games, the chat for the livestream was hammered with people chanting to lower the price for the entire 4-hour affair. Perhaps, similar to the 3DS, the message will get to Nintendo and they reconsider a potential $80 standard for games - however, like with the 3DS, that will probably only be viable via extremely low sales.

[Althena]

This is a hell of an economic climate to release a system in.

[Selbaek]

This is a hell of an economic climate to release a system in.

You aren't kidding! Gamespot has apparently heard from Nintndo directly about a delay in pre-ordering in the US specifically for tarriff reasons. I've added this and other things to the main post at the bottom for quick references.
Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Delayed Due To Tariffs, Release Date Still June 5 - GameSpot
EDIT: GameStop, too! GameStop on X: "An update from Nintendo https://t.co/iygReQlBwl" / X

[Selbaek]

An interview Andrew Webster from the Verge had with Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, states that potential tariff shenanigans were not a part of any decision on the current $450 price point for the Switch 2.

I guess that means that Nintendo's delay of the pre-orders really is to see if they need to raise the price.

Polygon's Tyler Colp confirms from their own interview that Switch 2 will continue to not have an account-wide achievement system.

Bill Trinen, Vice President of Product and Player Experience for Nintendo of America, assured IGN interviewer Logan Plant that the price points of the software are based, vaguely, on what they feel the worth of a game is, and the rising costs through inflation.

In my opinion, that says to me that because Mario Kart World is open world with many things to do, its $80 price is based on the investment and how many hours they predict people will spend against what they believe is immense replayability, whereas Donkey Kong Bananza is $70 because it's a more traditional game with a beginning, middle, and end. Not many will come back to DK after finishing it.

In an interview with GameSpot's Eddie Makuch, it is confirmed that the Switch 2 cartridges will continue to have a nasty taste.

Nate Bihldorff, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing for Nintendo of America, spoke with Zion Grassl of Nintendo Life about the joysticks in the Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller. They are reportedly "not Hall Effect" and that they've been "designed from the ground up."

In my opinion, I feel like this is dodging some potential copyright infringement and that they've done something similar in the vein of Hall Effect joysticks but not literally Hall Effect to avoid that whole ordeal. A tear-down will tell us for sure.

The OP will be updated and reflect all of this.

[The Grimace]

Between the price of the console itself and the prices of digital and physical games, this isn't anything I feel comfortable buying any time soon.

It's a shame because Donkey Kong Bonanza looks pretty awesome. But a Steamdeck sounds like it will still do everything the Switch does, but better- outside of first party titles, of course.

[Sarah Valentine]

First party titles are the only reason I'm even considering buying back into the Nintendo scene. I got a Switch back in the day just to play BotW and Smash Ultimate, and if I get a Switch 2 it'll be for Kart World and Prime 4. That's all Nintendo has going for it, for me.

[Selbaek]

Nintendo Is Delaying Switch 2 Pre-Orders In Canada | Nintendo Life
Canada has followed suit with the US in postponing their pre-orders. They will follow the US's lead in reviving pre-orders, likely to prevent an overflow of cross-country pre-ordering, to prevent stock from lopsiding as besta s possible.

Jake Randall on X
Amazon UK is actively cancelling any pre-order for the Switch 2 with a US address. I imagine other retailers in the UK and around the world will echo this sentiment.

Nintendo Switch 2 postponed release in China due to regulations and demand assessment - Japan Keizai Shimbun
Mainland China has postponed the launch date of Switch 2 to an unknown date. The article mentions how Switch 1 over there didn't launch until 2019 and has been slow on sales because of the government regulating the games that can be sold there, but I am not sure if that's just interesting information or related to the delay on Switch 2's launch.

EDIT: Almost forgot~

Nintendo Co., Ltd. : Investor Relations Information
There is an investor's meeting scheuled for May 8th. I would wager we will hear about new pre-order, pricing, and release information before then. Reminder that they postponed pre-orders for the US due to the tariff follow-through, and this could mean a price adjustment, which may or may not affect the launch date depending on how long it takes to get a valid assessment of the economic situation.

[Selbaek]

Between the price of the console itself and the prices of digital and physical games, this isn't anything I feel comfortable buying any time soon.

It's a shame because Donkey Kong Bonanza looks pretty awesome. But a Steamdeck sounds like it will still do everything the Switch does, but better- outside of first party titles, of course.

DKB most certainly does look like probably the best launch title so far. Official word from Nintendo says that the Mario Kart Direct on the 17th will "convince many" of the game's value, so I'm interested to see what more there is in store for it.

Speaking of, I saw a video that pointed out a few things seen during the Treehouse livestream, and also accidentally posted on the main MK site, that alludes to there being a story mode similar in spirit to Diddy Kong Racing, among some other things. That could be super fun, if true.