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

Given Rune Factory's confirmation of my thoughts on how Switch 2 Edition cartridges will work, the only thing we don't know is if my assumptions are correct in that this will apply Edition-wide. We'll know for sure when the system launches, if not before with some kind of clarity from Nintendo.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[The Grimace]

The Switch 2's power isn't wowing me at a glance. Digital Foundry is comparing its statistics to the PlayStation 4, and while they have good things to say about the comparison, that's still a console generation back. The NS2 is going to be subject to the same tech creep the Nintendo Switch suffers. That's a big concern when the Steam Deck is right over there, cheaper and more accessible in every way.

Nintendo has so much contempt for its players that it repels me from wanting to be a fan. We've had a Switch since Mario Odyssey was released, but the last time I played it was for Super Mario RPG Remake. Before that, I couldn't even tell you. Their games never go on sale, and there have been very few "must own" titles. We also own two sets of joycons, and one of them has analog drift. It's just so much easier to not be a Nintendo fan, with their pricing.

Now I'm just ranting. It's frustrating. I WANT to like your stuff, Nintendo. You were my childhood! You were the chosen one! I don't want to put Sony or Microsoft that much higher. Both of those companies also have myriad issues, but Nintendo is the company that actively angers me on a regular basis.

[Selbaek]

The Switch 2's power isn't wowing me at a glance.

I think expecting Nintendo to keep up and even potentially surpass its competition in graphical prowess is like someone getting angry at their spouse for having cheated on them in a dream they had. Digital Foundry is amazing with their tech comparisons and understanding of the chips at hand, but at the end of the day it comes down to how much fun the software is, and how well the devs have optimized for the platform. Granted, that second thing has been... fewer and farer between the older the Switch 1 gets, but it's more reason for the upgraded hardware. And I think this new hardware is worth our time.

In example, it was confirmed by a CyberPunk rep at the public showcasing of Nintendo Switch 2 over the weekend that it will run at 30fps in 4K, and 40fps in 1080p on Switch 2. That meets the Steam Deck's 1080p performance, though you seemingly need tweaks to get it there. You obviously won't get to tweak anything further than a "Performance" and "Quality" mode on Switch 2... but I don't think CD Project Red made a brand new exclusive version of Cyberpunk for Switch 2 like they did with Witcher 3 for the Switch (oh god). More likely, they worked with Nintendo to get Cyberpunk well optimized to run as smoothly as possible on the Switch 2, and it meets and potentially surpasses the competition. We'll see how that turns out.

Granted, the fact that they have been very anti-community with their constant takedowns of fan games and court cases - especially in the emulation space - really doesn't shed any good light on them. And the pricing models for the first party software here feels predatory as well. I'm not trying to defend them as if they deserve our good graces, but I honestly feel like the hardware itself is fairly priced. $450 for the system, with a 120Hz screen (something no version of Steam Deck has), dock (an extra $80 sold separately for Steam Deck), and Nintendo-centric gimmicks with graphical capabilities that pretty much match the going competition in the handheld PC market space (according to some analysis videos from people who watched the Treehouse livestream in addition to who showed up at the live events over the weekend) really shows that this next generation from Nintendo is actually as caught up to the competition as they're probably ever going to get. They haven't been this close since the GameCube, when it outperformed the other systems of the generation in some cases.

EDIT: That's not true. The Wii U was on-par with the PS3 and XB360 for a year before the PS4 and XB1 released. Haha.

You are right about fact that Switch 2 is going to be left in the dust, though. It's a new Nintendo generation cropping up in the middle of all these other generations. Valve will likely have a Steam Deck 2 with miles-better capabilities in the next few years. We'll see Xbox and Playstation's new consoles in a few years for sure. Depending on what those graphical leaps mean for the next generation of cutting edge gaming, Switch 2 may very well wind up as washed-up in graphical performance as the Switch 1 feels today. But the main reason people get a Nintendo console is for its exclusives, and Nintendo usually delivers on those experiences. I am not advocating for their ridiculous $80 price point (which seems to be a first-party standard, not an exception), but I will stand on the hill that the Nintendo experience is usually pretty satisfactory and fun.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be a middle school essay. I just wanted to be sure we gave credit where credit was due lest we circle jerk these complaints and concerns to death.

I'm currently watching cautiously at where Nintendo feels they are going to be with all this tariff talk. If they somehow are able to keep the price at the current marketed price point and not raise it because of the percentage spikes, it will be a day 1 for me. Otherwise... maybe when a new Zelda releases. I am a sucker for Zelda.