Ever since the Nintendo Switch first launched in 2017, fans have been obsessed with what the next version of the console will be. Now, the wait is finally over.
After weeks of rumours and dummy models floating around the convention circuit, Nintendo has released a first look trailer at the Switch 2 (yes, it’s officially called that).
While the trailer doesn’t confirm all the design rumours running rampant, we’ve certainly already learned a lot from the two-minute clip. Here’s what we know. You can also read our piece, 5 questions I still have about the Nintendo Switch 2.
Is there a trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes! We have a first full look at this brand-new console thanks to this two-minute trailer, which shows off some major design hauls that had long been expected, including a larger screen, new Joy-Con controllers (one in a fresh orange colour), a U-shaped kickstand and a new USB-C port:
When will the Nintendo Switch 2 be released?
The only thing we know for sure is that the Switch 2 is arriving in 2025, but we don’t yet know when. However, we can estimate based on news and rumours.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced on Thursday 16 January 2025, and Nintendo has already confirmed that a dedicated Direct will be airing on 2 April 2025, where more details will be revealed.
After that, Nintendo will host live experiences for fans to experience the console, and people can register their details now. These will take place across the world starting in London in April, all the way up to June 2025 in Seoul, with a few more dates to be announced.
That suggests that the earliest we’ll see this console hit shelves is June 2025, but it could be later. That date does align with leaks we saw from both Nate the Hate and VGC.
For reference, the Switch Lite launched in September 2019, with the Switch (OLED) following in October 2021.
Nintendo
How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
While we don’t know for sure, it’s most likely that the Switch 2 would see a price increase from the existing Switch models.
The regular model is priced at £259/$299, while the OLED version is £309/$349. If an upgrade comes with features like 4K support or more powerful graphics, expect it to cost more than either.
Hideki Yasuda, a well-known Analyst of Toy Securities, suggests that the Switch 2 will cost under $499, while analyst and consultancy firm owner Dr Serkan Toto predicts a $400 price tag, with games around the $70 mark.
While a price increase is not welcome news, these rumours still undercut some other handheld rivals such as the Asus ROG Ally and the Steam Deck.
What will the Switch 2’s specs be?
Now that we’re getting closer to the launch of the Switch 2, we’ve started to learn more about the specs of this new console – and the trailer confirmed several things for us.
Firstly, the video appears to show a larger console overall with taller Joy-Cons. The base colour is black, while the controllers offer a splash of colour accents. The left is the iconic blue fans will know and love, while the right is more of a peachy orange rather than the traditional red.
Nintendo
There’s a much more flexible U-shaped kickstand on the back and a new USB-C port on the top of the console, allowing for gaming headsets to be plugged in while the console is docked. There’s another button on the right Joy-Con, though we don’t know what for – there’s suspicion that it could be a C button.
The Verge reported that the Joy-Cons will attach magnetically rather than clicking into place, and will be ‘drift resistant’, one of the key flaws of the original Switch. We can see connecting pins to the main display and the controllers ‘snapping’ into place, which seems to confirm that magnetic technology is likely – though we can’t speak on any drift resistance yet.
The video also shows the Joy-Cons being used on their sides. This could indicate that the leaks from Reddit and the dummy models at CES were true, which claimed that the Joy-Cons will have optical sensors, like what you’d find on a computer mouse. This could mean that mouse support is coming to the console, which could open doors for titles such as Mario Paint.
We also got firm confirmation that the console supports backwards compatibility for both digital and physical Switch games, so users can continue to play their old titles if they upgrade to the new model.
Nintendo
The video didn’t reveal any specs being on that, but all eyes are on the display. One report from Bloomberg claimed that the new Switch will have an 8-inch LCD panel, rather than an OLED one – though other renders state it will be even larger than that. Either way, this is a big size upgrade from the previous Switch but may come as a disappointment to those who wanted the highest-quality panel.
Two previous Bloomberg reports claim that Nintendo “has looked into including more computing power and 4K high-definition graphics,” and quote several anonymous third-party game developers who claim that “Nintendo has asked them to make their games 4K-ready.”
These predictions were reiterated in Bloomberg’s September 2021 report, which claims that at least 11 game companies “ranging from large publishers to small studios” – including Zynga – already have 4K Switch dev kits, which had apparently already been handed out by the time the OLED model was announced.
Both Zynga and Nintendo were quick to deny the report, the latter tweeting that “we have no plans for any new model other than Nintendo Switch – OLED Model.”
It’s worth clarifying that if 4K is included, it’s expected to only be for the console’s TV output – with the handheld display likely to either remain at 720p, or get a slight upgrade to 1080p.
The 4K support could be powered by a new Nvidia chip that will use the firm’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) tech, which uses machine learning to render higher-resolution images more efficiently. This will require support to be enabled within games though, so don’t expect older Switch titles to support 4K output unless devs take the time to patch it in.
There’s evidence of this in leaks from Nvidia code which point to an API named ‘nvn2’ – which is significant because the equivalent for the Switch was named, you guessed it, ‘NVN’.
The code points to support for Nvidia’s Ampere GPU architecture, which supports DLSS – along with ray-tracing. VGC reports that early demos of the console shown off at Gamescom also supported this technology along with Unreal Engine 5, with an enhanced version of Breath of the Wild showcased.
What games could be on the Nintendo Switch 2?
The trailer showed Mario Kart being played on the console, which many suspect to be the newest game: Mario Kart 9. This is because Donkey Kong has a different design in this footage compared to the current generation.
Leaker Nate the Hate also reported a number of games that will arrive on the Switch 2 at launch. This includes a brand-new Switch versions of Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Assassin’s Creed Shadows and ports from The Division series and Rainbow Six Siege series.
He also suggested that a number of Xbox games will be on the console, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Twitter user Nash Weedle (via Game Rant) suggests that the next Animal Crossing game could launch in 2026, with a cityscape setting and drivable cars. Therefore, it’s possible that Nintendo will provide a first look at this new game when the Switch 2 is announced.
Previous games in the series have had between a four to eight-year gap. If the next Animal Crossing title releases in 2026, that would be a six-year gap between it and New Horizons, which is entirely plausible.
Nintendo
Known leaker Zippo reports that the next 3D Mario game could come with the Switch 2, with the map expected to be a whopping four times larger than the one seen in Odyssey. We haven’t seen a new main 3D title since 2017, so there does seem credibility to these rumours.
Director of Final Fantasy 14 Naoki Yoshida has shared that he’s open to porting the game to the Nintendo Switch 2 when it launches. Eurogamer also reported that Hi-Fi Rush may skip the current Switch, and release on the Switch 2 instead.
We also know that Pokémon Legends: Z-A is scheduled to launch eventually, and it would make sense if this was for the Switch 2.
