We’ve waited for a replacement to the now 8-year-old Nintendo Switch for some time (for me, ever since I saw the Switch struggle to run Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity at a higher frame rate than “slideshow”). Today, Nintendo finally revealed the Switch 2, so we know what it’s called, what it looks like, and when it comes out (sometime in 2025). The unveiling didn’t include other details besides information on a promotional tour and upcoming Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2. So, I dissected the two-minute reveal trailer to unearth possible details about the Switch 2 that Nintendo didn’t explicitly state. Here’s what I found.
(Credit: Nintendo)
1. It’s the Same Form Factor, Just Bigger
Nintendo isn’t radically redesigning the Switch 2, if the name wasn’t already an indication. Unlike the wild changes from the GameCube to the Wii to the Wii U to the Switch, the Switch 2 uses the same hybrid handheld/console concept as the current Switch. It’s a tablet with removable Joy-Con controllers and a dock that lets you play on a TV.
It’s bigger, though. In the video, the tablet part of the Switch expands as it transforms into the Switch 2. The new size isn’t confirmed, and extrapolating measurements from a computer animation is dubious. Still, the bigger tablet matches rumors that the Switch 2 would have an 8-inch OLED screen (up from the OLED Switch’s 7-inch and the original Switch’s 6.2-inch screen).
(Credit: Nintendo)
2. It Has an Improved Kickstand
Setting the original Switch on a table to play with friends when away from a TV is a great feature, but not the most stable one. Its kickstand is tiny and offset to one side. As a result, Nintendo updated the kickstand when it released the Switch OLED, changing it to a panel that takes up half of the console’s back. The Switch 2’s kickstand is a less obtrusive U-shaped stand that looks like it can be set at a wider range of angles than even the OLED Switch.
(Credit: Nintendo)
3. The Joy-Con Appear Magnetic
The reveal video shows the original Joy-Con’s clicky rails replaced by a smoother recess and a rectangular port in the middle. This means the controllers just pop straight into the sides of the console instead of sliding up and locking into place with the Switch’s signature click sound. It also indicates that magnets hold the Joy-Con in place.
This might sound less secure than a mechanical lock, but I don’t think that’s the case. The bar that slides into the system is long, taking up almost the entire side of the Joy-Con, and seems fairly deep. Well-placed magnets combined with a deep enough reach should prevent wiggling, making the Joy-Con easy to remove.
It’s a promising change. After three Switch systems and several pairs of Joy-Con, I can confirm that the original Switch’s locks aren’t particularly secure. The rails inevitably start to loosen after extended use. Actual ports that physically plug into the Switch 2 mean the Joy-Con will stay connected better.
(Credit: Nintendo)
4. The Joy-Con May Double as Mice
The trailer indicates that the Joy-Con might serve as mice and motion controllers. The video shows them sliding along a flat surface while attached to their wrist-strap grips. The grips could have glide plates that let them smoothly slide without touching the connectors. The sliding animation might hint at the Mario Kart game the trailer spotlights, but adding the grips with trailing wrist straps doesn’t fit that image. It does, however, invoke literal mice.
Recommended by Our Editors
(Credit: Nintendo)
5. Mario Kart 9 Could Be a Launch Title
The Switch 2 debut video appears to spotlight a new Mario Kart. The character and kart designs are all slightly different, and the track is unfamiliar. The road also looks much wider than most Mario Kart raceways, possibly accommodating 24 drivers.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the most popular and best Switch games. It has 96 tracks, and I don’t believe any of them have a Yoshi’s burger shack in the middle of a sprawling desert. It was originally a Wii U game. Promoting a second remaster of a two-generation-old title as the first look at a new console makes little sense. I don’t think even Sony would try that for a launch game.
PS5 Pro? Switch 2? Handheld Xbox? Let’s Talk Hardware Rumors
What Else Is in the Switch 2’s Future?
Nintendo will reveal almost everything about the Switch 2 during a Nintendo Direct on April 2. We might get more rumors before then, but we probably won’t see many more confirmed details.
Get Our Best Stories!
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links.
By clicking the button, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
About Will Greenwald
Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics
