It’s been a long time coming, but the Nintendo Switch’s successor is finally revealed. Nintendo officially confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 via a teaser trailer that reveals the hybrid console, a plan for a Nintendo Direct in April to give more details, and very little else. That leaves plenty we still don’t know about the new console and a sea of rumors to wade through. Here’s what we know.
(Credit: Nintendo)
What’s the Switch 2’s Name?
It’s the Switch 2! That’s now official, which means Nintendo avoids previous systems’ confusing naming conventions like the Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS. This is the sequel system, the first simply numbered one in Nintendo’s history.
What’s the Switch 2’s Release Date?
Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will come out this year, with no firmer date than that. It probably won’t be until early summer since the system announcement already fulfills the company’s earlier promise of unveiling the Switch 2 before the end of the current fiscal year (which ends in March). We won’t get a closer look at the Switch 2 until a Nintendo Direct planned for April 2.
That gives Nintendo time to build hype, establish a launch library, and woo developers and publishers that aren’t already working on Switch 2 games behind closed doors. Before the announcement, six developers confirmed with Spanish fansite Nintenduo that the Switch 2 will launch around June or July 2025. This timing aligns with the original Switch’s announcement (October 2016) and launch (March 2017).
(Credit: Nintendo)
Will the Switch 2 Replace the Current Switch?
Yes. It’s the new Switch, and the most unambiguous sequel system in the company’s history. Even the jump from NES to Super NES confused parents in the early 1990s. This time, it’s very clear that the Switch 2 replaces the Switch (1).
This doesn’t mean Nintendo will stop selling the original Switch. Generational upgrades like the Switch 2 often include a tail of at least a year, with the company selling the previous system. This was the case with the Switch with the 3DS and the Wii with the GameCube.
(Credit: Nintendo)
Will the Switch 2 Keep the Same Hybrid Design?
Nintendo struck gold with the Switch. It’s a game console that can work at home in a dock or on-the-go with the Joy-Con attached to its sides, making it incredibly flexible. Returning to a solely home console or handheld game system would be baffling (though handheld- or console-only variants like the Nintendo Switch Lite aren’t out of the question as alternative models).
Nintendo’s teaser video confirms that the Switch 2 looks like a bigger, sleeker device, complete with a dock and removable Joy-Con.
Accessory makers have already started showing off grips and cases for the Switch 2. Dbrand, makers of the Darkplates 2.0 for the PlayStation 5, has announced the new Killswitch 2 case with no details beyond a render and the message “Switch 2 Killswitch.” Satisfye put up a Zengrip 2 accessory trailer late last year, immediately took it down, and has a product page. At CES 2025, manufacturer Genki also showed off Switch 2 accessories.
(Credit: Nintendo)
What Are the Switch 2’s Specs?
We don’t know anything concrete about the internals of the Switch 2, but if any supposed hardware leaks are accurate, it’s significantly more powerful than its predecessor. This doesn’t mean it will be as powerful as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (and not even close to the PS5 Pro).
According to Brazilian Pokemon leaker Centroleaks and users on Famiboards who poked through shipping records last year, the Switch 2 will have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. That’s a big jump over the current system’s 4GB/64GB. Centroleaks also claims the new Switch will have an 8-inch screen, which matches the teaser video showing the Switch’s body growing to become the Switch 2.
Another spec sheet leak earlier last year says the new Switch will have an ARM Cortex-A78AE processor with eight cores, a chip for mobile/auto installations that almost certainly isn’t remotely as powerful as the AMD Zen 2 chips that drive the PS5 and XSX. On the other hand, that same spec sheet quotes 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for the new handheld, so both should be taken with grains of salt. Other leaks suggest a 60W power draw for the upgraded dock.
The system will have more power than its predecessor. However, that may mean it’s comparable with a Steam Deck, PlayStation 4 Pro, or an Xbox One X (capable of 4K output). It may even use DLSS to punch above its weight class in frame generation. Nintendo isn’t telling anyone yet, and none of the leaked details fit together.
Image leaks from September 2024 were accompanied by a spec rundown that mentioned that the Switch 2 will house 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which aligns with previous leaks. There haven’t been many more spec leaks since then, and none that debunk those numbers.
(Credit: Nintendo)
Switch 2 Games: What Should You Expect?
A new Mario Kart is a sure thing because it’s the only game Nintendo spotlighted in the trailer. The track doesn’t seem to be any of the 96 tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and the character and kart designs also appear different. Also, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was an upgraded version of a Wii U game, and Nintendo launching a system by highlighting a remake now two generations removed from its original version would be very strange.
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The upcoming Pokemon Legends Z-A will almost definitely be a Switch 2 game, too. It isn’t a new Pokemon generation, but a sequel of some form to the side game Pokemon Legends: Arceus (which, along with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, suffered performance issues on the current Switch). More power will hopefully mean better frame rates and more consistent gameplay.
It’s almost certain that the Switch 2 will get new Kirby, Mario, and Zelda games, though whether any of them will be launched with the system remains to be seen. Metroid Prime 4 is also a strong pick for the Switch 2, and making the game for the new hardware could partly explain its laboriously long development time.
(Credit: Nintendo)
Will the Switch 2 Play Old Switch Games?
Yes! That’s one of the few hard details Nintendo confirmed about the Switch 2 even before it was officially announced. The teaser trailer double-confirms this, explicitly stating that it plays both Switch 2 and original Switch games in digital and physical formats. Not every game will be compatible, but hopefully, the exceptions will be few and far between.
As for software, Nintendo confirmed earlier that it’s retaining the Switch’s Nintendo Account system, which should preserve digital game purchases across generations. Presumably, this means you can download OG Switch titles. Although Nintendo’s history with hardware-based backward compatibility is strong, its digital backward compatibility is not. It’s difficult to track purchases between systems.
The New Nintendo Switch: Everything You Need to Know
What Will the Switch 2 Cost?
Nintendo clarified that it doesn’t want to directly compete with Microsoft or Sony in power or price. Currently, the base Switch costs $300. The handheld-only Switch Lite costs $200, while the Switch OLED costs $350. A known leaker going by MoistyCharlie stated that the new Switch will cost $400. This price could increase if tariffs are enacted for consumer electronics this year, but $400 seems reasonable for now.
Of course, this is all speculation until Nintendo confirms more details about the new Switch. What do you want to see in it? Let us know in the comments below.
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About Will Greenwald
Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics
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