Switch 2 the Future

April 4, 2025

Nintendo wrapped up its second Direct in two weeks with the reveal fans have been waiting for. The Switch 2 is real. We’re getting it before GTA VI and we’re getting it June 5, 2025 for $449.99, or $499.99 with Mario Kart World.

The hardware improvements aren’t just a level-up; they’re a whole new class. The Switch 2 doubles the pixel density of the original, keeps the same width with a larger screen, and supports 120 FPS with HDR. It supports 4K in docked mode and features 256 GB of storage, magnetic Joy-Con attachment, and a new C button. You can even lay the Joy-Con flat and use it like a mouse for precise control (so take that, PC snobs).

The Direct highlighted two new features. GameChat, which will be free at launch but later tied to Switch Online membership, adds built-in voice, video, screen share, and noise suppression. GameShare lets you play one copy of certain games on multiple systems, including online, almost like a modern revival of the classic DS Download Play feature. 

Rounding out the Switch 2’s loadout are red game cards that boast faster loading times, the ability to transfer saves from the original Switch, and upgrades for select existing titles like Super Mario Jamboree. Those who missed the sound of a certain bouncing blue cube (yeah, you know the one) will be ecstatic to hear that a GameCube Expansion Pack is also coming to Switch Online Expansion Pack, with support for local and online four-player multiplayer and custom controls. Nintendo is also offering a new wireless GameCube-style controller that includes the new C button. 

In terms of games, Nintendo is also offering a mini-game collection called Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which aims to help players attune to the console. Unlike PlayStation and Steam who debuted similar get-to-know-the-hardware titles like Astro’s Playroom (PS5) and Aperture Desk Job (Steam Deck) for free, Nintendo has said this will be a paid title.

Here’s the full list of confirmed titles:

Mario Kart World, Drag and Drive, Elden Ring, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6, Daemon X Machina, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Hogwarts Legacy, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, Hitman World of Assassination, Project 007, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Deltarune Chapters 1–4, Borderlands 4, Civilization VII, WWE 2K, NBA 2K, Survival Kids, Enter the Gungeon 2, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel Comics Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Kunitsu Game, Pokémon Z-A, Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025), Goodnight Universe, Two Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, The Duskbloods, a new FromSoftware title (Switch 2 exclusive), Kirby AirRiders (directed by Masahiro Sakurai), and Donkey Kong Bonanza ($70).