The Switch is Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time, and widely beloved for its rich library of games—a dramatic turn from the middling Wii U before it. But it’s been eight years since the Switch launched, and fans are getting antsy for Nintendo’s next big thing.
Luckily, it's coming. Following years of leaks and rumors, and even a couple official acknowledgments that the next-gen model was coming, Nintendo formally revealed the Switch 2 console in January 2025—and now we know when we'll be able to buy it and for how much.
From what we know officially and what's been widely reported, the Switch successor will pack in more power than the original while maintaining its winning blend of home console and handheld functionality. Here's everything you need to know about the hardware, launch games, and more.
When will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?
The Nintendo Switch 2 will release on June 5. Pre-orders were originally set to begin on April 9, but were delayed on April 4 "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions."
IGN has since reported that Nintendo plans to begin pre-orders on May 8 via its My Nintendo Store for eligible customers.
Nintendo will hold hands-on events in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas throughout the rest of April, with the last announced event ending on April 27.
Any in-demand console launch is inevitably plagued by shortages, but Nintendo's president has been saying for almost a year now that the company is thinking ahead to how to minimize the impact for the Switch 2 launch. In February 2025, during the firm's latest earnings call, Furukawa reiterated that the company is aiming to discourage scalpers from buying up available stock for the resale market.
“We will take all possible measures based on the experience we have accumulated to date (regarding scalpers and the like). We are making preparations," he said, per Nikkei (via VGC).
Nintendo is allowing Switch Online subscribers with at least 50 hours of logged gameplay to register their interest ahead of pre-orders opening. This is one way that Nintendo may funnel actual players towards purchases, rather than allowing scalpers to buy up launch hardware en masse.
How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
The Switch 2 will launch in the U.S. at a price of $449.99 for the base console, or $499.99 for a bundle that includes a download code for launch title Mario Kart World.
The original Switch launched for $300 in 2017, with the purely handheld Switch Lite rolling out for $200 in 2019. With some premium enhancements (including a larger, bolder screen), the Nintendo Switch OLED model shipped for $350 in 2021.
Nintendo Switch 2 Will Release in June With 'Mario Kart World'
Nintendo shared its launch plans for the Switch 2 console in a long-awaited livestream Wednesday, announcing that the successor to the massively popular convertible game device will release in June. The Switch 2 will hit North American retailers on June 5 and sell for $450 on its own, or $500 with a download code for Mario Kart World included. The base model is $150 more than the original Switch's launch price. Nintendo also shared some details about what new hardware features mean for the Switc...
The Switch 2 will release into an increasingly competitive handheld landscape that includes many PC gaming devices. Valve's popular Steam Deck, for example, starts at $400 for the base model with an LCD screen, while more robust models with OLED panels start at $550.
Switch 2 games will be pricey, however. Mario Kart World will sell for $80 for a digital copy, with international pricing suggesting that physical versions could go for $90. Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, will sell for $70.
Mario Kart World's pricing has been a source of controversy among gamers, as it beats the typical $60 price of most major Switch games, or $70 for larger PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games. However, amid speculation that the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 could sell for as much as $100, it's likely to be the start of a growing trend for major releases.
What will the Nintendo Switch 2 look like?
After a whole ton of speculation, much of which was right on-target, we can finally say: The Switch 2 looks like a bigger Switch, mostly.
Nintendo thankfully isn't ditching the Switch's smash-success hybrid design, delivering a handheld that can easily be docked for TV use. At its core, the Switch 2 doesn't change too much. But there are some notable tweaks and upgrades we're seeing from the trailer and official imagery so far.
First off, the screen and Joy-Con attachment controllers are definitely larger. The screen will be 7.9 inches in size, compared to 6.2 inches on the normal Switch, plus the LCD panel is a crisper 1080p screen with support for HDR and 120 frames per second. When plugged into the new dock, you'll be able to get 4K resolution on a compatible TV—though only at 60fps.
The model shown ditches the bold red and blue Joy-Con designs of the original launch model, instead going for a sleek black or perhaps dark gray scheme with red and blue accents under the analog sticks and in the connective tissue between the console (screen) unit and controllers.
Instead of having these Joy-Con controllers slide into place, they'll plug in via an adapter port and be held in place with magnets. There's a new release button on the back of each Joy-Con that triggers a small plunger to disconnect them from the unit.
Furthermore, there's new sensor on the Switch 2 Joy-cons that lets them be used like a computer mouse on a flat surface, once plugged into the wrist strap attachments.
This confirms speculation regarding mouse-like functionality, enabling more advanced control schemes for games like shooters, strategy sims, and maybe even creative apps. Nintendo even showed the Joy-Cons scurrying around like little techie mice in the teaser trailer.
The new kickstand is also much larger and hopefully sturdier than that of the original Switch, allowing for more freestanding positions. Also, there are now two USB-C ports—one on top and one on the bottom. Either can be used to charge the system, depending on how you're using it, while the other port will enable wired accessories—like USB cameras for the new GameChat streaming feature. GameChat is accessed via the new C button on the right Joy-Con.
And we know that the Switch 2 will continue to use the same physical cartridges from the Switch—yes, enabling backwards compatibility—along with downloadable games. Most Switch games will be playable on Switch 2, though there are some that won't work with the new controllers or that had issues during testing.
How powerful will the Nintendo Switch 2 be?
Nintendo still hasn't shared official specs, as of this writing. The system runs a custom Nvidia processor, and while it's definitely more powerful than the original Switch—given not only the 1080p/120fps and 4K TV compatibility, but also the visually upgraded versions of hit Switch games—we don't yet have numbers to point to.
The Switch 2 will have 256GB of built-in, high-speed storage—that's eight times the local storage from the Switch. And the new console will support microSD Express cards for expandable storage, but not standard microSD cards. Switch 2 buyers will be able to use a transfer feature to move data from an older console.
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Battery life for the Switch 2 is estimated between 2-6.5 hours, depending on how you're using the console. On the low end, that's a step down from the standard Switch, but it's in the same ballpark as the Steam Deck.
What games will the Nintendo Switch 2 have?
The Switch 2 launch will be led by Mario Kart World, which was teased in the original Switch 2 trailer in January. The new Mario Kart looks much like what we've come to expect from the series, but with some ambitious new features.
Drive virtually everywhere in Mario Kart World, a brand-new Mario Kart game releasing exclusively on #NintendoSwitch2 as a launch title! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/zvN4C6l3ft
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
For example, all of the tracks are part of an interconnected world, and you'll even drive between the track locations between races. This also opens the door to a free-roam mode that lets you cruise the terrain, either solo or with pals, plus the tracks themselves look larger in scale and support up to 24 simultaneous racers.
Another major game, Donkey Kong Bananza, is a 3D platform-action game that looks very similar in vibe to the critically acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey from Switch. That one's due out on July 17. Nintendo teased future Switch 2 games like the Zelda action spinoff Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and racing game Kirby's Air Riders.
Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure is coming exclusively to #NintendoSwitch2 on July 17! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/79mWd3gDja
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
A pair of games that were previously announced for the original Switch—Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A—will indeed launch across both systems, each packing an array of visual enhancements on the Switch 2.
The Biggest Games Coming to Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo fully unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 this week, and it sports a bigger LCD screen, updated Joy-Con controllers that can also be used as mice, two USB-C ports, and a better kickstand. It can also play games at 4K resolution on your TV, and 1080p at 120 frames per second on the Switch 2 itself. Of course, none of that would even matter if there weren't some killer games on the way. We'll see a few big ones right at launch, with more to come later—and we've combed through the announcements...
Numerous third-party games have also been announced for the Switch 2, including Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades 2, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, Hitman: World of Assassination, Borderlands 4, and upgraded versions of Sid Meier's Civilization 7 and Hogwarts Legacy.
From Software is also bringing an exclusive multiplayer game called The Duskbloods to Switch 2, and fans of the Dark Souls studio have said it gives a similar vibe as From's PS4 favorite Bloodborne.
And along with some of the retro games already playable on Switch for Switch Online subscribers, the Switch 2 will add games from the Nintendo GameCube console. Initial games include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX, with multiplayer games playable online. Nintendo will also sell a Switch 2-compatible wireless GameCube controller.
As mentioned earlier, most original Switch games will be playable, though there are exceptions. On top of that, Nintendo will also offer upgraded versions of major Switch titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and sequel Tears of the Kingdom, both of which will pack visual enhancements such as crisper graphics and a smoother frame rate.
Nintendo will sell these enhanced versions as standalone games, but also offer paid upgrades for players who own the Switch originals. Other Switch games that are set to get enhancements include Super Mario Party: Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Editor's note: This story was originally published on September 19, 2023 and last updated on April 11, 2025.
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