Nintendo Switch 2 Launches on June 5, 2025 at $449.99

Nintendo officially introduced the Nintendo Switch 2 today, and the new console will launch on June 5, 2025, at $449.99. The company shared the main details about the new console during a Nintendo Direct livestream and unveiled a couple of launch titles and other games that will be exclusive to the new system.

The original Nintendo Switch and the third best-selling console of all time, with 150.86 million units sold as of December 31, 2024. With a $449.99 launch price, the Nintendo Switch 2 is $150 more expensive than its predecessor, but it will remain one of the most affordable gaming handhelds on the market.

In the US, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for pre-order from select retailers on April 9, and it pre-orders will open in select EU markets on April 8. The new handheld console will be priced at £395.99 in the UK and €469.99 in the EU.

Nintendo Switch 2 hardware

If Nintendo didn’t reveal what kind of silicon powers the Nintendo Switch 2 today, the company said that the new console has “significantly improved CPU and GPU performance over Nintendo Switch, resulting in faster processing speed and enabling new visually advanced gameplay.” The new console has a bigger 7.9-inch LCD 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support, and it also has the same thickness as its predecessor.

The main hardware changes include a built-in mic for voice chat, a redesigned stand with an adjustable angle, two USB-C ports at the top and the bottom of the console, and better built-in speakers with spatial audio support.

With the new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock that’s included in the box, players can output video at up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120 fps on compatible games and TVs. The console can also upscale games to the intermediary 1440p resolution, just like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the dock also has a built-in fan to cool down the console.

The new Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically to the Switch 2, and they come with bigger SL and SR buttons and larger control sticks. Either Joy-Con 2 controller can be operated like a mouse by sliding it on a surface, and with the built-in gyroscope they can also be used as a Wiimote-like controller. The new C button on the right Joy-Con 2 can be used to access GameChat, but I’ll have more on that below.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will come with 256GB of internal storage (compared to 32GB on the original Switch), and it will support faster read and write speeds. Additionally, Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges will be the same size as Nintendo Switch cartridges, and the latter will work on the new console (with some exceptions).

Nintendo Switch 2 software experience

The main new feature on the Nintendo Switch 2 is GameChat, which can be accessed by pressing the C button. The feature will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription after an open-access period that will last until the end of March 2026.

GameChat will support voice conversations with up to 12 people, and up to four friends will also be able to share their screens in real-time. However, game screen sharing looked really laggy in today’s video demo.

With the optional Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), players will also be able to video chat, and in some games see each other’s faces in place of in-game avatars. Safety features will also help to ensure that players have a safe and secure chat experience on the Switch 2.

With GameShare, Nintendo Switch 2 players will be able to invite up to 3 other players to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch system. GameChat will also let Nintendo Switch 2 owners play the same game online with other Switch 2 players and talk via GameChat.

The Nintendo Switch Online subscription that will be required for GameChat and online multiplayer on the Switch 2 will also provide access to GameCube games via the optional Expansion Pack membership. These emulated games will have a better image quality and higher resolution than the original releases, and the initial lineup will include F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soulcalibur II. Nintendo will also sell a dedicated wireless GameCube controller that will have the same C button as the Joy-Con 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

The biggest Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game that was revealed today is Mario Kart World, which will offer a free roam mode and weather system, similar to Xbox’s Forza Horizon series. Nintendo plans to share more details about Mario Kart World during a dedicated Nintendo Direct on April 17.

Nintendo also teased today Kirby Air Riders, a Mario Kart-style game that will be the sequel to the 2003 Gamecube game Kirby Air Ride. Donkey Kong Bananza, a 3D platformer game with a destructible environment was also another highlight from today’s presentation, as well as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a game set in the Zelda universe.

The Switch 2 will also welcome many high-profile third-party games, including Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades II, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, the EA Sparts FC, Madden NFL, NBA 2K, and WWE 2K series, Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Star Wars Outlaws, and the upcoming Borderlands 4. Nintendo also teased Project 007: a brand new James Bond game coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as The Duskbloods, an exclusive game from Elden Ring developer From Software coming in 2026.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will also support upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch games, which will be called “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” titles. These games will support new features like mouse control and camera support, and they will also run at higher resolutions and framerates.

The list of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games announced today includes Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Metroid Prime 4 Beyond. For people who own the original Nintendo Switch version of these games (either physical or digital), the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be available as a paid upgrade pack.

I’ll update this post if I can find more information about the console’s hardware specs. You can still watch Nintendo’s full Switch 2 presentation on YouTube.