Today, Nintendo streamed one of its most-anticipated Nintendo Directs focusing on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and games. It showcases new information and features about the console, plus some great game announcements. The games are from both in-house developers and publisher/developer partners. The three “guides” for the presentation are all working on Nintendo Switch 2: Kouichi Kawamoto (Producer), Takuhiro Dohta (Director), and Tetsuya Sasaki (Hardware Design Lead).
To get it out of the way, I will say here that Nintendo Switch 2 will be released in two months, on June 5, 2025.
There’s a lot to get through here, and I will organize everything into sections instead of recapping chronologically. Letsa goooo!
Nintendo Switch 2
Hardware and pricing information
Nintendo Switch 2 features a larger, 7.9″ screen but it remains the same depth as its predecessor. The 1080p screen supports HDR and up to 120 frames per second. Joy-Cons 2 are connected via powerful magnets and each can function as a mouse in compatible games. There is a built-in, noise-cancelled microphone, 3D sound, a more adjustable, two USB-C ports (one on the bottom, one on the top), and 256 GB of storage. The new dock has 4K video support and a fan for ventilation.
When you purchase the console, it includes:
- Nintendo Switch 2 console
- Joy-Con controllers (L + R)
- Joy-Con 2 grip
- Joy-Con 2 straps
- Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Ultra high-speed HDMI cable
- Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter
- USB-C charging cable
The system can be purchased alone or bundled with a digital copy of Mario Kart World. Alone, it is priced at $699 Australian, $629 Canadian, and $449 American. Bundled with Mario Kart World, the console is priced at $769 Australian, $699 Canadian, and $499 American.
Features and accessories
Accessibility: Nintendo Switch 2 includes the accessibility features from Nintendo Switch, plus adds new options to adjust the font size, enable screen-reader, and GameChat speech-to-text options.
GameChat: The right Joy-Con 2 includes a new C button, which links to GameChat. People can play games and speak to each other as if they are in the same room. The handheld system has a built-in microphone for voice chat. You can connect with up to 12 people. Up to four people can share their screen or use the camera (learn more below). Everyone else can only connect via audio. There are safety features, such as the ability to report a person. Children under 16 will need their parent/guardian to approve their use of the GameChat feature using an updated version of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App. GameChat will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership, though it can be used without one until the end of March 2026.
Nintendo Switch 2 camera: Sold separately, this camera lets up to four players to video chat. Again, everyone else can only connect via audio.
GameShare: A new Nintendo Switch 2 feature that allows players to share and play compatible games with others who do not own it. Here’s Nintendo’s GameShare description: “If one person has a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a game compatible with GameShare, that person can invite others to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch system.”
Game Cards: Nintendo Switch 2’s game cards are the same shape and size as its predecessor’s, but they are red instead of black and have better speeds.
Additional Storage: The system is only compatible with Micro SD Express cards.
New Pro Controller: It features the new C button and two new customizable buttons on the back.
Game Compatibility: Nintendo Switch 2 can play dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 games, select Nintendo Switch games (including Animal Crossing New Horizons, Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, and Super Mario Odyssey), and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. More on that below.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games are upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch Games. For example, Super Mario Party Jamboree adds mouse controls, audio recognition, better rumble, and camera compatibility. These games can be purchased physically, digitally, or as an upgrade pack if you own the original version.
Other titles that will be available as Nintendo Switch 2 Editions include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
Nintendo Switch Online news
Nintendo Switch Online is available for Nintendo Switch 2, and it is bringing the classics back once more with its expansion pack. GameCube games will be available! Launch games include The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX. A Nintendo Switch 2-compatible GameCube controller will also be released.
Game highlights
Drag x Drive
Drag x Drive (“Drag and Drive: is a game designed to function with the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. It is an online 3v3 experience that uses both Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls simultaneously to steer, speed up, perform tricks, and dunk.
Drag x Drive will be released for Nintendo Switch 2 in “summer” 2025.
Survival Kids
Fast-paced, co-op survival adventure game Survival Kids is about four kids who find an ancient, tattered map in an old, dusty attic. They set out to sea on a ramshackle boat but a sudden storm throws them into a dangerous world full of mystery. Working together while stranded on a series of unique islands, they will explore, chop, craft, fish, cook and solve puzzles in an attempt to find safety.
From Konami, Survival Kids is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. It will be released on June 5.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
I’m shocked, but it looks like Professor Layton and the New World of Steam really will launch this year. Set one year after Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, it is set in Steam Bison, America. Highly advanced steam engines have ushered in a new world, surpassing even London’s technological achievements. A mysterious incident brings Professor Layton and Luke to Steam Bison.
From Level-5, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam will be released for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.
The Duskbloods
Not much is known about The Duskbloods, but I do know it looks incredible so I had to include it. The brand-new multiplayer game promises that the moontears will flow for one and one alone.
From FromSoftware (ha), The Duskbloods will be released exclusively for Nintendo Switch in 2026.
The full list of games
In-house games
- Mario Kart World — launching on June 5, available alone and bundled with hardware
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour — launching on June 5
- Drag x Drive — launching “this summer”
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (in collaboration with Koei Tecmo and AAA Games Studio) — launching “this winter”
- Kirby Air Riders
- Donkey Kong Bananza — launching on July 17
Publisher/developer partner games
- Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (From Software) — launching this year
- Hades II (Supergiant Games) — launching this year
- Street Fight 6 Years 1-3 Fighters Edition (Capcom) — launching on June 5
- Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion (Marvelous) — launching on September 5
- Split Fiction (Hazelight) — launching on June 5
- FC (EA Sports)
- Madden NFL (EA Sports)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 (Activision) — launching “summer” 2025
- Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition (IO Interactive) — launching on June 5
- Project 007 (IO Interactive)
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Square Enix) — launching on June 5
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut (Sega) — launching on June 5
- Deltarune Chapters 3 + 4 — launching on June 5
- Borderlands 4 (Gearbox) — launching this year
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (Firaxis Games) — launching on June 5 (upgrade pack available)
- WWE 2K, NBA 2K (2K)
- Survival Kids (Konami) — launching on June 5
- Enter the Gungeon 2 (Dodge Roll)
- Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (Devolver Digital) — coming soon
- Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition (CD Projekt Red) — launching on June 5
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Square Enix)
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Capcom) — launching on June 5
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition) (Marvelous) — launching on June 5
- Goodnight Universe (Skybound Games) — launching in 2025
- Two Point Museum (Sega)
- Wild Hearts 2 (Koei Tecmo) — launching on July 25
- Witchbrook (Chucklefish) — launching this holiday season
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S (Sega)
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition) (Marvelous)
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion (Dotemu) — launching this holiday season
- Star Wars Outlaws (Ubisoft) — launching this year
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition (Koei Tecmo) — launching on June 5
- Fast Fusion (Shin’en) — launching on June 5
- Shadow Labyrinth (Bandai Namco) — launching on July 18
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (Sega) — launching on June 19
- Reanimal (THQ Nordic) — launching this year
- Fortnite (Epic Games) — launching on June 5
- Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer (Hamster) — launching on June 5
- Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (Level-5) — launching this year
- Tamagotchi Plaza (Bandai Namco) — launching on June 27
- Human Fall Flat 2 (Devolver Digital)
- The Duskbloods (FromSoftware) — launching in 2026
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I’m sorry but for the first time ever, I couldn’t care less for a Nintendo console. There are videos and essays about the new system out there that explain all of the good and bad issues with this release so I’m not going to waste time trying to remember all the problems I have with this release but it feels to me like there is more negative than positive here. The cost wouldn’t even be one of the issues I have. I mean, it’s definitely weird that Nintendo thinks its console is up there with the PS5 price-wise but I can get over that if it was going to be an improvement on every level over the first Switch.
At least for now, looking at all of the games listed above, all I see are remakes/remasters or games that are already out and available on other systems or will be. The only game I noticed that seems new is Professor Layton and I already have all of the Layton games and do love them but I can’t justify a new system for one game. I really feel they should have waited to release Xenoblade X for the new system. It baffles me why they would come out with it, after all this time, on the system they are going to stop caring about as soon as their new one arrives. Xenoblade X would have been a great system seller for the S2 but now I don’t care about either the game or the new system. I have two copies of Xenoblade X for my WiiU (standard and limited edition box) and they play beautifully still. To think it took this many years to finally come out with a remastered/remade version and it still works on the system that is going out is just bizarre. Sorry if this isn’t making sense.
Also the whole sharing thing is very scuzzy. It’s already been a pain in the @ss to play our games on two Switches here at home for all these years. I wanted them to take away these weird blocks and let me play my games that I paid for in the Switches that I paid for. Now they are creating more blocks and even coming out with cartridges that don’t have the games in them. What in the world is that about? And the physical games costing more than the digital ones… I suppose I could almost understand if the digital ones cost less than they currently do but they are going up by 10 to 20 american dollars so that’s unacceptable. Obviously not all games are going to be that expensive. I get that. But first party will. I have not paid full price on a first party game since the Switch came out because I already felt the prices were insane and now they’re even worse.
But even if I pretend for a moment that I’m a rich person who doesn’t care about money, it’s still insulting to see a new system, from a formerly amazing company, come out looking practically identical to the previous system (which I always found boring and impractical) with no improvements that I can see and only worsening of problems I had with it. Anyway, I’m being very negative but I do actually hope Nintendo does well and people end up loving it. I’m honestly done with them for the foreseeable future. I will continue to play the original Switches that we have because the games I bought for it are exclusive. But I have all my other Nintendo systems too and my Sony systems to keep me happy for many years to come along with Steam, GOG and Epic on PC which have been phenomenal (I’ve always been a physical collector and player but the console companies have beaten us down with wanting to go digital for a while now so… PC it is then).
Sorry for the long rant. I didn’t mean to write so much it’s probable mostly rambling so I really do apologize.