After months of speculation and rumors, Nintendo has finally confirmed as much as it is willing to share about the new Switch 2 console. Starting with the most important part, the Switch 2 will officially release on June 5, 2025 with a $449.99 price tag in the U.S. for just the console. At launch, a Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle will be available for $499.99, though it’s a digital download for Mario Kart World. Preorders will begin on April 9.
The Switch 2 sports a 7.9-inch screen, which is noticeably larger when compared to the 7-inch screen on the Switch OLED and the 6.2-inch screen on the standard Switch. It is, however, an LCD screen that has HDR support and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which means 120 fps performance. When docked, the console will support up to 4K resolution for compatible games, as well as HDR TV support. The system’s thickness remains the same as the current Switch. On the back is a large, sturdy stand that can be moved freely, while inputs include a pair of USB C ports (one at the top, one at the bottom) and a headphone jack. The system will come with 256 GB of storage, and those who want to expand storage will need microSD Express cards. That means if you have a standard microSD card in your current Switch, you’ll need to purchase a new memory card.
Surprisingly, Nintendo didn’t spend much time detailing the Joy-Con 2 controllers’ new mouse control support, but likely that is because it just makes sense. As you can imagine, both Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used similar to a mouse when placed on a surface. It did confirm that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will support mouse controls on the Switch 2. Nintendo also debuted the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, which has a very similar design to the current Switch Pro Controller, but adds the new “C” button and two buttons on the back, “GR” and “GL”. These additional back buttons bring the Switch 2 Pro Controller in line with other premium offerings for other consoles, like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and PlayStation’s DualSense Edge. For some, the most exciting news will be the built-in audio jack on the controller.
As for the “C” button on the right Joy-Con 2, it will access the chat menu for GameChat, a new feature that allows players to communicate with friends and family while playing a game. Players won’t need a separate headset or mic as the Switch 2 has a built-in mic. Those who have used Discord will find GameChat similar—it even has an easy way to share your screen to everyone else in the room. Nintendo will also offer a separate Nintendo Switch 2 camera so you can add live video to the feed. A Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat, but it will be available without a membership for a limited time until March 31, 2026.
Another feature Nintendo showed off was GameShare, which allows one user to share a game with up to three other systems at a time, so players can play together when they don’t own the game. Not all games will support GameShare, but we expect many local co-op games will.
The presentation also confirmed that several games will have Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, including existing titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Some of these games will get visual and performance upgrades with enhanced resolution and better frame rates, while other games like Kirby and the Forgotten Land will actually get new content. These games will require a separate Upgrade Pack purchase.
