A new Nintendo console does not come around very often. So the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a birthday party, a graduation, and Christmas all rolled into one. Like many celebrations that involve gifts, getting your hands on a Switch 2 might mean some decisions for your wallet and how it fits into your life. After getting the chance to play the Switch 2 for nearly 15 hours across two different times, I wanted to give one last look at Nintendo's next console and if you should try to get one when it officially goes on sale on June 5.
Just so you know, unlike in past years, people who review tech will not be getting units before launch. So this story has as much information as we have right now before sales open later this week. Nintendo has not changed too much from the original Switch's basic design for its new machine. You still get a small tablet with two Joy-Con controllers that come off. It has a kickstand and a dock to connect it to your TV. That said, it feels like Nintendo has made almost every part better in some way. It feels like a true step up from what we are used to.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Hardware Offers Surprising Screen And Controller UpgradesExperience Improved Visuals And New Ways To Play With The Revamped Joy-Cons
The Switch 2 screen is a good bit bigger at 7.9 inches across, up from 6.2 inches on the old one. It also has a clearer picture. While it is not an OLED screen, LCD technology has really come a long way. It is honestly hard to tell the difference, especially if you are in a well-lit room. You also get support for HDR and a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz on the screen itself. This means games look smoother and colors pop more. It is a noticeable improvement when you are holding it.
The Joy-Con controllers, while looking similar, have been made new from the ground up. They are a little bigger. They also have a new magnetic system that makes snapping them on and off very easy. The haptic feedback is better too. It gives a stronger and wider range of vibrations. This HD Rumble 2 feels more real when you are playing games. But that is not all. There is even a new C button for Nintendo's Game Chat feature which I will talk more about later. Plus, there is what might be one of the biggest hardware surprises on the whole console.
Thanks to tiny cameras built into the side of each Joy-Con, when you tilt them sideways, they can turn into computer mice. I was not sure about this idea at first. But I quickly grew to like it. Using the right Joy-Con as a mouse and the left as a normal controller became my favorite way to play shooters like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. As a mouse, the Joy-Con work surprisingly well. They even work when you do not have a flat surface. I tried using them on a couch arm and my pants and it worked quite well. That said, if you really love using a mouse and keyboard for gaming, there is still a gap in how accurate and quick Nintendo's Joy-Con are compared to a normal desktop mouse. Part of this is because when turned sideways, the narrow controllers can sometimes tip over too easily.
Sadly, I cannot answer the big question yet. Will these new Joy-Con suffer from drift like many people experienced with the old Switch? Nintendo says it is using a new setup inside that should be much stronger. But only time and a lot of playing will tell us for sure. While the Switch 2 is much more powerful than its older versions, we might not know exactly how much for a while. Its main specifications include a special chip made by NVIDIA. This chip supports real-time ray tracing and DLSS. Nintendo says it has 10 times the graphics ability of the first Switch. It also has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage built-in. There is also a slot for a microSD Express card to add more storage. It has a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6, and two USB-C ports.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally launching soon with many games and new features. Find out when you can get your hands on the console and what to expect.
The Battery Life And Third-Party Game Support For The Switch 2
A Look At How Long The Console Lasts And What Non-Nintendo Games You Can Play
One of the biggest signs of the Switch 2's improved strength is how many third-party games will be out at launch or in the first month. This includes games like Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, and Hitman World of Assassination. These are all games that developers did not even try to bring to the first Switch because it was not powerful enough. This shows how much the new console has grown. It is a big win for players who want to play many different kinds of games on one system.
The Switch 2 has a 5,220mAh battery. Nintendo says it will last from 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game. In my testing, playing Mario Kart World in handheld mode with the screen on full brightness, I started at 100 percent battery. After 30 minutes, it had 81 percent left. Doing some quick math, that means a total playtime of about two and a half hours. That number might seem a little low. But this was a worst-case scenario. The device was connected to Wi-Fi and the screen was at full power. Some devices also use battery faster when they are at or near full charge. I would not be surprised if tweaking settings could get you three hours or more. And of course, if you play a less demanding game, especially an older Switch 1 title, Nintendo's estimate of six and a half hours seems very possible.
Over time, the original Switch became the system you used mostly for Nintendo games or smaller indie titles. It just did not have the power to keep up with the latest Xbox or PlayStation. While there are some third-party games like Elden Ring and Borderlands 4 planned for the Switch 2, the number of brand new games from Nintendo for the Switch 2's launch is quite small. It is just Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Of course, by the end of 2025, that list will look much better with Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Kirby Air Riders coming out. The Switch 2 also plays games made for the first Switch. This gives it a big library right away. But for anyone without a huge list of games to play, the lack of new launch titles means you are not missing out if you cannot get a Switch 2 right when it comes out.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is just around the corner, and we are getting a lot of details about its launch. Here's a look at what to expect, from its display to the games hitting shelves first.
What To Expect From The Few Nintendo Switch 2 First-Party Launch Games
A Closer Look At Mario Kart World And The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
While I have warmed up to Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour because it is a good way to learn about the console’s features, I still think it should have been a free game that comes with the system. It is not as fun as Astro's Playroom was for the PS5. I would say it is only a must-buy for the most dedicated Nintendo fans. On the other hand, Mario Kart World is everything you want from a new game in one of Nintendo's most famous series. Nintendo says this game has been in the works since 2017. It really shows.
The map in Mario Kart World feels huge. It has tracks that connect to each other and a free roam mode. The full list of characters and vehicles is also very big. There is a fun new trick that lets you get boosts without drifting or jumping onto ledges and walls for tricks. I have even heard that you can use this skill to avoid blue shells. I have not been able to do it perfectly myself yet. At its heart, the game has the same polished driving and item throwing that people love. Just a warning: the game now supports up to 24 players in one race. Being in the middle of the pack is even more crazy than before. You are pretty much asking to get hit with items constantly. Anyway, buying a Switch 2 without Mario Kart World feels like a mistake. If you are planning to buy the bundle with the console and game, know that Mario Kart World comes as a digital download. It is not a physical game card. This is a small letdown because the package saves you about $30 off the normal game price.
The long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here. We are looking at how to get your hands on one, what games to play, and what the future holds for Nintendo's new console.
Important Accessories And Online Services For Your New Nintendo Switch 2
Considering Essential Storage, Cameras, And The Benefits Of Nintendo Switch Online
Beyond the console and games, there are two types of Nintendo Switch accessories you will want to really think about. First, you need a microSD Express card. The Switch 2 comes with much more storage than the first one (256GB, up from 32GB). But games like Mario Kart World are big at 23.4GB. So depending on how many digital games you have, you might run out of space faster than you think. You also cannot use the same basic microSD cards from the old Switch. The Switch 2 only works with the newer microSD Express format. The good news is this memory is much faster. This means quicker game downloads and loading times. The bad news is that microSD Express cards cost more. A 256GB option costs around $60, or closer to $200 for bigger 1TB models.
The other accessory you will want to think about is a camera. You need one if you want to use the Switch 2's new video chat features. Also, some games like Mario Kart World and the updated Super Mario Party Jamboree use the camera. They can put your or your friends' faces into the game for extra fun. Luckily, Nintendo's official camera is pretty affordable at $50. There are also some interesting cameras from other companies, like a cute Piranha Plant-themed one. This adds another layer of interaction to your gaming experience.
There are two levels for Nintendo Switch Online. The basic $20 per year plan lets you play online and use Game Chat. It also gives you access to classic games from the NES, SNES, and Game Boy. You need it for cloud saves too. But Nintendo makes a good case for getting the more expensive NSO + Expansion Pack plan for $50 a year. This plan adds games from the N64, Sega Genesis, and GameCube. More importantly, this premium level also gives you access to updates for original Switch games. This includes The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These updates make the games run smoother. They also add features like the Zelda Notes app and support for HDR for some games. So if you are worried about not having enough games for your Switch 2 at launch, NSO + Expansion Pack feels like a good way to get a lot more games right away.
One of the biggest new additions to the Switch 2 is Nintendo's Game Chat feature. It even has a special chat button. I admit, it is easy to think of it as Nintendo just copying Discord. But based on my experience, Game Chat is simple and easy to use. You can start your own chat room or join another. You can invite people from your friends list. From there you can choose from different sharing layouts and other options. There is a voice-only mode. There are also views that show what your friends are playing in small windows on the screen. Up to four video streams can be open at once. A total of 12 people can be in the same group at the same time. There is even a setting to turn on speech-to-text or text-to-speech with support for many languages. Parents also do not need to worry about who might talk to their children. They can manually approve who can join chat rooms with their kids through Nintendo's Parental Control app. My only small complaint is that some video features are a bit low quality. This makes some edges look jagged when you use face cutout mode or remove your background.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here. We are looking at where you can find the new console, what cool accessories are coming, and which games will kick off its launch.
Final Thoughts On The Nintendo Switch 2 Price And Overall Value
Is Nintendo's New Console Worth The Cost At Launch Or Should You Wait For More Games?
The Switch 2 costs $450. The bundle with Mario Kart World is $500. This might seem like a bit of a shock compared to the $300 launch price of the original Switch. I am not here to tell you if that is too much or too expensive right now. But it is important to remember that $300 in 2017 is worth about $400 today when you account for inflation. And that is before you add in things like taxes. You also need to think about your total spending. This might include the cost of NSO, any games, or accessories. If you are lucky enough to buy more than one, think about that cost too.
When I got my original Switch in 2017, I had no idea it would last me so well for eight years. Personally, I am planning to buy this new one. It looks like a very good upgrade from the previous model. If you were lucky enough to get a pre-order, you probably have already made up your mind. The Switch 2 keeps almost everything people loved about the old one. It adds extra polish and performance everywhere. Yes, by the numbers, it is more expensive than the original. But I would say its better specifications and its ability to work as both a home console and a portable game player put it on equal ground with similarly priced rivals from Microsoft and Sony.
I do wish Nintendo had more first-party games ready at launch. But I think the Switch 2's ability to play old games and its stronger support from other game companies do a lot to fill the gaps until DK Bananza and Metroid Prime 4 come out later this year. That said, not being able to get one at launch should not be a big disappointment. Mario Kart World is the only major new Nintendo game right away. While it is so good that I am sure everyone will play it for the next ten years, those who cannot get it will not be left out. I feel like the real goal for serious gamers is to just get one by the end of the year when more big games become available. Even though the Switch 2 has been great in my previews, it gets much better when you can play it with friends. And it will take time for supply to meet demand.