With Donkey Kong Bananza right around the corner and Mario Kart World still in the rearview mirror, things are looking good for the Nintendo Switch 2. The hybrid device improves upon its ingenious predecessor in several ways, especially when it comes to hardware: the Nintendo Switch 2, for all intents and purposes, is a more powerful, more capable, more impressive version of the original Switch, which is exactly what a lot of consumers were hoping for.
But it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses for Nintendo since its most recent console launch. Controversies have abounded, whether they are related to exorbitant video game pricing (Mario Kart World leap-frogged over the $70 price tag and retailed for $80) or Nintendo’s bizarre decision to lock voice chat behind a paid subscription. Indeed, Nintendo has made some questionable decisions with its newest console, but most of the company’s fans can probably get over such oddities. That said, a much more existential challenge is awaiting Nintendo, and if there is, in fact, going to be a Nintendo Direct later this month, it would be the perfect opportunity to face this challenge head-on.
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Mario Kart World is a fantastic launch title, Donkey Kong Bananza looks promising, and Kirby Air Riders is still slated for a 2025 release. In terms of cross-generation releases, gamers also have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to look forward to, as well as Pokemon Legends: Z-A, though these are not true exclusives for the new console. All of this is to say that Nintendo is going to have a good year, but it’s what’s coming next year, and the year after that, that will be more important.
It’s been a whopping seven years since the last 3D Mario game, for instance, and there’s still no word on the next Mario Party, Bayonetta, Animal Crossing, Smash Bros., or Fire Emblem, just to name a few franchises. These are IP that a lot of fans are anxious to learn more about, and that’s not a trivial matter: a strong library of new, exclusive games will matter more than ever for the Nintendo Switch 2, especially now that it’s competing with the likes of the Steam Deck. It would behoove the Japanese games giant to pull back the curtain on some more of its first-party plans, as such legacy franchises are what will keep players invested in the Switch 2 over the next several years.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Riding High Off Its Predecessor, but Nothing Lasts Forever
The Nintendo Switch was a triumph, there’s no doubt about that: Nintendo had just come off the heels of the underperforming Wii U, and the Switch effectively revolutionized handheld gaming in one stroke, becoming the company’s best-selling console of all time. It wasn’t what anyone expected after the Wii U’s flop, and the one-two punch of Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey during the system’s launch year helped solidify it as a must-own piece of tech.
But things are different now, and Nintendo can’t afford to lose its momentum. The Switch 2 is selling well during these early days, but if it doesn’t have the library to back up its fancy new hardware, then the historically rapid rate of its sales up to this point could dwindle in the coming months and years. Of course, Nintendo is probably well aware of this and likely has a number of promising, currently unrevealed projects in the works.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
- Yes
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on June 5, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Ports
- 2x USB Type-C / 3.5mm audio
- App Store
- Nintendo eShop
