The successor to the Nintendo Switch is getting closer and closer. Here’s everything we know so far about Nintendo’s latest console.
Rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 are commonplace. Now that the Nintendo Switch itself is more than seven years old, it’s time for a change.
As the Switch’s lifespan comes to an end, the facts about its successor are becoming clearer. Here’s everything we know so far about the Nintendo Switch’s successor.
Release date
We won’t be getting the Switch’s successor this year. All indications are that the console will appear sometime in 2025. We haven’t gotten an exact date yet, but experts estimate that Nintendo is likely to announce the console in March.
(image: Nintendo)
The original Switch was also announced in March, only to be released toward the end of the year. That’s just in time for the holidays. It is likely that Nintendo will follow a similar pattern for the Switch 2.
Will the Switch 2 really be called that?
Pretty much everyone is going to call Nintendo’s new console the Switch 2. Funnily enough, this name has not been confirmed at all. Looking at previous consoles from Nintendo, just adding a “2” would be somewhat boring.
For example, the Wii got the Wii U, the Nintendo DS got the 3DS and the Gameboy got the Gameboy Advance. For now, though, the name Switch 2 sounds nice and it’s clear to everyone which console is being referred to.
Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be hybrid again
The revolutionary thing about the Nintendo Switch was the hybrid operation of the console. Alternating between handheld and big-screen gaming has never been easier. This functionality is here to stay. And if the leaked hardware of the Switch 2 is to be believed, this feature is not going away either.
In fact, the console is going to look very much like the original Switch. Obviously with improved hardware such as a larger LED screen. But that a docking station is going to come with the console again is obvious.
Joy-Cons to become magnetic
The seamless transition from handheld to screen gaming is, of course, made possible by the Joy-Cons. There has been some criticism of the controllers in recent years. They are said to break too quickly and are not too practical for people with large hands.
(image: Nintendo)
It looks like Nintendo is giving the Joy-Cons a major upgrade. For example, they will be slightly larger than the current controllers and will become magnetic. That should make it easy to connect and disconnect them to the screen.
Compatibility with current Nintendo Switch
Nintendo has confirmed that the current Switch software can be played on the successor. That means all the games you currently own can also just be played on the Switch 2. This is good news because your current collection of games will not be lost.
By the way, there is a good chance that Nintendo will re-release popular games and provide them with a next-gen upgrade. That’s how we’ve seen it now with games from the Wii U re-released for the Nintendo Switch.
Which big games are coming to the Switch 2
Speculation is rife as to which games the Switch 2 will make its appearance. The most obvious games are Metroid Prime 4 and possibly Mario Odyssey 2. The production of Metroid Prime 4 has already been confirmed by Nintendo.
Also, experts say we can expect a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. After all, that game’s counterpart, Skyward Sword, already appeared on the Nintendo Switch. A remake of the Beyonetta games is also frequently mentioned. A definitive launch title has not yet been confirmed.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 approaching, is it still worth buying a Nintendo Switch? You can read what we think about it below:
