After months of speculation, it’s finally here: Nintendo has officially announced the Switch 2. Here’s what to expect.
Jan. 16 is not only the day that Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was announced, but also the time when Nintendo first showed off the Switch 2.
Nintendo does this via a special YouTube video without too much fuss. What can we infer from the first images?
This is the Nintendo Switch 2
There it is: the Nintendo Switch 2. With a slick YouTube video, the Japanese company announces the new console. What is especially noticeable is that the game console is larger than its predecessor. This rumor has been mentioned frequently.
What also stands out is that the Joy-Cons are just a bit different. They are a bit larger and have a black color, which makes for a more mature look. Also, you attach them in a different way than the predecessor. Instead of sliding them onto the screen, you now snap them on. This seems to confirm rumors that the mechanism works magnetically.
In addition, another rumor has been confirmed: the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. This means that you can play games from the first Switch on it as well. This is even possible with physical cartridges, implying that the Switch 2 will also support games in that format.
Still much unknown
Nintendo makes no concrete statements about the release date in the trailer. The company only reports that the Nintendo Switch 2 is due out sometime in 2025. We will get more information about the console on Wednesday, April 2, during a special Direct in which more details will be revealed.
What else we can glean from the trailer are images of Mario Kart. With this, Nintendo seems to be hinting at a new version of the racing game. It is possible that it will be released at the same time as the Switch 2.
To get acquainted with the Nintendo Switch 2, the Japanese company is organizing a special experience where players can try the console for the first time. This event will take place from April 4 to 6 in Paris. Then it will be Amsterdam’s turn from May 9 to 11. The last scheduled session is from May 31 to June 1 in Seoul. This seems to indicate that the console will not actually be delivered until after June.
