Nintendo has revealed that the long-awaited Switch 2 console, its successor to the phenomenally successful Nintendo Switch, will launch on June 5 2025, with its key launch game being Mario Kart World, a new open-world entry in the beloved kart racing series.
Like the original, the Switch 2 remains a hybrid device, capable of on-the-go gaming in handheld form, and connecting to a big screen TV at home. However, it’s bringing several key improvements over its predecessor.
After an initial reveal back in January 2025, which itself followed months of leaks, we now know that the Switch 2 will boast a larger 7.9-inch screen in handheld mode. Disappointingly, it’s a return to an LCD display after the gorgeous OLED model for the original Switch, but it does see a bump in native resolution to 1080p and offers HDR for supported games. It’s also capable of a frame rate up to 120fps, though this will again depend on the game.
Audio gets a boost too, with improved speakers, support for 3D audio (via headphones, although a system update is planned to offer support for this through the in-built speakers), and a microphone is built into the top of the console. Despite the bump in screen size and the addition of that mic, the handheld remains only 13.9-mm thick, though no mention was made of its weight.
The console itself also boasts two USB-C ports, one on the top and one on the bottom. The latter will connect to the new dock—more on that in a second—while the top one can be used to either charge the console when used in handheld mode (a small but welcome improvement for anyone who’s struggled to balance holding the Switch with a charger coming out of the base) or to connect peripherals.
The controllers are similarly revised, with the newly-dubbed Joy-Con 2 controllers connecting via “strong magnets”, with a release button to disconnect them. Confirming long-standing rumors, they’ll also be able to be used as mouse controllers, while the SL/SR shoulder buttons incorporated onto them are now larger and easier to press when used as a single controller. Thumbsticks are also larger than before.
The right-hand Joy-Con 2 also sees the addition of a “C” button, which will be used to bring up audio controls, allowing users to access new GameChat features using the mic. GameChat will allow users to speak openly, with noise cancelling tech cutting out background noise, while a new camera peripheral will allow on-screen group playing.
The “C” button will also make an appearance on a new Switch 2 Pro controller, a more “conventional” joypad akin to an Xbox or PS5 controller. It’s worth noting that those GameChat features will be require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, though. Nintendo will also introduce a dedicated, wireless GameCube controller for use with classic games from that console coming to Nintendo Switch Online (but more on that in a moment).
The Switch 2 Dock isn’t a huge overhaul at a glance, but it does boost the Switch 2’s output when connecting to a television. Nintendo says it will allow for up to 4K output and retain HDR support, but doesn’t clarify if this is achieved via upscaling or if it has some added oomph built in. The dock now also includes a fan, for built-in cooling to improve system performance.
Nintendo was cagey on more specific specs though. While it confirmed on-board storage would leap to 256GB—eight times more than the base original Switch model—and that it would be “faster” for reading and writing data, no mention was made of the Switch 2’s processor, amount of RAM, or other hardware metrics. We’ll bring you more info on this as soon as we have it.
The only other key hardware spec was in relation to Switch 2 Game Carts—again, “faster” than those of Switch 1, and now in red to make them stand apart—and that the console will only support microSD Express format cards for storage expansion. That means that you won’t be able to swap other MicroSD card formats directly from your original Switch into the Switch 2—you’ll need to use the System Transfer tool.
While it wasn’t mentioned during the stream, Nintendo has now confirmed that the Switch 2 will retail for $450 in the US. We’ve reached out to Nintendo for more price information in other territories.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
