Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2
Let's-a-go.
It's been over seven years since the Nintendo Switch first launched with its game-changing hybrid design. During its lifetime the Switch revitalised Nintendo's fortunes following the poor sales of the Wii U, and has become one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
Latest figures show the Switch has sold over 146 million units, after first hitting shelves in March 2017, and is the third best-selling console of all time behind the Nintendo DS and PS2. But all good things must come to an end, and with the Switch now in the eighth year of its life cycle, attention is shifting towards what Nintendo has planned next, with the console's successor - which is tentatively being referred to as the Switch 2 - expected to launch in 2025.
If you want to know what to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 then we're here to help. We've rounded-up all the latest rumours on Nintendo's next console, including leaks on the Switch 2 release date, the expected price tag at launch and when it could be revealed. We've also got the latest rumours on the console's design, specs and the games that could be coming to it.
Switch 2 release date and price
The Nintendo Switch 2 won't have a release date before April 2025. That's according to a report which Eurogamer understands to be correct.
It had previously been rumoured that the Switch 2 was targeting a March 2025 release date. But in an episode of the GI Microcast Chris Dring, the boss of GamesIndustry.biz, said developers have been told not to expect Nintendo's next console in the current fiscal year.
Eurogamer can corroborate this as well, with April 2025 the earliest that the Switch successor could end up releasing. The news means the Switch 2 looks set to launch more than eight years after the original Switch, which debuted back in March 2017.
Previous rumours had claimed the Switch 2 could have a release date in late 2024 or Q1 2025. It's thought Nintendo moved the Switch 2 release window to next year so it has the strongest possible launch line-up. If you want to know more, check out our Newscast which discusses why the Switch 2 looks set to arrive in 2025.
In terms of a price tag, the Nintendo Switch 2 is predicted to cost $400 with games priced at $70. That's according to Dr Serkan Toto, a respected analyst and founder of the Tokyo-based consultancy firm Kantan Games.
While the console's launch looks to be happening later than fans had been expecting, when the Switch 2 does hit shelves it should avoid the type of stock shortages that plagued the PS5 and Xbox Series X when those consoles debuted, and in the aftermath.
According to Bloomberg's Takashi Mochizuki, Nintendo could have over 10 million Switch 2 units available to sell in the console's first financial year on sale. This level of stock would make the Nintendo Switch 2 "much easier" to buy than the PS5 and Series X during their first year.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has also said the component shortages which affected PS5 and Xbox Series X stock levels at launch, and led to scalping, won't be an issue for the Switch successor.
Furukawa said: "We believe that the most important countermeasure against reselling is to produce enough units to meet demand. This thinking has not changed since last year. In addition, we are taking into account circumstances in each region and considering what measures can be taken within the limits permitted by law."
Switch 2 reveal window
While an exact date hasn't been confirmed, Nintendo has announced when the Switch 2 reveal will happen by. In the first Switch 2 announcement, Nintendo said the Switch successor will be revealed in the current fiscal year - which finishes at the end of March 2025.
So fans will find out more about the Switch 2 before the end of March 2025. In an announcement shared on X, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa wrote: "This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year.
"It will have been over nine years since we announced the existence of Nintendo Switch back in March 2015. We will be holding a Nintendo Direct this June regarding the Nintendo Switch software lineup for the latter half of 2024, but please be aware that there will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during that presentation."
If you were hoping that this could mean the Switch 2 might get revealed before the end of 2024, as that falls within the current fiscal window, then we have bad news. Analysts have said a Switch 2 reveal before 2025 is unlikely, with Nintendo more likely to wait until early January 2025 before showing its hotly anticipated new device.
Switch 2 specs
In the aftermath of Gamescom last year, we got an idea of what the Switch 2 will be capable of. Nintendo's next console was demoed behind closed doors at the event, according to our sources and a VGC report. The Switch 2 is believed to be capable of visuals comparable to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, supports ray tracing, and the ability to run Unreal Engine 5.
Games that were reportedly showcased running on the Switch 2 were an enhanced version of Breath of the Wild and The Matrix Awakens, an Unreal Engine 5 demo that was previously released to showcase the power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 may be capable of visuals comparable to the current generation of consoles, it doesn't mean the specs will be in the same ballpark. As VGC explained, the Switch 2 demo was believed to be running with Nvidia's DLSS upscaling.
This technology is expected to be a major feature of the custom Nvidia chip that leakers have said will power the Switch 2. Digital Foundry has taken a deep dive into this chipset and discussed how DLSS can be used to upscale native 720p visuals into 4K, among other things.
In terms of raw horsepower, it's thought on paper the Switch 2 could be closer to the specs of last-gen hardware like the PS4 than the current batch of consoles. Emails published during last year's FTC court case with Microsoft indicate Activision Blizzard's former boss Bobby Kotick spoke to Nintendo's Shuntaro Furukawa about the Switch 2 towards the end of 2022.
In the emails, Activision exec Chris Schnakenberg explained the next Nintendo console had "closer alignment to Gen 8 platforms in terms of performance". If that's the case, how could the Switch 2, as has been reported, be capable of ray tracing (even if it's used limitedly) and running Unreal Engine 5? As Digital Foundry explained, looking at just raw horsepower "factors out so much" of what makes a piece of hardware unique. And a clear example of that is the original Switch had similar horsepower to the Wii U and Xbox 360, and we've all seen what that system is capable of.
It's important to point out that, for their part, Nintendo has denied briefing external developers on the Switch 2, and showcasing their next console at Gamescom in 2023. The denial came after the publication of the Activision emails during the FTC court case, and following our report on the behind closed doors demonstration in Cologne. It's also worth pointing out that while what we've heard of the Switch 2 sounds impressive, expectations should be managed.
Switch 2 design and features
The Nintendo Switch 2 is widely expected to be a hybrid console, that can once again be played in portable mode or docked. While this hasn't been confirmed, it is something Nintendo alluded to when they spoke to investors towards the end of 2024. However, fans hoping the next-gen console will come with an upgraded display like the Switch OLED may be left disappointed. According to VGC, the Switch 2 could have an LCD screen instead of an OLED panel to help cut costs. Bloomberg also backed up these claims, and said the Switch 2 will have an eight-inch LCD screen. In comparison, the original Switch features a 6.2-inch LCD screen.
Opting for an LCD panel instead of an OLED will give Nintendo extra wiggle room in the budget, that could be set aside and used to add the additional internal storage the Switch 2 needs for modern games. In terms of what type of storage the Switch 2 could use, Digital Foundry thinks Nintendo could opt for eMMC storage, which is what the entry-level 64GB Steam Deck uses and offers faster load times than conventional hard drives (but not as speedy as an SSD).
Elsewhere, VGC also reported that the next Nintendo console will come with a cartridge slot for physical games. It was claimed that this not only means the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, but developers will also be able to offer enhanced versions of older games. As 2024 drew to a close, Nintendo later went on to confirm that the Switch successor will be backwards compatible, and that Switch Online will also be available on it.
In terms of other features, the Nintendo Switch 2 could come with upgraded Joy-Cons that connect to the main console using magnets. That's according to the Spanish website Vandal, who said the Switch 2 will be replacing the current, fiddly rail system which is used to attach Joy-Cons onto the main Switch and Switch OLED consoles.
Despite this new magnetic system, current Joy-Cons will reportedly still be supported on the Switch 2. That's according to a now-deleted Facebook post from Chinese peripherals manufacturer Mobapad, who said the Switch 2 will also support current Pro controllers. Whether current Joy-Cons, which use the existing rail system, can be attached to the Switch 2 console itself, or can only be connected wirelessly, remains to be seen though. As reported by GamesIndustry.Biz, Mobapad also claimed the Switch 2 will even support the current console's USB-C dock, and described the console as a "refined 'Pro' version of the Switch."
The rumoured, new Joy-Cons for the Switch 2 could also make stick drift a thing of the past. As highlighted by Laura Kate Dale, last year Nintendo filed a patent for a new controller design which features Hall Effect joysticks. Unlike other setups, these sticks use magnets to detect movement and don't cause wear and tear on a stick's sensor. This type of stick has already appeared on the third-party Ni Wizard controller, and if it ends up being used on the Switch 2 it should mean the infamous stick drift issue doesn't cross over to the next-generation.
As fans wait for the official Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, an alleged leaked image of a prototype model has emerged, along with 3D models showing what the console could look like. The images show a console that looks almost identical to the original Switch, but with a larger screen, more curved edges on the Joy-Cons and magnets on the controllers.
After these images were released, a Chinese YouTuber released a video showing a 3D printed model of what the console could look like. The YouTuber said they had this 3D printed model for awhile, but were wary of breaking the news. You can watch the Digital Foundry analysis of these leaks below.
Switch 2 games
Bit-by-bit news has been filtering through about some of the games that could be coming to the Switch 2. As previously mentioned, during the behind closed doors demo at Gamescom last year, an enhanced version of Breath of the Wild was showcased along with the UE5-powered The Matrix Awakens. The souped-up version of BoTW could be a demonstration of the enhanced backwards compatibility Portugese website Universo Nintendo previously claimed the Switch successor is capable of. Alternatively, leaks from reliable insider Midori could indicate a fully-fledged remaster of Breath of the Wild is in the works for the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 being capable of running Unreal Engine 5 is also of particular interest when considering the console's potential games line-up. It gives us an idea of what type of third-party games could be heading to the console in the future, and should open the door to a whole host of UE5-powered games crossing over to Nintendo's new system.
VGC has reported that dev kits for the Switch 2 are already in the hands of key partners, so UE5 games could already be in the process of getting ported over. Speaking of Unreal, it's also been claimed that a PS5-quality version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is powered by Epic's UE4 engine, is up and running on a Switch 2 dev kit. This report is interesting, as it later emerged Square Enix will be "aggressively pursuing" a
Another Unreal Engine game that could make its way to the Switch 2 is Hi-Fi Rush, which is one of the first few Xbox games to go multiplatform. And that may just be the start of things, as Microsoft bosses are reportedly pushing for "no red lines" around which Xbox games launch on rival platforms.
Speaking of Xbox, it looks like the next mainline entry in the hugely popular Persona series could be heading to the Series X/S, along with the Switch 2 and PlayStation. That's according to industry insiders Nate the Hate and Midori again, who claimed Persona 6 will be multi-platform. Midori also claimed that Persona 6 could be one of the games showcased during the Switch 2 reveal.
Elsewhere, in terms of potential first-party releases, if we had to gaze into our crystal ball one contender for the Switch 2 is Metroid Prime 4. Samus' highly anticipated new adventure was announced during the Switch's first year on sale, but news on the project then went quiet for almost the entirety of the console's lifecycle after development was rebooted. But all good things come to those who wait, and seven years after it was announced fans got their first look at Metroid Prime 4 in the Nintendo Direct for June 2024. Samus's next adventure was revealed with a gorgeous gameplay trailer, which also announced the game's full name - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
The next Metroid Prime game is launching in 2025, and has already been confirmed as coming to the Nintendo Switch. But the impressive graphics showcased in the trailer led to speculation that Metroid Prime 4 could be coming to the Switch 2, possibly as a cross-gen title. Nintendo does have form in this department, launching both the Wii and Switch with cross-gen games.
One of the Wii's launch games was Twilight Princess, which also came out on the GameCube, while one of the Switch's launch games was Breath of the Wild, which was also available on the Wii U. We previously discussed the possibility of Metroid Prime 4 coming to the Switch 2, along with what we know about the console, in a Newscast. You can also check out our DF Direct about the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, which includes discussions on the Metroid Prime 4 reveal and some of the things Digital Foundry expects from the Switch 2.
Another first-party title that could be heading to the Switch 2 is Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which was announced during the Pokémon Presents for Pokémon Day 2024. What's interesting about the reveal of this new Pokémon game, which is set in a futuristic version of Lumiose City, is that Game Freak said it will have a "simultaneous" worldwide release on "Nintendo Switch systems" in 2025. This wording could indicate that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be a cross-gen game and a Switch 2 launch title. In the lead up to the launch of Z-A, Pokemon developer Game Freak were hit by an unprecedented "gigaleak" which, among other things, reportedly revealed the Switch 2 codename. It's thought Game Freak have internally been referring to the Switch successor by the codename 'Ounce'.
Besides Pokemon and Metroid, there's another upcoming first-party title that could be heading to the Switch 2. Towards the end of 2024 thousands of people were invited to playtest a new Switch Online feature. When the playtest started, some participants ended up streaming the unannounced game on YouTube and Twitch, with the game reportedly looking like a Minecraft-style building game mixed with a social hub.
Hints have also been dropped about a few upcoming titles could be heading to Nintendo's next console from third-party developers. Layers of Fear developer Bloober Team, who developed the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake, have teased an in-the-works title that has been dubbed Project M. Studio boss Piotr Babieno has spoken briefly about the game, saying it is "extremely important" to their long-term plans, and that it is heading to "Nintendo platforms". The mysterious title, which fans previously thought was linked to a bizarre teaser trailer that ended up being for the next Famicom Detective Club game, will be unveiled later this year.
It also looks like the upcoming remaster of Yooka-Laylee will be heading to the Nintendo Switch 2. A trailer that dropped during October 2024 curiously announced that the game would be coming to "Nintendo Platforms", along with the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The game's developer, Playtonic, took this tease a step further by announcing on X that the game would simply be coming to "Nintendo", with no reference to the Switch and the eyes emoji next to this cheeky hint.
Another developer that looks to have teased an upcoming Switch 2 release is Level-5. The Ni No Kuni and Professor Layton makers have announced their upcoming game Holy Horror Mansion is heading to "secret" platforms. Given Level-5's extensive Nintendo support in the past, this seems to be hinting at a release for the Switch successor. While some developers have subtly teased Switch 2 releases, the makers of My Time At Portia have officially announced their new game as heading to Nintendo's next console. The title, which is called My Time At Evershine, is coming to "future Nintendo platforms yet to be announced".
With the Switch 2 expected to launch in 2025, it also means Nintendo will have some shiny new hardware out in time for the highly anticipated launch of GTA 6. Rockstar's next game is one of the most eagerly awaited games of all time, and it's also due out in 2025. However, according to Digital Foundry, given what we've heard about the Switch 2's specs a port of GTA 6 looks "very, very tricky to pull off". You can watch the full analysis from DF below.
For more Switch 2 coverage, find out how the Nintendo Accounts system will help ease the move to the next-generation Switch, or how it looked for a brief moment like the Switch 2 release date could have been leaked during CES 2024. Alternatively, if all this talk of the Switch 2 reveal is bringing back memories of the original console's launch, why don't you take a look at how we covered the big reveal back in 2016, along with Digital Foundry's Nintendo Switch review from 2017.