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Nintendo Switch 2
Hybrid video game console From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Nintendo Switch 2[b] is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo, released in most regions on June 5, 2025. Like the original Switch, it can be used as a handheld, as a tablet, or connected via the dock to an external display, and the Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used while attached or detached. The Switch 2 has a larger liquid-crystal display, more internal storage, and updated graphics, controllers and social features. It supports 1080p resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate in handheld or tabletop mode, and 4K resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate when docked.
Games are available through physical game cards and Nintendo's digital eShop. Some game cards contain no data but allow players to download the game content. Select Switch games can use the improved Switch 2 performance through either free or paid updates. The Switch 2 retains the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, which is required for some multiplayer games and provides access to the Nintendo Classics library of older emulated games; GameCube games are exclusive to the Switch 2. The GameChat feature allows players to chat remotely and share screens and webcams.
Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 on January 16, 2025, and announced its full specifications and release details on April 2. Pre-orders in most regions began on April 5. The system received praise for its social and technical improvements over its predecessor, though the increased prices of the console and its games library were criticized. More than 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles were sold worldwide within four days of release, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo console.
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History
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Background
Nintendo released the original Switch in March 2017, which was developed in the wake of the commercial failure of the Wii U.[2] The Switch was promoted as a hybrid console with handheld, tabletop, and docked configurations, with Joy-Con controllers that can be separated from the main unit for these configurations. Compared to the other consoles on the market at the time, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the Switch had less-powerful computational hardware to keep the unit's price low, but sufficient to power the type of games Nintendo typically publishes; part of the company's long-term Blue Ocean Strategy to differentiate itself from the other console manufacturers.[3] The Switch became Nintendo's best-selling home console, and by 2023, the third best-selling gaming console overall, following the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.[4] At the time of the Switch 2's announcement in January 2025, over 146 million Switch units had been sold worldwide.[5]
Development
Internally at Nintendo, pre-production of its next console started shortly after the Switch's release, with a team reviewing the performance limitations of the Switch and identifying what hardware changes could be made to address them. This also provided enough time to plan out the hardware as to be able to ship software development kits (SDKs) to game development partners.[6] Formal development of the Switch 2 started in 2019, led by producer Kouichi Kawamoto, hardware director Takuhiro Dohta, and technical director Tetsuya Sasaki.[6] Though past Nintendo consoles have generally featured a new type of hardware experience, such as the hybrid mode of the original Switch, the Switch 2 team found that developers had adapted to writing their games toward the Switch mode and decided it would not be helpful to introduce significant hardware changes, and instead focus on computation performance improvements to give developers more tools.[6] Hardware components were selected to balance performance and battery life along with expanding the memory to support newer games.[7]
As Nintendo prioritized improving the hardware, backward compatibility was more complex to implement than it had been for consoles such as Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, which have similar hardware to their predecessors. The Switch 2 uses a hybrid of software and hardware emulation to avoid a more taxing software-only solution.[8] The name was partially influenced by the backward compatibility. Nintendo also considered "Super Nintendo Switch", similar to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System following the Nintendo Entertainment System, but decided this would diminish the compatibility feature.[8]
The new Joy-Con controllers were redesigned from the ground up. With the larger screen on the console, simply scaling the older Joy-Con to match size was not sufficient as their longer size would make it more difficult to hold and trigger the shoulder buttons. As such , Nintendo included more rounding-off of the corners and extended the shoulder buttons further towards the side of the controller. The HD Rumble feature was improved and bypassed the limits of the original Joy-Con, heightening its intensity to levels that are comparable to those on GameCube controllers.[7] Rather than the rail system used on the original Switch, the new Joy-Con are connected using magnetic connections. Nintendo had originally explored magnetic connections for the first Switch model but the connection was determined to be too wobbly, and they altered the design to the rail approach. With the Joy-Con 2, they refined the magnetic approach, making the connection stronger and easily removed with a mechanical release system. With this new system, the Joy-Con now audibly snap when the magnetic connection is made, which Dohta said helped to symbolize the Switch branding.[7]
The capability of the Joy-Con to be used as computer mice was an idea introduced by Kawamoto who also played games on personal computers, as mouse control would not only allow the Joy-Con to help replace the screen's touch controls when the console is docked, but also could be used to introduce new forms of gameplay. Kawamoto said this idea represented Gunpei Yokoi's concept of "lateral thinking of withered technology" that has been part of Nintendo's approach for several decades.[7] The Pro Controller was also similarly redesigned for the Switch 2, smoothing out the motions of the joysticks, and adding an audio jack and two programmable buttons in the grips that the player can customize.[7]
The GameChat feature, which allows players to chat, and to share screens and webcams, is a result of Nintendo developers' own frustration with existing tools they had to use in game development during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns. Existing software solutions allowed them to chat and use webcams but could only share one screen at a time, and they found a makeshift solution by having their webcams pointed at their screens so that all screens were visible at all times. Kawamoto said that it felt "like we were all in the same place, each bringing our own console to play the game together, which was a lot of fun", leading to the development of the GameChat feature.[9] The GameChat feature was developed to minimize the use of system resources that would take away from game performance, and some functionality is based on the same streaming technology that was developed for the Wii U and Wii U GamePad.[10]
Industry rumors
Industry rumors began as early as 2019 of a high-end model of the Switch, often nicknamed the "Nintendo Switch Pro" in the media; many of the speculated features became part of the OLED Switch model, released in 2021.[11][12] Nintendo affirmed it was working on its next gaming system to its investors in October 2020.[13] Digital Foundry said that Nintendo may have been working on a "pro" model for the Switch, but by December 2022, it appeared to have fully transitioned all development towards the Nintendo Switch successor.[14] Court reports from the 2023 FTC v. Microsoft case, which challenged Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, included reference to Activision developing towards the "Switch NG".[15]
In a June 2023 shareholder question-and-answer session, the Nintendo president, Shuntaro Furukawa, said Nintendo sought to make the transition to its successor smooth for consumers, and was planning to retain the Nintendo Account system.[16] Backward compatibility was a key part of the design; Nintendo said, "Nintendo Switch is played by many consumers, and we decided that the best direction to take would be for consumers to be able to play their already purchased Nintendo Switch software on the successor to Nintendo Switch."[1]
Video Games Chronicle reported in July 2023 that Nintendo had sent out SDKs for its next console to development partners and that Nintendo wanted to avoid the shortages that the ninth generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, had suffered at launch.[17] Nintendo showcased the Switch 2 in a private presentation during Gamescom in August; among the tech demos were a version of the Switch game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), running at a higher frame rate and resolution, and the Unreal Engine 5 demo The Matrix Awakens (2021).[18][19]
On May 7, 2024, Furukawa acknowledged the development of the Switch's successor and said more information would be revealed later that fiscal year.[20] Rumors of a new console persisted through 2024. At the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in early January, several third-party vendors showcased accessories scheduled for the Switch successor, leading Nintendo to issue a statement that none of the mock-ups used at the show were official.[21]
On September 18, 2024, supposed images of the system were leaked on Reddit, with details matching previous reports.[22] In October 2024, Game Freak suffered a significant data breach of Pokémon development materials, including references to the tenth generation Pokémon games, and to the Switch's successor, codenamed "Ounce".[23][24] The American video game accessory company Genki showed detailed renders of the console during the Consumer Electronics Show. Nintendo filed a lawsuit against them in May 2025.[25]
The Switch 2 was initially expected to launch in late 2024. In February, Bloomberg News reported that Nintendo had informed publishers it was delaying the release into early 2025.[26] The Nikkei, corroborating Bloomberg, reported the delay was to prevent shortages and scalping.[27] Nintendo's shares fell by nearly six percent following the reported delay.[26] In August 2024, GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer reported that the console would not launch before April 2025.[28] The game publisher and accessory maker Nacon anticipated that it would be released within the first half of Nintendo's fiscal year beginning in April and ending September 30, 2025.[29]
Announcement and promotion
Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 on January 16, 2025, introducing its new design and magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and brief footage of a new Mario Kart game,[30] which was later announced as Mario Kart World (2025).[31] A one-hour Nintendo Direct presentation about the Switch 2 premiered on April 2, with Nintendo Treehouse presentations on Switch 2 games airing in the following 2 days.[32][33][34][35] Nintendo hosted a series of worldwide events from April through June to allow players to try the console before release.[36] Furukawa said Nintendo was making preparations for the Switch 2's release to prevent excessive sales to resellers and scalpers, which had been a problem with previous Nintendo hardware releases.[37]
As part of the promotion for the Switch 2, Nintendo of America partnered with Major League Baseball and the Seattle Mariners to have the Nintendo and Switch 2 logos be featured on the Mariners' team jerseys for the 2025 season.[38] In April 2025, Nintendo of America released a commercial for the console starring actor Paul Rudd, directly referencing a commercial promoting the SNES that he also starred in 34 years prior.[39] During the March 2025 installment of Nintendo Direct, Nintendo simultaneously announced and launched the Nintendo Today! application for iOS and Android devices, intended to act as the primary news and calendar hub for delivering information on various Nintendo platforms, including daily updates related to Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, software, services and forthcoming events following the Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct.[40][41]
Pre-orders
Months before the release, Nintendo stockpiled "hundreds of thousands" of units in the United States to avoid potential increased tariffs enacted by the Trump administration and reduce the likelihood of shortages.[42] Nintendo also shifted production and sourcing of parts away from China and towards Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, to avoid tariffs levied specifically against China.[42][43]
To avoid reselling issues in Japan, a region-locked Switch 2 is being sold at retail in the country at a reduced cost, with a region-free version to be released via Nintendo's online store only.[44] In other regions, while pre-orders have been made available through retailers, Nintendo established a pre-order waitlist to purchase directly from Nintendo, but requiring users to have a Nintendo Account and established playtime, among other requirements.[45]
Pre-orders began in most regions on April 5, 2025. Shortly after the tariffs were announced on April 2, Nintendo delayed preorders in the US "to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions."[46] A similar delay was also made for Canadian pre-orders as "to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the US".[47] Nintendo later affirmed that pre-orders for the console in the United States and Canada would start on April 24, 2025, with the console and console bundle with Mario Kart World remaining at the same price for launch, while some accessories saw an increase in price ranging from US$5 to $10.[48][49]
Pre-orders for the US and Canada began on April 24 at 12 a.m. ET. Shortly after pre-orders went live, retailers Walmart, Target, and Best Buy reported widespread website errors and difficulties due to the overwhelming amount of users attempting to reserve a pre-order, with console stock reportedly going out nationwide within minutes.[50][51][52] Gaming retailer, GameStop, opened preorders later that day at 11 a.m. ET while also reporting glitches on the site.[53]
Nintendo cautioned Japanese consumers that over 2.2 million people had registered for the opportunity to pre-order the Japan-only console model through the company, far exceeding their expectations, and that they would not likely be able to meet all of these pre-orders by its launch date; those not selected would be automatically carried into similar programs for later shipments of the console.[54] Stores in Japan used lotteries and similar mechanisms to handle the limited supply of consoles during its launch period.[55] Nintendo issued a similar caution for those in the US pre-ordering through its store.[56] Retailers began receiving shipments in late May 2025. Some who had pre-ordered Switch 2 consoles posted footage two weeks prior to the release, though they were unusable without a day-one patch.[57][58]
Release and pricing
The Nintendo Switch 2 had a global release on June 5, 2025. This included Japan and North America, most European territories, Australia and New Zealand,[59] Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, South Africa, Hong Kong,[60] Saudi Arabia[61] and South Korea.[62] Later release dates have been scheduled for various other territories.[c] The Switch 2 release in China, originally scheduled with the global June 5 release, was delayed indefinitely.[65]
The Switch 2 was launched at ¥69,980 in Japan, including sales taxes.[66] In North America, the console was priced at US$449 in the United States[67][68] and CA$629 in Canada.[69] In Europe, the price was €469 in most of the eurozone[70] and £395.99 in the United Kingdom[71] (both of these prices include VAT). In Oceania, the console is priced at A$699 in Australia (including GST).[72] In Japan, in addition to the regular, "international" model of the console, a second "Japan Only" version was offered for sale at the significantly lower price of ¥49,980.[73] However, unlike other Switch 2 models that can be used globally, this version operates only in the Japanese language and can only use online services registered to Japanese residents.[73]
The launch price was higher than industry predictions. Prior to launch, analysts at Bloomberg L.P. had predicted that in the US, the Switch 2 would launch at a starting price of $400 or higher, pending the impact of tariffs on foreign goods imported into the US that took effect in February 2025, yet they affirmed that the console was projected to have a strong launch aided by exclusive software and backward compatibility with the Switch library.[74] When the Switch 2's US price was revealed as US$449.99 – 50% higher than that of the original Switch at its launch – it was criticized for being too high.[75] Select Switch 2 games were announced to be retailing at US$80, which drew additional criticism.[75][76] The price point makes the Switch 2 Nintendo's most expensive console in over 30 years when adjusted for inflation.[77]
Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser stated that the US price of the Switch 2 was not based on tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on April 2, 2025, as several publications had suggested;[77][75][78] but instead simply due to the unit being a premium console alongside the three Switch consoles it will continue to sell.[79] Bowser stated that shipments of the Switch 2 had already been stockpiling globally for release by this point, and thus was unlikely to affect the release date of the Switch 2.[80]
Though priced relatively high in the US, other analysts have ruled out US-imposed tariffs as the major factor in the high price of the Switch 2, citing the already rising prices of video game consoles and the fact that Canada and countries in Europe also have similar price points (although, when compared on a pre-tax basis, European pricing is actually lower).[81][82][83] Writing in Aftermath, games journalist Luke Plunkett opined that the post-pandemic inflation surge and consequent cost-of-living crisis was likely to impact the console's sales.[84] Some fans have campaigned for Nintendo to lower the price of the Switch 2 and its games via social media platforms and in the audience text chats during Nintendo's live streams.[85][86] Former Nintendo public relations managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang criticized Nintendo for omitting the pricing details from the reveal stream, feeling that it created confusion as consumers had to search for that information elsewhere, thus exacerbating the negative response.[87][88][89]
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Hardware
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The console in handheld mode with the Joy-Con 2 controllers attached
The console while docked with Joy-Con 2 attached
Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 is a hybrid console, which can be used as both a handheld console or placed into a dock connected to a television or monitor to be played like a home console. The unit maintains a similar form factor as the Switch, and consists of the main body that includes the screen and primary hardware, and two Joy-Con 2 controllers that can be attached to the main unit's sides in handheld mode, or can communicate wirelessly to the main unit when docked.[90]
Console
Along with the existing ports from the Nintendo Switch's design, which includes a USB-C port on the bottom which also serves as its power source and connector within a dock, a headphone jack, and a cartridge slot, the Nintendo Switch 2 includes a second USB-C port on the top of the unit,[91][92] and an internal microphone with noise cancellation.[42] With the Joy-Con 2 controllers attached, the console measures 272 mm (10.71 in) in width, 116 mm (4.57 in) in height, and 13.9 mm (0.55 in) in depth, and weighs 534 g (18.8 oz).[93]
The Switch 2 uses a 7.9 in (20 cm) LCD touchscreen with 1080p resolution (279 ppi) and HDR, which supports a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.[42] When docked, the console can output up to 1440p at 120 Hz or 4K resolution at 60 Hz with HDR.[94] The original Switch included an OLED revision, and while Nintendo had considered using OLED for the Switch 2, hardware design lead Tetsuya Sasaki said they opted to use LCD due to the advancements in LCD technology including support for HDR.[95] Unlike the first-generation model, the dock also contains a built-in Ethernet connector and a cooling fan.[96][92]
The system on a chip, the Nvidia Tegra T239 (codenamed "Drake"), features an octa-core ARM Cortex-A78C CPU, a 12 SM Ampere GPU (with 1,536 Ampere-based CUDA cores), and a 128-bit LPDDR5X memory interface, rated for 8533MT/s.[97] 12 GB of this memory is present over 2 × 6 GB chips and provides around 102 GB/s (docked) and 68 GB/s (handheld) of bandwidth.[98] The Switch 2 supports Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology and ray tracing,[99] and supports variable refresh rate through Nvidia G-Sync in handheld mode through tensor and RT cores.[100] It supports Wi-Fi 6.[101][42]
The Switch 2 includes 256 GB of internal storage, a significant increase from the 32~64 GB of the first-generation Switch.[42] Storage can be expanded using microSD Express cards of up to 2 TB, allowing higher read and write speeds than the microSDHC and microSDXC cards used in the first-generation model. The Switch 2 only supports loading games from microSD Express cards; though it still supports accessing microSDHC and microSDXC cards, they can only be used for viewing screenshots and videos.[42][102]
The Switch 2 is primarily powered in handheld mode by an internal, non-removable 5,220 mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery.[103][92] Nintendo estimates the battery life to be between approximately 2 and 6.5 hours,[104] though noting that these are rough estimates and the actual duration depends on the specific software being used.[105] The battery can be charged via either USB-C port. The estimated recharge time is approximately 3 hours when the system is in sleep mode.[94]
On January 1, 2025, alleged images of the system's motherboard appeared.[106] Richard Leadbetter of Digital Foundry concluded that, rather than porting the Ampere-based architecture to a smaller process node, it is more likely that the existing low-cost Samsung 8 nm process node is being used. While such a process poses difficulties for performance and battery life, Leadbetter believed these can be relieved due to the nature of fixed hardware platforms, which allow for custom optimizations to be implemented.[107]
Outside Japan, the Switch 2 does not use regional lockout. In Japan, Nintendo sells the standard international multi-language model and a cheaper model that only works with Japanese Nintendo Accounts and cannot be set to other languages. This was interpreted as an effort to appeal to the Japanese market and combat the weak Japanese yen.[108][109]
Hardware protections
While the worldwide model of the Switch 2 is region-free, the console includes technology that prevent users from using unauthorized, third-party hardware in association with the switch. The Verge reported that the USB-C ports on the Switch 2 include some method of encryption that prevent third-party docks from communicating with the console and preventing their use.[110]
In May 2025, Nintendo announced an update to the Nintendo Account user agreement and privacy policy which, if broken by users of the Switch 2, could "render the Nintendo Account Services and/or [sic] the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part".[111] This was expected to be in an attempt to stop piracy and emulation of games.[111] The agreement also pertains to installing unauthorized software or modifying the hardware to make it run faster.[112] As a result of this policy, players that have used third-party flash drives in the Switch 2 to sideload games have found their Nintendo Online accounts banned and the console unable to connect to the service. These bans appear to be permanent, preventing the user from connecting to online services, cloud saves, and the eShop, and appear irreversible by Nintendo.[113][114][115] Some second hand buyers of the Switch 2 found that these bans prevented them from registering the system to their own accounts due to the devices being rendered unable to connect to Nintendo's network before their acquisition.[116] This has led to Brazil's Consumer Protection and Defence Program, a consumer-rights group, to file a legal complaint against Nintendo, as this type of action violates consumer laws in their country.[117]
Joy-Con 2
The Joy-Con 2 controllers have an updated design from the original Joy-Con. Besides being larger to match the larger console, they attach magnetically by snapping to the sides rather than using a rail system. They are removed using a small button on the Joy-Con 2 that causes a cylinder inside to extend and push off from the main unit.[118] Nintendo stated that their analog sticks would be larger, smoother, and more durable;[118] early reports suggested the new controller thumbsticks would use Hall effect sensors to address the drift issues that the original models had due to dust collecting within the analog system,[119] but Nintendo confirmed in April 2025 that Hall effect sensors are not used.[120]
The SL and SR buttons on the side of the controllers have been enlarged, and a new "C" button is present on the right Joy-Con 2 to activate the new "GameChat" feature.[118] The controllers are also able to be used like a computer mouse in supported games by sliding them on their side.[118] Both Joy-Con 2 controllers have a 500mAh battery that is estimated to last 20 hours. The controllers are recharged when connected to the console or by using a third party charging dock or grip.[121] The infrared sensor from the first-generation Joy-Con has been removed.[118]
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Software
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Distribution
As with its predecessor, games for Switch 2 can be obtained in physical and digital formats, with physically distributed games being stored on proprietary Game Cards that share a similar form factor with those used on the first-generation Switch.[122] Game Cards for Switch 2 games will be colored in red to differentiate them from those released for the first-generation Switch (dark grey).[96] Like Switch game cards, Switch 2 game cards are coated in a non-toxic bitterant to prevent children from trying to eat them.[123]
Beginning on Switch 2, the physical release of some games may ship with Game Cards that only contain a digital license and no game data ("Game-Key Card"); when inserted, the game's files will be downloaded to the console. Unlike digital purchases, the Game Card must still be inserted to launch the game. Game-Key Cards are an evolution of a similar practice that was used by some third-party Switch games, which only contain a portion of the game's data on their cards due to file size constraints, and similarly required downloading the remainder of the data.[124][125][126] Nintendo said that the introduction of game-key cards was to help future-proof the Switch 2 for many years, as that games keep growing larger and surpass the storage limit of game cards, using game-key cards still allows such games to be sold through retail in addition to digital distribution.[127] Games that come on a Game-Key Card are not locked to a Nintendo account.[128]
Online services
The Nintendo Switch Online service is retained on the Switch 2,[129] Via the subscription-based service, users on the Switch 2 can access the Nintendo eShop to purchase new games digitally, connect to friends as to play with them in multiplayer games, and allow for cloud saves of their game data. As part of the existing legacy games service on Switch Online, a selection of games from the GameCube are distributed on the Expansion Pack, exclusively for Switch 2 under the rebranded "Nintendo Classics" moniker.[130] The collection launched in tandem with the console in June 2025, and initially includes The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II (both 2002), and F-Zero GX (2003). Other games, such as Luigi's Mansion (2001), Super Mario Sunshine (2002), Chibi-Robo! and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (both 2005) will be added procedurally at unspecified dates.[131] Additional features applied across the Nintendo Classics catalog are exclusively supported on Switch 2, namely CRT filters and a rewind function being added to existing Nintendo 64 games on the service.[132] Nintendo also released a new iteration of the GameCube controller alongside the platform's addition to Nintendo Classics, available exclusively to existing Switch Online subscribers.[133] Switch 2 exclusive games cannot be purchased using earlier Game Vouchers that had been available on the original Switch.[134]
A voice chat service known as GameChat allows users to conduct voice chats and screen sharing with friends. GameChat supports video calls using an optional webcam accessory. It is accessible via a "C" button on the right Joy-Con 2.[135] However, chat is free to use until March 31, 2026, after which point a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use the feature.[136] Smartphones such as the iPhone 15 and 16, as well as Android phones that support DisplayPort Alternate Mode, can be used as a webcam on the Switch 2 with a couple of inexpensive cables. [137][138]
Library
The console's reveal trailer in January 2025 was accompanied by early footage of Mario Kart World, later announced to launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5.[5][139][140] First-party Switch games for 2025 such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A were made simultaneously available on Switch 2 as "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games, with graphical and performance enhancements.[141][142] The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour game was revealed in the April 2 Direct, releasing as an online exclusive alongside the console launch.
Third-party support
A survey conducted at the 2024 Game Developers Conference in January 2024 inquired 3,000 independent and AAA developers on game creation and which platforms they were engaging, of which 250 individuals identified themselves as already producing games slated for Switch 2, and a further 32% of those surveyed expressed interest in developing for the console.[143] In May 2024, Nintendo announced their intentions to acquire Miami-based developer Shiver Entertainment from its prior parent company Embracer Group, with the company detailing in a statement that the merger enabled them to procure specialized in-house resources for the development and porting of software, while allowing the studio to continue commitments to Switch and other platforms.[144] Bloomberg News later reported that the acquisition was for bolstering Nintendo's efforts in securing games from third-party developers on Switch 2, with Shiver assisting external developers in the optimization of such games from competing platforms.[145] In September 2024, developer Pathea Games announced My Time at Evershine, the spiritual successor to My Time at Portia (2019) and My Time at Sandrock (2023).[146] In October 2024, Playtonic Games announced their upcoming remaster Yooka-Replaylee would be released on "Nintendo platforms."[147]
During the Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct in April 2025, multiple publishers pledged support for the console, including Square Enix, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, CD Projekt Red, Bandai Namco, Sega, Supergiant Games, Warner Bros. Games, Activision Blizzard, and IO Interactive. An initial lineup of 46 games from publishing partners was confirmed, with 17 slated to coincide with the console's launch in June.[148][149] Notable third-party releases revealed during the stream included Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Hades II, Borderlands 4, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Elden Ring - Tarnished Edition, Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, Hitman: World of Assassination, 007 First Light, Split Fiction, Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion and Street Fighter 6.[150][151][152] Both EA and Take-Two Interactive also formally committed to bringing their respective sports franchises, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, WWE 2K and NBA 2K to the platform.[153][154] Nintendo was also revealed to be collaborating with partner studios on exclusive games for the system, such as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment with Koei Tecmo,[155] and The Duskbloods with FromSoftware.[156]
Microsoft Gaming's Phil Spencer said that they will support the Switch 2 with ports of their Xbox games, as part of their multiplatform distribution strategy.[157] Such games reportedly include ports of Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.[158][159][160] Microsoft had previously signed an agreement with Nintendo to bring future entries in the Call of Duty franchise to their platforms as part of their acquisition bid for Activision Blizzard, which became legally binding in February 2023.[161][162]
Publisher Ubisoft commented that they were "in love" with the console following its reveal, and are rumored to be bringing Assassin's Creed Mirage and Assassin's Creed Shadows to the system during its launch window.[163][164] Weicong Wu, producer of Marvel Rivals, expressed interest in bringing the game to the Switch 2, having stated that the team has already contacted Nintendo and possessed dev kits. However, he has stated that it will only come to the Switch 2 if the game's performance is satisfactory.[165]
Backward compatibility
The Switch 2 is backward compatible with most Switch games, both physically and digitally.[129][166] Some games are not directly compatible with the hardware changes in the Switch 2 and the Joy-Con 2 controllers, but may still be playable using the Joy-Con from the original Switch, such as games that require IR functionality.[34][167][168] For most other Switch games, they are playable using a type of emulation akin to a translation layer since the Switch 2 does not have the same hardware as the Switch. Hardware director Takuhiro Dohta described the solution as "somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility" and Tetsuya Sasaki said that the method used is "performed on a real-time basis as the data is read".[169] This method allows Switch games to have Switch 2 features added, such as GameChat support, when played on the Switch 2.[168] As of May 2025[update], of the 122 Nintendo-developed games tested, all were found to be compatible except the Nintendo Labo VR Kit, due to the Switch 2's larger size being unable to fit inside the accessory.[167][170][168] Of the over 15,000 third-party Switch games Nintendo tested, about 75% of them were compatible and about 170 had some issues. Some additional software, such as applications for Hulu and Crunchyroll, were also incompatible.[171]
Certain Switch games have upgrades for the console sold separately or available via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, with some adding new content. The initial upgrade lineup includes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, with both Zelda games being launch games.[172] Other Switch games, such as Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, have free performance updates for the Switch 2, but without additional content.[173] The games can also be inserted into the original Switch to play the game as if it were a copy of the original Switch game.[174]
To aid users in bringing their Switch games to the Switch 2, Nintendo introduced Virtual Game Cards for the original Switch system software in April 2025.[175] Virtual Game Cards can be used to virtually transfer digitally purchased games for use on a second Switch or Switch 2 system, or loaned to a family member's Switch for up to two weeks.[176][177]
Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are mostly[d] forward compatible with the Switch 2, with some Switch games requiring them to be compatible with the Switch 2. Such games include most Nintendo Labo games, Ring Fit Adventure (2019) and WarioWare: Move It! (2023).[168][167]
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Reception
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Critical response
Reception
Digital Trends and TheGamer praised the dock's accessible design,[179][189] while PCMag was ambivalent about it;[183] other critics were satisfied by its improved ventilation system.[188][185] The kickstand was praised for its design improvements and durability by some,[179][183][189] though Wired was concerned about its security and thinness.[188] The screen, especially given the lack of OLED, was the subject of commentary: Wired felt the 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10 support made up for this.[188] Critics agreed that the Switch 2's display was an improvement from the original Switch's;[192] some felt the display was a drawback despite its strong points.[179][190][183] Critics praised the design improvements to the Joy-Con, and some noted that the increased size of the SL and SR buttons was useful.[188][193][194] Critics were unhappy without a solution to stick drift.[195][182][196] Critics noted the computer mouse functionality of the Joy-Con worked well even on the user's leg.[194][187] The console's reduced battery life was criticized; some unfavorably compared it to the original Switch launch edition's 2.5 to 6.5 hour power estimate,[183][179][195] though Engadget felt this number was generally standard for high-end portable gaming devices, however, it still listed battery life as a negative in its summary.[185]
The console's social features were praised.[197] Wired described GameChat as "the most notable, wholly new feature" of the console,[188] and Mashable described Nintendo not as reinventing the wheel with a two-decade-old concept, but moving it "beyond pure utility and into the realm of actively being enjoyable to use".[186] Business Insider felt it was "made for quick, casual multiplayer sessions" rather than specialist communication.[195] Critics praised the accuracy of the speech-to-text option and its ability to discern specific speakers.[186][179] Critics praised the built-in microphone's noise cancellation capabilities.[195][188][186] Many called GameChat's screenshare choppy.[198] Mashable described the Virtual Game Card system as potentially a "logistical nightmare for competitive siblings" squabbling over possession of shared digital games.[186]
The launch title line up was criticized as lacking;[199] PC Gamer called it "one of the weakest" of recent times.[182] Critics criticized Nintendo for charging money for the launch title Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.[194][193][191] Critics observed many of its launch games were ports from other systems that the original Switch could not run,[200][187] and some praised the upgrades to original Switch games on Switch 2.[190][187] PC Gamer wrote that the Deep Learning Super Sampling graphics technology made games like Cyberpunk 2077 "subjectively better",[182] and Edge lauded the accuracy of the mouse features during gameplay of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Welcome Tour.[193] Critics were concerned with the total price the console, games, and general accessories.[201] Concern also arose about the integrity of the Switch 1 data transfer function.[186][202][203] The use of game-key cards, which require downloading data from Nintendo's server for the game to become playable, were considered a new type of digital rights management for physical games, and raised concerns on game ownership, video game preservation, and support for games after Nintendo phases out the Switch 2.[204][205]
Sales
Nintendo reported on June 10, 2025, four days from release, that the Switch 2 had sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide, which made it the company's fastest selling console to date.[206] Famitsu reported that the console had sold 947,931 units in Japan within the first four days of its release, surpassing the Switch's launch of 329,152 units sold in the region.[207] IGN said that launch sales of the Switch 2 in these first four days were twice as much as the launch sales of the Switch in all regions.[208]
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Notes
- According to Nintendo, certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible.[1]
- In Southeast Asia, the Switch 2 was later released in the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand on June 26,[63] and will be released in Malaysia on July 3.[64]
- Waking the Switch 2 from sleep via a Switch 1 controller is not supported.[178]
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References
Further reading
External links
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