After months of fan speculation and a wave of alleged leaks, we got our first look at the Switch 2. Nintendo announced the new gaming console with a short YouTube video showcasing the new hardware, which includes Joy-Con controllers magnetic, a larger screen, and backwards compatibility with original Switch games. It also gives fans a first look at what people are speculating Mario Kart 9.
Read more: Did Nintendo just reveal Mario Kart 9?
Revelation day coincides with leaks from earlier this week indicating that Nintendo was preparing to present the Switch 2 for real after spending the entire year of 2024 without the moment of its upcoming hardware, without even revealing the name of the new device. We didn’t get a release date today other than the fact that it will be released in 2025, but we did get the official name. The successor to the Switch is in fact called the Nintendo Switch 2. What a non-Nintendo idea on their part!
The trailer shows off a bigger, sleeker upgrade to the 2017 hardware that sold over 150 million units. The new Joy-Cons are black instead of red and blue, and the right one has a mysterious new C button. They attach to the screen, which is larger with a smaller frame, using magnets. But Nintendo has yet to provide details on official specifications or hardware capabilities. This looks cool though:
A quick segment near the end of the trailer appears to show the upgraded Joy-Con moving like a PC gaming mouse, perhaps a hint at a new optical tracking capability. The company also reiterated that the Switch 2 will be able to play Switch games, but with one major caveat. “Definitely “Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2,” reads a disclaimer at the end of the trailer. It’s not yet clear which games will be included in this exclusion, but more information is promised on Nintendo’s website at a later date.
Nintendo’s Official Switch 2 Reveal Is Coming after weeks of alleged leaks claiming to show everything about the new console, from its motherboard to its new magnetic Joy-Con connectors. The sum total of the rumors was 100% about the new device, which would be an improved Switch. with a larger screen and a more powerful processor but otherwise, it’s largely the same hybrid gaming tablet that everyone has loved since the original launched in 2017. And they all turned out to be right.
-The ability of the Switch 2 to achieve a similar success in the first year will mainly depend on the first-party exclusives with which the console launches. The double blow of The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild et Super Mario Odyssey was a powerful recipe for success with the original material. Can the Switch 2 deliver an all-impressive lineup? Mario Kart 9which certainly looks similar to what was revealed in the Switch 2 trailer, would be a great start.
One thing that might help is a strong pace of third-party ports from Xbox, Ubisoft and others. We’ll no doubt find out in the days and months to come when the company announces the rest of the Switch 2’s official launch lineup.
Updated 01/16/2025 8:43 AM ET: Added additional information from the Switch 2 trailer.
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