The development of Nintendo’s upgraded console has been one of the gaming industry’s worst kept secrets since late 2022, though much like the rest of the gaming industry and every other industry, the long-running production and development swerves of the pandemic are still being felt to this day. In January we were presented with the hardware’s first-look trailer presenting some of the new hardware concepts including the updated Joy-con analog stick hardware, the expanded interior shoulder buttons, new mouse-like drag controls, and new magnetic controller lock that makes for a more seamless connection resulting in less hardware wear and tear. Today’s Nintendo Direct jumped into even more hardware and software updates for the upcoming console, including its release window of June 5th 2025, its starting price point of $450 USD, and a plethora of first party day one releases and available library of games.
Today’s Direct Revealed several key updates in the Switch 2’s hardware and UI, headlining is the Switch 2’s new in-game, integrated chat features, a basic console function present in the last 3 generations of competing consoles, finally integrated and expanded upon in the Switch 2. The Switch 2 will launch with an improved microphone and integrated smart noise filtering that will focus on voice audio while filtering out background noise, similar in process to Nvidia’s RTX voice filtration, the greater technical aspects of this feature will be expanded upon in future hardware reviews. In true Nintendo fashion, this update comes with a unique functional evolution in the game chat also allows for groups to simulstream their gameplay or establish custom backgrounds while utilizing the new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory, that utilizes the 2nd usb-c port on the upper half of the console. The presentation mock-up did make note of a considerably lower framerate in the chat simul-stream perspective, which is at least an attempt to temper expectations or establish a realistic representation of the features initial functionality. Nintendo’s online servers have never been a strength and the potential bitrate requirements to simultaneously stream up to four different perspectives, potentially from different games is a daunting task that either speaks to a hope for this features functionality or a confidence in the new consoles data net-coding and infrastructure. Unsurprisingly Game Chat mode will be a feature exclusive to Nintendo Online Member exclusive feature, but the company plans to give open access until March 2026.
Another key, somewhat legacy, feature launching with specific titles is Game Share! Harkening back to the days of DS DownloadPlay, Game Share allows specific titles with an inherent multiplayer feature to be shared and streamed from one console and account that owns the game to other consoles that do not. Gameshare allows for both local and online multiplayer with select confirmed titles : Captain Toad Treasure Tracker, Super Mario 3D World+Bowser’s Fury, 51 Clubhouse Games Worldwide Classics, Super Mario Odyssey, and Big Brain Academy Brain vs. Brain. The most interesting aspect of this feature is it’s backward compatible support as Switch Oled, Switch, and Switch lite console users may benefit from a Game Share title, a return to a rare, extremely pro-consumer, feature!
New Hardware Specs were confirmed as well, including the new screen size of 7.92 inch screen, while remaining the same width. The increased screen-size sports nearly double the pixel-count allowing for consistent 1080p resolution in portable mode, with supported frame rates of up to 120 fps, though this framerate will only be available for supported, currently unlisted, titles. The LCD screen also claims HDR support in portable mode, the utilization of which will be interesting to see achieved, but raises the question of whether increased baseline graphical fidelity options to prioritize frame rate and performance will be present, and will these options be streamlined on a hardware level like the Xbox Series X and PS5’s performance modes? Another highlighted feature is the improved speaker quality and 3d audio range, allowing for more immersive depth than on the first consoles built-in speakers, though the focus for headphone and improved audio support extends to the new pro controller for more audio options while playing on the go or away from the dock. The improved kickstand allows for a variety of viewing angles and topside usb-c allows for more convenient charging options while playing in portable tabletop play. Another Core hardware update is in the Switch 2’s internal storage, starting at a baseline of 256 GB, a major improvement to the predecessor consoles even-for-the-time miniscule 32GB internal memory, inferring that Switch 2 titles may be increasing in core download sizes. Alongside this storage improvement, and perhaps more critically, is in the push for faster data download and transfer speeds, the switch 2 is ditching support for SDXC micro sd cards in favor of the significantly faster Micro SDXC EX or MicroSd Express cards. This does mean that all prior Nintendo branded expansion cards will be incompatible with the Switch 2, but moving forward with the updated format will allow for a more cohesive experience.
The most impressive claim comes with the announcement for 4k resolution support while docked, the new dock sports an integrated ethernet input and a new and improved cooling fan, which will hopefully counteract the previous iterations overheat based warping and hardware flaws. The Switch 2 Pro controller will add the previously mentioned audio input but add the new dedicated C button for game chat features, alongside the new GL and GR back buttons, taking note from various 3rd party controllers, in presenting an option for programmable inputs.
Most importantly there is some clarification to the statement of “some backward compatibility” from the original first look trailer, Nintendo Switch 2 will be able to play the new titles that launch for the hardware, including a selection of first party titles that will be given a “Switch 2 purchasable upgrade” a hardware specific update to best utilize the new consoles hardware improvements beyond inherent processing improvement,including titles that will release on both Switch 1 and Switch 2, titles such as Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be receiving upgrades for Switch 2. The other category is compatible Nintendo Switch titles, which while exclusions remain unspecified, implied any game with a physical release, as well as “most digital titles.” Among Nintendo Switch 2 edition titles confirmed the most practical examples provided were for Super Mario Party Jamboree, the latest iteration of the Mario Party franchise, will launch with additional mini games and modes that support utilization of the Switch 2’s joy-con mouse control mode, as well as the new Camera accessory, presenting gameplay modes utilizing active motion and the players physical silhouette not dissimilar to the camera enabled games at the Nintendo World park at Universal Studios.
Features and hardware improvements aplenty, the deciding factor for the success of Nintendo’s new console will be determined by one metric : What Games will be available?
We’ll highlight upcoming titles that we’re most excited for, but the list of ports and remasters is impressive.
The presentation Started with the long-awaited newest entry in the long running genre defining, kart racer series. Mario Kart World opens the track up to the beautifully rendered world between races, bringing the focus to an unprecedented open world mode connecting the maps between tracks and allowing you to explore. The map spanning grand prix, free roam, and elimination modes feel reminiscent of the Daytona USA arcade era, but bring the familiar cast of mario characters we know and love, with some new entries in various characters, vehicles, and maps to a whole new style of racing. New systems such as rail grinding and wall jumping will redefine what we think of Mario Kart now with 24 karts per race! Mario Kart World will launch alongside the Switch 2 at a hitherto unprecedented 79.99 the first major title to embrace this generation’s increased cost.
In what seems to be a half acknowledgement of when the Switch 2 originally should have launched, Hyrule Warriors: Age of imprisonment is a Muso/Warriors style action game that tells a pre/sequel side story with the characters of Legend of Zelda Tears of the kingdom. The most obvious title that released seemingly built for a hardware improvement that never came, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity ran so poorly on the first Switch that it was nigh unplayable, dipping into sub 16 fps and suffering from many game crashing bugs in it’s initial release I look forward to playing both generations warriors titles, as the core gameplay loop is a fun one. Age of imprisonment is slated for winter 2025 which will give you enough time to play Age of Calamity and maybe replay Tears of the Kingdom.
A game promised at the announcement of the original Switch’s launch, Metroid Prime 4 has had a difficult development cycle, having been scrapped entirely at least once, the capabilities of the new hardware may serve this game well at launch!
Kirby Air Riders is the newest iteration of the Air Ride standalone game celebrating the more than 20 years that have passed since the initial entry, with Masahiro Sakurai in the directors chair once again this is a title that will be sure to please Kirby fans both new and old to accompany the Switch 2 upgrade of Kirby and the Forgotten Land!
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Mario Odyssey style 3d open world platformer, featuring the titular Kong as he explores and vastly effects the surrounding environment using a new power granted by his geode mascot pal. The variety of traversal and destructible environments will be sure to impress the capabilities of the new hardware’s capabilities to handle extensive particle effects and rendering.
An Honorable mention for a title announced in the previous Direct last week, Raidou Remastered introduces a classic of Shin Megami Tensei spin-offs and while it is a title worth experiencing in it’s own right, is likely an interest gauge for further Shin Megami Tensei Ports and remasters, so for the sake of other Devil Summoner remasters and the pie-in-the-sky HD collection of the Digital Devil Saga games, please do not sleep on Raidou!
Absolutely Stealing the show was the new title from FromSoftware, masters behind the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring, but most relevantly Sony Exclusive Bloodborne. Bloodborne has been trapped behind Sony intellectual property ownership for over a decade, incurring a rabid fanbase for its utterly unique style of gameplay and visual design inspiration, the Bloodborne fandom has been desperate for a sequel. The Duskbloods is FromSoft’s response to the mountain of love letters from its fanbase saying “Hey we’re sick of waiting for Sony too!” Duskbloods is more than inspired by Bloodborne, this spiritual successor is a direct descendant, with additional experiential design shifts taken from lessons learned in Elden Ring, The aptly named Tarnished edition also slated for a switch 2 release, as well as some movement dynamics that look closer to Sekiro or Bloodborne-contemporary Lies of P. This is the console Seller.
The final note is the long awaited addition of Gamecube titles to the nintendo online subscription, with its initial lineup, including infamously expensive and hard to acquire physical titles like Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness and Fire Emblem Path of Radiance, the cost of the service may have finally been justified.
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