Nintendo Switch 2: What you need to know about the sold-out system as June 5 release date nears

With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcase down us, we present cognize much astir the console than ever before, including its merchandise day (June 5) and terms ($450). We're besides keeping a adjacent oculus connected however the recently-announced tariffs successful the United States are affecting Nintendo's motorboat plans. Pre-orders successful the US and Canada kicked disconnected connected April 24, and present the Switch 2 is sold retired astatine online retailers.

Thanks to Nintendo's January 16 teaser trailer, we've agelong known what the Switch 2 volition look like, and that it volition get successful 2025 — implicit 8 years aft its predecessor. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks precise akin to the archetypal system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons and a sleeker design. The upcoming console volition beryllium backwards compatible with Switch games.

Looking to drawback up connected everything we cognize astir the Switch 2? Read on.

What are the cardinal caller features of the Nintendo Switch 2?

Display and dock

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 1080p 7.9-inch show with a 120Hz refresh and HDR compatibility. It besides supports up to 4K output astatine 120Hz (with adaptable refresh rates) erstwhile docked.

Joy-Con and Pro Controller

The caller Joy-Con 2 for Nintendo Switch 2 attaches magnetically with a fastener to merchandise them. They person larger SL and SR buttons (the ones hidden erstwhile the Joy-Con are attached) to marque playing multiplayer games connected idiosyncratic Joy-Cons much feasible. These buttons are besides made of alloy and connect to the Switch 2's magnets.

The analog sticks are nary longer tiny nubs, and are person successful size to the ones you mightiness find connected a PS5 oregon Xbox controller. However, they bash not person Hall effect sensors, the usage of which tin minimize the hazard of the "stick drift" contented that plagued the archetypal Joy-Cons.

The Joy-Con 2 person what Nintendo is calling “HD Rumble 2” built in, which seems to beryllium a refinement of the archetypal (and inactive precise good) vibration function. Finally, each Joy-Con 2 has an optical sensor that allows you to usage it arsenic a mouse, and a C button, which we’ll get to successful a minute.

The caller Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with everything you’d expect based connected the refreshed Joy-Con 2: Namely HD Rumble 2 and the C button. There are besides remappable GL/GR buttons astir the backmost and a modular audio jack for connecting a headset.

Both options travel with Amiibo enactment built in. The Switch 2 comes with 2 Joy-Con 2, arsenic you’d expect, and further pairs are priced astatine $95. The Pro Controller volition outgo $85.

The C fastener stands for "chat"

The caller C fastener is simply a dedicated mode to participate a chat league with friends. As good arsenic the modular features you’d expect from dependable chat, Nintendo has built a Discord-like video-sharing feature, which lets you amusement your gameplay to others and spot different people’s screens portion you’re playing.

The GameChat function works with a mic built into the console, though headsets are besides supported. Nintendo volition besides merchantability a $55 camera that plugs into the USB-C larboard connected the apical of the console, which volition let you to watercourse your look on with your game.

GameCube support

The Switch 2 volition enactment with GameCube games via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. The 3 titles disposable astatine motorboat volition beryllium F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II.

Improved specs

Perhaps the biggest feature, though, is 1 you can’t see: The Switch 2 has an all-new processor and GPU and importantly much retention (256GB vs 64GB successful the Switch OLED), on with enactment for faster and much capacious microSD cards. This volition evidently pb to amended first-party games and upgraded Switch experiences, but much importantly it volition mean multi-platform games that had to skip the original, underpowered Switch volition beryllium capable to beryllium ported over. With games similar Cyberpunk 2077 coming to the Switch 2 astatine launch, it seems similar acold much ports volition beryllium feasible than connected the archetypal console.

Digital Foundry has been capable to corroborate a clump of the details of the Switch 2's specs that Nintendo hasn't explained publicly, but the highlights are the consoles customized spot and faster storage. The Switch 2 uses a NVIDIA spot with 8 ARM Cortex A78C cores, six of which are disposable to developers, and a GPU with the company's Ampere architecture. That's alongside 12GB of LPDDRX RAM and a customized FDE (file decompression engine) that decompresses crippled files without drafting powerfulness from the Switch 2's CPU.

Another large betterment comes successful the signifier of networking — the Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6, which volition amended the original's often glacial download speeds. Similarly, the caller dock sports an Ethernet larboard for a rock-solid connection.

Virtual crippled cards

Virtual Game Cards are Nintendo’s mode of making digital games replicate the acquisition of carnal copies. They fto you lend integer games to friends and family, letting them bask the crippled connected their strategy without buying a abstracted copy.

Of course, determination are caveats. Much similar a carnal cartridge, lone 1 strategy tin play each Virtual Game Card astatine a time. You tin lone indebtedness games to up to 8 people, and each volition request to beryllium connected the aforesaid Nintendo Family Account and section network. Finally, you tin lone stock 1 crippled astatine a time, and the lending play lasts lone 2 weeks. Although that’s a steadfast database of limitations, the diagnostic is inactive much than different consoles person offered — and, if we’re lucky, it volition beryllium thing Sony and Microsoft are pressured to adopt.

Perhaps champion of all, the diagnostic isn’t exclusive to the Switch 2. It’s already available for the archetypal Switch.

Game-Key cards

Game-Key cards are carnal Switch 2 games that lone incorporate a information of their crippled data. The archetypal clip you slot 1 in, your Switch 2 volition download the remainder of the crippled to your section retention and the Game-Key paper becomes the "key" you request to usage anytime you privation to play it.

Nintendo says you'll person to person an net transportation the archetypal clip you footwear up the game, but afterwards the paper itself should beryllium capable to fto you play. You'll besides beryllium capable to resell your Game-Key paper successful the aforesaid mode you would a mean cartridge oregon disc.

This fusion of integer and carnal has go reasonably communal connected different consoles arsenic the size of games has grown larger, but it's comparatively caller for Nintendo. Since the Switch 2 is going to beryllium moving much demanding, high-fidelity games, though, it's a compromise that lets radical inactive bask the common-sense benefits of carnal crippled cards.

What's it similar to play?

Nintendo gave the property a accidental to cheque retired the Switch 2 and a fewer of the games it highlighted. You tin work our impressions of Mario Kart World as good arsenic much wide thoughts connected how the Switch 2 feels successful person. Right disconnected the bat, Mario Kart World feels similar an outstanding motorboat title, with much extent and amended visuals than we've ever seen from a Mario Kart game. The halfway look is intact, but determination are a batch of caller features and play styles to excavation into.

As for the Switch 2 hardware, it feels similar a large measurement guardant from the archetypal Switch — it has grown up a batch and feels acold much polished and refined. And portion it whitethorn not person an OLED screen, the 7.9-inch LED show Nintendo did usage is outstanding.

When volition the Nintendo Switch 2 travel out?

June 5, 2025.

When bash pre-orders unfastened for Nintendo Switch 2?

Switch 2 pre-orders were initially acceptable to statesman connected April 9, but the pursuing week, Nintendo said it was suspending pre-order plans successful the US "indefinitely" successful absorption to a slate of tariffs imposed by President Trump.

Finally, erstwhile pre-orders opened connected April 24, a blistery messiness ensued. Those who stayed up precocious trying to snag a Switch 2 were often near empty-handed arsenic Walmart, Best Buy and Target’s websites weren’t afloat equipped for the demand. Many customers were near with unmoving queues and mistake messages — a acquainted process for galore who’ve tried to pre-order a blistery gaming oregon tech merchandise successful caller years. (Folks who pre-ordered a PS5 during the pandemic caught the nastiest lawsuit of deja vu.)

No retailers are presently taking Switch 2 pre-orders. Although there’s ever the accidental 1 volition driblet an unexpected banal refresh, your champion enactment close present is to register your interest with Nintendo. That whitethorn not pb to a launch-day console, arsenic Nintendo has warned, but it won’t apt beryllium a brainsick hold similar those familiar to GPU buyers. And if your Nintendo cred ticks the close boxes (you person been subscribed to Switch Online for astatine slightest 12 months, person opted successful to stock gameplay data, and person astatine slightest 50 full gameplay hours), your likelihood volition improve.

Costco is simply a dark-horse campaigner for day-one availability. The retailer doesn’t look to person taken immoderate Switch 2 pre-orders, but a merchandise listing claims it volition person Mario Kart World console bundles successful banal connected motorboat day.

In immoderate case, Nintendo says the console’s June 5 merchandise day is unchanged.

How overmuch volition the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

On April 2, Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would outgo $450 standalone, oregon $500 with a bundled integer transcript of the caller Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World. That’s importantly much costly than the archetypal Switch, which launched astatine $300, and has remained astatine that terms ever since. It’s besides much costly than the entry-level current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.

The examination looks a small amended up against Valve’s Steam Deck, which costs $400 for the LCD exemplary oregon $550 for the basal OLED model. The Steam Deck is much affordable than astir PC handhelds.

When Nintendo delayed the pre-orders from the archetypal day of April 9, it said it was doing truthful "in bid to measure the imaginable interaction of tariffs and evolving marketplace conditions." With dense US tariffs levied connected Nintendo's Asian accumulation centers, the accusation was that would person small prime but to walk astatine slightest immoderate of those costs connected to American consumers. But Trump's April 9 tariff pivot — reverting to 10 percent crossed the committee for 90 days for each countries but China, which present gets a triple-digit deed — further muddied the waters. That's due to the fact that it's unclear however much, if any, of the components and assembly of US-bound Switch 2 consoles volition originate successful China.

The medication exempted immoderate electronics from reciprocal tariffs, but they'll soon beryllium taxable to caller levies connected semiconductors. Some analysts suggest that Nintendo volition beryllium selling consoles astatine a nonaccomplishment successful the US with adjacent a 10 percent tariff.

Nevertheless, the institution is keeping the terms of the Switch 2 astatine $450 and the Mario Kart World bundle astatine $450. However, it noted that it had to summation the prices of Switch 2 accessories "due to changing marketplace conditions" and added that different terms modifications whitethorn hap successful the aboriginal for a akin reason.

How overmuch bash the Nintendo Switch 2 accessories cost?

When Nintendo announced the rescheduled Switch 2 pre-order day for the US and Canada, it confirmed terms increases for galore of the console's accessories. The existent US prices for the accessories are arsenic follows:

• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — $85

• Joy-Con 2 Pair — $95

• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — $40

• Joy-Con 2 Strap — $14

• Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set — $25

• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera — $55

• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set — $120

• Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector — $40

• Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case — $85

• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter — $35

• Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 — $60

The terms of the Joy-Con 2 strap has gone up by $1, but the prices of different products person risen by betwixt $5 and $10, with the dock acceptable getting the larger increase. Thankfully, your Nintendo Switch 2 volition travel with a dock. Nintendo besides released a database of accessory prices for Canada.

How agelong volition the Switch 2's artillery last?

Nintendo says that the Switch 2 volition past betwixt 2 and 6.5 hours connected a azygous charge. This is akin to the archetypal Switch, which was rated for 2.5-6.5 hours, though aboriginal revisions upped that fig significantly. The institution cautions that "this clip is an estimation ... artillery beingness volition beryllium connected the games you play and usage conditions."

Based connected video Nintendo shared successful the Nintendo Today app, 1 mode the Switch 2 volition widen the longevity of its artillery implicit clip is with a caller "battery preservation mode." When enabled, your Switch 2 volition halt charging erstwhile it reaches 90 percent, redeeming its artillery from the deterioration and teardrop of charging to 100 percent each time. This is simply a reasonably communal diagnostic connected smartphones, and it makes consciousness for a handheld console you complaint each day.

A caller artillery mode won't alteration the Switch 2's estimated artillery life, but it volition dilatory the harm charging the console has, which keeps it usable for longer.

When tin I effort the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo is hosting a worldwide roadshow to fto gamers spell hands-on with the console. These events started successful New York and Paris connected April 4-6, with others taking spot passim the pursuing 2 months.

Ticket registration for galore of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events has closed, but waitlists are available. However, fixed that Nintendo is taking a archetypal come, archetypal served approach, your chances of attending the roadshow if you don't already person a summons (or unless you signed up for the waitlist immediately) look precise tiny astatine this point.

The afloat database of Nintendo Switch 2 Experience dates is arsenic follows:

North America:

• New York, April 4-6, 2025

• Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

• Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

• Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

• Paris, April 4-6, 2025

• London, April 11-13, 2025

• Milan, April 25-27, 2025

• Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

• Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

• Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

• Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

• Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025

• Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025

• Hong Kong, To beryllium announced

• Taipei, To beryllium announced

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatible?

Nintendo confirmed successful November 2024 that the Nintendo Switch 2 volition beryllium backwards compatible. It volition besides diagnostic entree to Nintendo Online, truthful users volition beryllium capable to play each of those aged retro titles.

In the archetypal Nintendo Switch 2 property release, Nintendo reiterated that carnal and integer Switch games volition enactment connected the caller system. However, it noted that "certain Nintendo Switch games whitethorn not beryllium supported connected oregon afloat compatible with Nintendo Switch 2." We present person much accusation connected which games are moving acknowledgment to a usher Nintendo enactment together.

As of April 1, the immense bulk of Switch 2 games are marked arsenic compatible, but galore fashionable games are said to person immoderate issues. Nintendo has marked astir of these arsenic “under investigation,” suggesting a hole whitethorn beryllium connected the mode successful clip for launch. Nintendo says it is manually investigating each Switch crippled for compatibility.

Only 1 rubric is marked arsenic incompatible: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. This was portion of Nintendo’s Labo scope of games that worked with Cardboard accessories, and is incompatible arsenic the Switch 2 doesn’t physically acceptable successful the VR headset.

Will aged games beryllium enhanced successful immoderate way?

The archetypal Switch has, to enactment it mildly, struggled to run immoderate of the late-generation software that's travel down the pike. Could these games beryllium enhanced to instrumentality vantage of the accrued horsepower of the Switch 2? That’s unclear. In an “Ask the Developer” leafage connected its site, Nintendo says that aged games are moving done a real-time translation system, which sounds akin to however Rosetta allows modern Macs to tally aged software. With that said, the caller and aged Switch are overmuch person successful hardware than that.

In the aforesaid developer interview, it’s said that successful its investigating of aged games for compatibility, determination were immoderate occasions “where loading times became faster, oregon crippled show became much stable,” but we don’t person immoderate item beyond that.

As good arsenic backward compatibility, Nintendo is besides offering up premium "Switch 2 Edition" upgrades for a prime fewer games. These person improved resolutions and framework rates, and (in immoderate cases) bonus features and content. What precisely that means volition vary, but Nintendo did corroborate that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond volition person 4K/60 fps and 1080p/120 fps options connected the Switch 2.

Games confirmed to person a Switch 2 Edition to day include:

• Super Mario Party Jamboree

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land

• Pokémon Legends: Z-A

• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

In the lawsuit of the 2 mainline Zelda games, those upgrades volition beryllium included with a Switch Online + Expansion Pack rank oregon outgo $10 each. Upgrades for the different games are besides paid, but Nintendo has not said however overmuch those volition cost.

What volition the cartridges sensation like?

You whitethorn retrieve that the archetypal Switch cartridges sensation perfectly awful. This was connected purpose, to discourage folks from putting the games successful their mouth.

Similarly, the Switch 2 carts are besides said to sensation terrible, successful ample portion to halt children oregon pets from accidentally ingesting them. It is not yet wide what substance Nintendo has coated the Switch 2 cartridges successful to marque them sensation foul, but Nintendo's Takuhiro Dohta advised against licking them each the same.

"We don't privation anybody to beryllium astatine hazard of immoderate unwanted consumption," helium told GameSpot. "We person so made it truthful that if it enters your mouth, you'll spit it out."

What are the motorboat games?

We expect this database to alteration substantially implicit the coming weeks and months, but the titles presently confirmed to beryllium disposable connected time 1 follow:

• Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer

• Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

• Cyberpunk 2077

• Deltarune

• Fast Fusion

• Fortnite

• Hitman: World of Assassination

• Hogwarts Legacy

• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

• Mario Kart World

• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S

• Split Fiction

• Street Fighter 6

• Survival Kids

• Yakuza 0: Director's Cut

That's everything we cognize astir the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We'll update this nonfiction with immoderate accusation we tin stitchery straight from sources. Any changes made to the nonfiction aft its archetypal publishing volition beryllium listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET: This communicative has been updated to see speculation astir price, imaginable crippled enhancements and the sensation of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET: This communicative has been updated to enactment the clip erstwhile the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

Update, February 24, 2025, 12:30 PM ET: This communicative has been updated to see speculation astir retention and accusation astir the caller microSD Express standard.

Update, March 6, 2025, 2:30PM ET: This communicative has been updated to enactment caller FCC filings to bespeak the beingness of Wi-Fi 6 and NFC support.

Update, March 14, 2025, 12:15PM ET: This communicative has been updated to see pricing and income speculation from analysts.

Update, March 20, 2025, 12:45PM ET: Updated to see a enactment astir the Seattle Mariners caller jersey patches featuring Nintendo and the Switch 2.

Update, March 27, 2025, 3:50PM ET: Updated to adhd details astir the C button, Nintendo Today! and Virtual Game Cards.

Update, April 1, 2025, 10:16AM ET: Updated to adhd nexus to livestream and details connected its length.

Update, April 2, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added details from the April 2 Nintendo Direct event, including specifications, price, merchandise day and motorboat titles.

Update, April 4, 2025, 11:17AM ET: Added details astir pre-orders being enactment connected hold.

Update, April 7, 2025, 1:56PM ET: Added details astir the Switch 2 cartridges inactive (reportedly) tasting terrible, the deficiency of Hall effect sensors successful the controllers and crippled upgrade pricing.

Update, April 9, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added discourse connected however the changing rules connected the Trump tariffs whitethorn oregon whitethorn not impact Switch 2 pricing successful the US.

Update, April 11, 2025, 7:11PM ET: Re-affirmed that May 8 is erstwhile Nintendo is confirming the archetypal batch of pre-orders done its site, aft a faulty study online suggested otherwise.

Update, April 18, 2025, 10:33AM ET: Added details astir the caller pre-order day for the US and Canada, arsenic good arsenic accessory pricing.

Update, April 30, 2025, 3:24PM ET: Updated pre-order info and added a Virtual Game Card breakdown.

Update, May 14, 2025, 11:50PM ET: Added info connected Game-Key cards, artillery preservation mode, and the Switch 2's specs.

Jeff Dunn contributed to this report.