Nintendo Switch 2: expected release date, leaks, specs and price
Nintendo's next console is on the horizon. Here's everything we know about the upcoming successor to the Switch
The Nintendo Switch 2 is edging ever closer to an official reveal. We’re finally set to receive a deluge of information about what to expect from Nintendo’s successor to the Switch over the next few months, including that all-important release date. But what do we know so far?
Nintendo is notoriously tight-lipped as to what its next console will offer, and it also has a habit of going against the grain. Just because the Nintendo Switch was a phenomenal success doesn’t necessarily mean Nintendo will follow suit with an almost identical device. We’ve seen Nintendo consistently try to bottle lightning with every new console generation, often with mixed results.
That means that even if the Nintendo Switch 2 is largely similar to its predecessor – a hybrid console that can be played on the go or hooked up to a TV – expect some fun and unique surprises.
Nintendo’s desire to offer something new makes it impossible to predict exactly which direction the company will go with its follow-up to one of the most popular consoles of all time, and that’s what makes the prospect of a new Nintendo device so exciting. Does it play safe and iterate on the Switch’s current design, or attempt to capture the imagination once again, separating itself from the competition? Both options are compelling, but Nintendo will want to get it right otherwise there’s a chance Nintendo Switch 2 could fail.
Even though Nintendo’s next moves are hard to predict with absolute certainty, it doesn’t mean we can’t make some educated guesses about the Nintendo Switch 2 and gather up all the leaks and rumors. Let’s dive in to see what the future holds for Nintendo fans.
When will Nintendo Switch 2 be revealed?
Nintendo has broken its silence surrounding its Switch successor. President of Nintendo Shuntaro Furukawa made a statement on X which said: “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.”
Nintendo’s fiscal year ends in March 2025, when many expect the Switch 2 to be released. However, we’ll explain why that might not be the case below.
Nintendo may hold a dedicated Nintendo Direct in September to reveal the console, following a similar release strategy to the original Switch.
When is the Nintendo Switch 2 release date?
The PS5 and Xbox Series X launched during the first few weeks of November, and Nintendo’s last console before the Switch – the Wii U – launched on November 19. It would have made sense, then, that the Nintendo Switch 2 release date would be sometime during November 2024, but we now know that isn’t the case.
The original Switch launched in March 2017, bucking the usual trend of a November release date. Nintendo will likely launch the Switch 2 in early 2025, as multiple sources suggested the console had slipped from its internal release date target of late 2024, which means it could be released in March 2025, the same month as the Switch did.
However, the Nintendo Switch 2 release date could be further away than we thought. According to Chris Dring on the latest GameIndustry Podcast, developers aren’t confident the Nintendo Switch 2 will be released this financial year.
“No developer I’ve spoken to expects it to launch in this financial year [which ends March 31, 2025]. In fact, they’ve been told not to expect it in this financial year,” said Dring. “A bunch of people I spoke to hope it’s out in April/May time.”
Nintendo is also rumored to be producing 10 million Switch 2 units, which should make the console easy to find in stores and should stop Nintendo Switch 2 stock being held to ransom by scalpers.
With the Nintendo Switch approaching its eighth anniversary on sale and hardware sales continuing to decline, there’s no doubt that Nintendo will be ready to introduce its next entry into the home console space as soon as possible.
How powerful will the Nintendo Switch 2 be?
This is a question that many gamers will be interested in, but we can already hedge our bets that the Nintendo Switch 2 won’t be the most powerful console on the market. Nintendo pivoted away from trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft in terms of graphical horsepower after the GameCube and has instead focused on creating compelling features, like new ways to play, first and foremost.
The Nintendo Switch launched with roughly the same power as the Wii U that came before it, but due to optimization and advances in technology, it’s probably closer in power to a significantly paired-back Xbox One and PS4.
While we can almost bank on the Nintendo Switch 2 being less powerful than the Xbox Series X and PS5, we got our best hint yet at the sort of graphical quality we can expect. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said that Nintendo’s next console will target the same specs as a PS4, meaning it’ll be closer in alignment with Gen 8 platforms instead of the Gen 9 consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Kotick’s revelation may be disappointing news for some, but it’s important to remember that there have been countless advancements in video game design that allow developers to get more power from similar hardware. Whether it’s resolution scaling or more efficient graphical engines, we’ve already seen the Switch receive games that appeared to be beyond the scope of its limited hardware, like The Witcher 3, Doom, and many more.
However, a new report hints at the Switch 2 being more comparable to a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Nintendo showed some tech demos to developers at Gamescom, including one where the console was running The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo. There was also a demo of the Switch 2 running an enhanced version of an existing Switch game.
Hopefully, the Nintendo Switch 2 will at least display games at 4K resolution when hooked up to a TV. A greater emphasis on 60fps games would also be a welcome addition, which might be possible in docked mode. The Switch 2 is rumored to deliver higher performance when docked and will be significantly underclocked in handheld mode to maximize battery life and keep the console from overheating. If that’s the case, we should see a great disparity between docked and handheld mode this time.
However, it might lose the beautiful display we’re used to with the Nintendo Switch OLED. According to the latest reports, the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature an 8-inch LCD screen.
Will Nintendo Switch 2 be backward compatible?
Backward compatibility is incredibly important for the success of the Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Switch has sold millions of units and has amassed an incredible library of games. It would be extremely disappointing if those titles couldn’t be played on the Nintendo Switch 2, or if Nintendo couldn’t figure out a way to offer enhanced versions of games people already own.
We’ve seen both Sony and Microsoft revitalize and improve countless games from the PS4 and Xbox One for its new hardware, and the prospect of being able to play some of the best Switch games at a higher resolution or with a more stable frame rate is an exciting proposition. Nintendo reportedly showed a demo of Breath of the Wild running on Switch 2 with a higher frame rate and resolution at Gamescom 2023, but it wasn’t clear if older games will be enhanced.
Some reports suggest the Switch 2 will be backward compatible and developers will have the option to enhance older titles as we’ve seen on PS5 and Xbox Series X. A new report from a Chinese-based peripherals manufacturer says that the Switch 2 will support both physical and digital copies, as well as the Nintendo Switch Pro controller and existing Joy-Con controllers. However, the current Joy-Con won’t be able to attach to the console as it will use a new magnetic rail design.
Thankfully, Nintendo has a pretty good track record with backward compatibility support, with the Wii, Nintendo DS, and Wii U all offering support for the previous generation of games. The Nintendo Switch wasn’t backward compatible, but if the Nintendo Switch 2 follows a similar form factor and design, it would be a huge blow if Nintendo decided to drop support for its second most successful console of all time.
What gives me hope that backward compatibility will be possible is that Nintendo has announced that account migration will be possible on the Switch 2, meaning players can transfer their existing profiles and past purchases. Backward compatibility would make sense, then, as people could download or play games they already own and purchase older titles they may have missed.
What Nintendo Switch 2 features can we expect to see?
This is where it gets difficult, as Nintendo always has a new trick or surprise up its sleeve. Whether it’s offering motion controls, a glasses-free 3D display, dual screens, stylus support, or a controller that seamlessly transforms into two gamepads for local multiplayer, you can count on there being some unique selling point that separates the Switch 2 from the rest of the pack.
With more competition than ever in the handheld/hybrid console space from the likes of the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, and potentially PSP 2 and an Xbox handheld in the future, it’ll be interesting to see what feature Nintendo focuses on to give it that edge and childlike wonder we’ve come to expect from the Japanese company’s hardware.
The most recent Switch 2 leaks have revolved around the hardware’s specs, rather than its unique features. However, the console may include a camera, which wouldn’t be left field for Nintendo. The Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U GamePad included a camera and used it in various ways.
Reports suggest the Switch 2 will be an iterative upgrade as opposed to the type of revolution we’re used to seeing from Nintendo, but the company has said it will ensure the Switch 2 stands out from the competition. Either way, I can’t wait to see what the Nintendo Switch 2 has in store for gamers.
How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
The Nintendo Switch launched for $299 back in 2016, which many considered to be too high at the time, partly because it was the same price as the much-maligned Wii U. However, it didn’t stop the console from flying off the shelves and becoming the second best-selling home console of all time.
We’ve since seen Nintendo launch the Nintendo Switch Lite for $199 and the Nintendo Switch OLED model for $350, and I feel this price range will be the sweet spot for the Nintendo Switch 2. I can’t envision Nintendo making a console that costs more than $350, otherwise, it’ll draw an unfavorable comparison with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, which both launched at $499 but have since seen price increases.
However, the Switch 2 could be the most expensive Nintendo console to date. Switch games could also receive a price increase from $60 to $70, which Nintendo experimented with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
If the Nintendo Switch 2 can indeed launch for $299 once again, that would give it a huge boost out of the gate and also keep Nintendo’s value proposition intact when compared to the likes of Valve’s Steam Deck, which starts at $399, and the Asus ROG Ally, which starts at $499.
Is Nintendo Switch still worth it in 2024?
If you’ve yet to pick up a Nintendo Switch and fear that there’s no point with the Nintendo Switch 2 launch looming, you may be wondering whether the Switch is still worth it in 2024. Despite being almost geriatric by console standards, the Switch is still a great system and well worth picking up if you can find it on sale. There are also three models to choose from, and our Nintendo Switch vs Lite and Nintendo Switch vs Switch OLED comparisons can help you make the right choice.
Last updated: August 14, 2024