Nintendo has officially announced the global release date of its highly anticipated next-generation console: the Nintendo Switch 2, launching on June 5, 2025. Building upon the hybrid legacy of its predecessor, the new system introduces a major hardware overhaul, cutting-edge online features, and backward compatibility for existing Switch titles.
Magnetic Joy-Con 2, 1080p handheld visuals, and full HD screen
The Joy-Con 2 controllers represent a leap in design and function. Now attaching via magnetic connectors, each Joy-Con can also operate as a motion-sensitive mouse, ideal for strategy and creative games. Paired with the console’s 7.9-inch full HD LCD screen, players can expect vivid colour and crisp motion visuals, even while gaming on the go.
Nintendo Switch 2 supports 4K resolution and up to 120 fps when docked, delivering smooth and immersive gameplay on compatible televisions.
GameChat: social play redefined
The new GameChat system allows players to voice and video chat with up to 12 users, using the console’s built-in microphone or a USB-C compatible camera. Up to four players can even share their screens simultaneously. The feature is available without a Nintendo Switch Online membership until March 31, 2026.
To ensure safe usage, parental controls have been enhanced, requiring approval for under-16 users via the updated Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App.
GameShare and virtual game cards expand how players share games
Nintendo also unveiled GameShare, a local and online feature that allows users to temporarily share compatible games with others who do not own the title. Meanwhile, virtual game cards streamline access to purchased digital games and enable offline play on multiple consoles.
A massive launch library: from Mario Kart World to Cyberpunk 2077
Switch 2’s launch line-up includes first-party titles like:
- Mario Kart World, featuring 24-player races and an open-world Free Roam mode
- Donkey Kong Bananza, a destructive 3D platformer
- Super Mario Party Jamboree with exclusive Joy-Con 2 and camera-enabled modes
Upgraded Nintendo classics include:
- Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Star-Crossed World
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond with dual performance/quality modes
Third-party titles arriving at or soon after launch:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
- Borderlands 4, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, and more
A console built for performance and accessibility
Nintendo Switch 2 includes a faster CPU and GPU, 256 GB of internal storage, and exclusive support for microSD Express cards. Other upgrades:
- Freely adjustable kickstand
- Dual USB-C ports
- Spatial 3D sound
- New accessibility options like font resizing, screen reader, and GameChat speech-to-text
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle available at launch
The console will debut with a bundle featuring Mario Kart World and all essential accessories, including a Joy-Con 2 Grip, dock, HDMI cable, and USB-C charger.
With the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, users will access enhanced Nintendo GameCube titles such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-ZERO GX.
Outlook: connectivity, creativity, and continuity
President Shuntaro Furukawa called the Switch 2 a “leap forward” in bringing joy to players, adding: “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”
From revamped communication tools to ambitious new titles, the Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to define a new standard for hybrid consoles, delivering both familiar comfort and groundbreaking innovation.
