Nintendo announced earlier this year that we would saw the Nintendo Switch 2, the second version of the popular handheld and dockable gaming console, this year. Now we have an official date: it will drop on June 5, 2025 and sell in Canada for $630.
The handheld comes with reimagined Joy-Con 2 controllers, each of which can now be used as a mouse in compatible games and that snap to the system with magnetic connectors. Boasting powerful processing speeds, it has a bigger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD. You can play both Nintendo Switch 2 games as well as compatible physical and digital games in existing Nintendo Switch libraries. Note, however, that some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
As thin as the original, the Nintendo Switch 2 has a new stable stand on the back that can be adjusted to the preferred viewing angle. Unlike the original Nintendo Switch, which only has a single USB-C port on the bottom, the Nintendo Switch 2 has a port on the top as well for using the included AC adapter for charging while playing in tabletop mode. By connecting the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock to a TV, you can output video at up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120 fps, via compatible games and TVs.
Boasting improved CPU and GPU performance, you’ll get faster processing speeds, new visually advanced gameplay, more detailed graphics, and faster loading times. Sound is also more natural, clearer, and balanced, says Nintendo. When playing in handheld or tabletop mode, you can experience more immersive, three-dimensional sound.
The console comes with new Joy-Con 2 controllers that, as noted, magnetically attach to the main console. Slide it on a surface like a table or even your pant legs to use one like a mouse. Previous-generation Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers and peripherals like the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can also be used on Nintendo Switch 2 by connecting them wirelessly to the system.
Nintendo Switch 2 has 256GB internal storage, eight times that of the Nintendo Switch. It also uses microSD Express cards, which have faster data reading speeds than traditiona microSD cards, for expanding storage.
There are new ways to play collaboratively through a new online feature called GameChat. Using this, people can play together and talk as if everyone is in the same room. Simply press the C button on the controller to start talking and the built-in mic can be used for voice chat. You can play with up to 12 people in different locations. Up to four friends can share their screen if connected to a compatible USB-C camera, like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, which will be available for purchase separately and can connect to the aforementioned second USB-C port.
You can also video chat using this camera, while additional friends can join via audio online. GameChat will be free to use through March 2026 after which it will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. There are safety features, notes Nintendo, to ensure that people can only be invited to a chat from your friend list. You can also report people in a chat session while children under 16 will require parental or guardian approval through the Parental Controls app. The app can also be used to check what kind of games kids are playing and set limits on how long the system can be used daily.
With GameShare, a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature, players can share and play the same game with others who do not have the game. If one person has a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a game compatible with GameShare, that person can invite others to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch system. Between Nintendo Switch 2 systems, GameShare can also be used along with GameChat for online play, so that players can chat with others while all of them play the same game.
There are also new virtual game cards for easily managing purchased digital games. You can also use these to play games on two different systems or even lend or borrow games. The virtual game card menu shows all the digital games purchased with a user’s Nintendo Account, making it easy to access the games and load them on the system. Once a virtual game card is loaded onto a system, it can be played even if the system is not connected to the internet, and other users who are on that system can also play the game. Additionally, digital games can be lent and borrowed among members of the same Nintendo Account family group in the form of virtual game cards via local wireless communication.
A Nintendo Switch Online membership, which as noted, will be free through March 2026, will unlock features like GameChat along with existing online features. Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics will be released at the time of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. Players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and a Nintendo Switch 2 system will be able to access a growing collection of Nintendo GameCube games with clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases. The classic game lineup available at release will be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and SOULCALIBUR II. Along with the classic games, a dedicated wireless controller designed after the original GameCube controller will be available for purchase by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.
In addition to existing accessibility features on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 offers a variety of new accessibility options including the ability to adjust font size, enable screen reader, and speech-to-text features within GameChat.
With the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app, parents can easily support their children’s gameplay by using their smart device to check what kind of games their children play or set limits on how long the system can be used daily. As for GameChat, children under the age of 16 will need the parent’s or guardian’s approval on the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app to start a chat, which makes it possible for parents and guardians to manage their children’s chat experience securely.
Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for pre-order in North America from participating retailers beginning April 9, 2025. The Nintendo Switch 2 ships with the console, Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R), Joy-Con 2 grip, Joy-Con 2 straps, Nintendo Switch 2 dock, an ultra high-speed HDMI cable, Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter, and USB-C charging cable. Along with the console being sold on its own, you can also get the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart WorldBundle for $700, which includes a system and a download code for the Mario Kart World game, available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day on June 5.
There will be several games available at launch for Nintendo Switch 2, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, along with upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch will have paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs featuring enhanced graphics, exclusive content offerings, and new gameplay experiences.