After toying with our emotions and hesitating at every opportunity, Nintendo has finally announced the Switch 2 for 2025. Giving us an official look at the Switch 2, Nintendo released a promotional video for the upcoming console that showcased how the console was set to evolve physically. Despite the reveal, not all of the Switch 2’s new features have been released, but we now have enough to get a sense of what’s to come.
From the first look at the Nintendo Switch 2, there is a guarantee of a bigger and beefier handheld console modeled after its predecessor. The hybrid handheld has promised backward compatibility, which is reassuring. However, the company recently cautioned that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.” The trailer also gives us a small glimpse at what fans predict is a new Mario Kart game; however, that’s all we know.
Image: The Nintendo Switch (back) and the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Announced: Confirmation of A 2025 Release Has Fans Cheering
The Nintendo Switch 2 First Look trailer broke onto the scene like a ray of sunshine for fans of the console, however, the Switch 2 still does not have an official release date. From what we know, the company is relying on its “Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025” event to reveal more about the console.
The event—scheduled on April 2, 2025—will be followed by more elaborate Switch 2 Experience events across North America, Europe, Melbourne, and parts of Asia, where fans will be able to try the consoles out and get a sense of what is to come. According to the dates mentioned, the experience events will stretch between April and June across the different locations.
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 be announced
- Taipei, To be announced
Those who want to attend the Switch 2 Experience events can look at the dates for when the event will arrive in their city and then use their Nintendo accounts to secure their tickets once registrations open up.
Image: Nintendo
Switch 2 Official Look—Recounting Everything the Trailer Revealed
The Switch 2 does away with the cheery blue and red design of the current Switch. The trailer features the Nintendo Switch shedding its teenage colors and evolving into a bigger and more detailed Switch 2. The screen is obviously bigger on the new console, with the rumors suggesting it will measure up to 8.4 inches.
The all-black console still shows accents of blue and red on the Joy-Con controllers, which appear to attach to the main body magnetically instead of sliding off the device. Again, as the rumors suggested, there appears to be an additional button on the right-hand controller as well as additional buttons on the back. While the layout of the buttons looks familiar, their design seems enhanced to match the style of the newer console.
The power and volume buttons make an appearance on the top of the console, with room for a headphone jack and an additional USB-C port to add to the one at the bottom. The purpose of this overhead USB-C port remains unknown.
The Nintendo Switch 2 first look trailer also showed off a convenient U-kickstand to make the screen easier to set down in a way that’s comfortable to the user. The dock for the new Switch also looks a little different, with the familiar additional controller piece available to turn the Joy-Cons in a more comfortable unit for using it with your TV.
Image: Nintendo
Public Response to the Nintendo Switch 2 News Has Been Positive So Far
The Switch 2 details that have been announced for 2025 don’t give us too much to work with in terms of internal specs and performance. Despite the trailer’s exclusive focus on external hardware, fans are still excited and willing to wait to learn more than the rumors have offered so far. Many have been satisfied with the absence of meaningless references to AI technology, and Nintendo’s active focus on guaranteeing backward compatibility as far as possible.
The overall positive response does not mean the Switch 2 will automatically do well in sales. The Switch Lite and Switch OLED have kept truly invested fans busy over the years, so those who are likely to consider an upgrade need to see enough of a difference from the older console. With the launch of the Legion Go S and the Analogue 3D for Nintendo 64 right around the corner, there is sufficient hardware on the way that gamers might choose to invest in instead of a duplicate Switch console.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 sales will also likely rely on the release of much-awaited games exclusive to the new console, but that update may be a while away. Of course, the sales numbers of the original Switch have remained in a league of their own, so Nintendo may not be too worried about the Switch 2’s performance, but we’re hoping the company still makes substantial upgrades to the performance of the console instead of leaving it to the external appearance of the device to do all the heavy lifting.
