After a long waiting period, Nintendo held a special Direct event to present a deep-dive into the know about the Nintendo Switch 2.

Now, that’s truer than ever. The Nintendo Direct event dedicated to the console’s presentation was held in early April 2025, showcasing several new exclusive titles that will make it to the Nintendo Switch 2 system, both from first-party developers and publishing partners. The console’s new features, such as the GameChat function and a camera, were also presented, highlighting a deeper focus on the multiplayer experience made available with the hardware. Furthermore, the Nintendo Switch 2’s release date was finally presented, and players shouldn’t have to wait too much longer before acquiring it.

8 Nintendo Switch 2 - Release Date & Price

The Prices Weren’t Shown During Nintendo Direct

The long-awaited release date for the new console was finally announced during the Nintendo Direct event held on April 2, 2025. The presentation was broadcast live on the official new Mario Kart World, which will be one of the console’s launch titles.

During the presentation, Nintendo didn’t announce the prices. However, the company did reveal the console’s prices via a press release. The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 in the United States, while the Switch 2 bundle with Mario Kart World will be sold at a suggested retail price of $499.99. The products contain the Nintendo Switch 2 console, two Joy-Con 2 controllers, a Joy-Con 2 grip, Joy-Con 2 straps, a Switch 2 console dock, an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable, a Switch 2 AC Adapter, and a USB-C charging cable; the bundle comes with a code for Mario Kart World.

7 Nintendo Switch 2’s C Button - GameChat Feature

Players Can Connect With Their Friends In A Chat Room

One of the Nintendo Switch 2’s big new features in comparison to the previous hardware generation is the introduction of the GameChat function. Accessible by the brand-new C button on Joy-Cons and other compatible controllers, the GameChat feature is a built-in voice and video chat system that allows players to connect with their friends in a virtual chat room. Players can use the console’s built-in microphone, which works in both handheld and TV mode and has a noise filter to improve communication. Aside from conversations, players can also share their screens on Nintendo Switch 2’s GameChat.

GameChat also has a mute function, which allows you to turn the audio capture off temporarily – even if simplified in many ways, it is very much like a built-in Discord server.

This allows players to watch what their friends are playing in real time. It’s even possible to adjust a friend’s shared screen to watch what they are playing. To expand the GameChat experience, Nintendo also announced the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which allows players to add a camera overlay over their shared game screen or simply a video conference. The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera will also be able to interact with certain games, like Super Mario Party. A Nintendo Switch Online hip will be required to use GameChat, but Nintendo has announced an open access period until March 31, 2026.

6 Nintendo Switch 2 - Game Lineup (Every Title Announced)

Many Games Will Be Compatible With The New Console, Including Elden Ring & Cyberpunk 2077

A large number of games were announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 console. This includes the aforementioned Mario Kart World, which will be a console exclusive and a launch title. There will also be several Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of older games, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Furthermore, Nintendo announced Nintendo Switch 2 Editions for games, too, such as the anticipated Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Apart from first-party titles, Nintendo also announced several games from publishing partners.

The list below highlights all the games presented during the Nintendo Direct event, including Elden Ring on Nintendo Switch 2:

• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Drag x Drive
• Elden Ring - Tarnished Edition
• Hades 2
• Street Fighter 6 + Years 1-2 Fighters Edition
• Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion
• Split Fiction
• EA Sports FC
• Madden NFL
• Hogwart’s Legacy
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
• Hitman: World of Assassination - Signature Edition
• Project 007
• Bravely Default: Flying Fairy - HD Remaster
• Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
• Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment
• Deltarune (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)
• Borderlands 4
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• WWE 2K
• NBA 2K
• Survival Kids
• Enter the Gungeon 2
• Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
• Cyberpunk 2077 - Ultimate Edition
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
• Goodnight Universe
• Two Point Museum
• Wild Hearts S
• Witchbrook
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
• Marvel Cosmic Invasion
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Fast Fusion
• Shadow Labyrinth
• Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
• No Sleep for Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files
• Reanimal
• Fortnite
• Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
• Professor Layton and The New World of Steam
• Tamagotchi Plaza
• Human Fall Flat 2
• The Duskbloods
• Kirby Air Riders
• Donkey Kong Bananza

Some of the highlights among these many games include the new first-party announcements like Kirby Air Riders and Donkey Kong Bananza. Among titles provided by publishing and development partners, a few games stand out, such as The Duskbloods, FromSoftware’s new Bloodborne-lookalike, which will be exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2 system. The long-anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong also received a 2025 release window, even if shown briefly during the presentation.

5 Nintendo Switch 2 - Hardware Specifications & Improvements

The Hardware Features Heavy Improvements Compared To The First Generation

The Nintendo Direct event also showed a deep dive into the Nintendo Switch 2’s new hardware settings and the improvements made to the original console. The new system will have a larger screen (7.9 inches compared to the Switch’s 6.2-inch screen) but will have the same 13.9-inch thickness as the previous console generation. A big improvement will be seen on the screen, as Nintendo Switch 2 will offer 1080p resolution, capable of running at up to 120 FPS on an LCD screen with HDR . The company also revealed that the Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically to the console.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will have two USB-C ports (one on the top and the other on the bottom) while also providing 4K resolution in TV mode (for compatible games). The Switch 2 dock will also have a built-in fan to keep the console cool. It’s worth noting that Switch 2 will only be compatible with microSD Express Cards.

Regarding the Joy-Con 2 controllers, Nintendo revealed that both the SL and SR side buttons, as well as the control sticks, will be larger compared to the original Joy-Cons. One of the big new features for the Joy-Con 2 controllers is that they will have mouse controls with compatible games. Furthermore, Nintendo Switch 2 will provide clearer sound via the built-in speakers, while 3D-audio will be ed. The stand will also be larger, encoming the console’s entire width. Nintendo Switch 2 will also have 256 GB of internal storage (eight times more than the original Switch), which will operate faster.

4 New Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller + GameCube Controller

New Controllers Have The C Button

To complement the experience, Nintendo also announced a new Pro Controller called Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. This new controller retains the previous version’s original design but is improved with new features. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will also have the aforementioned C button that grants access to the GameChat feature, as well as new GL and GR buttons located on the grips, which can be assigned to whatever functions you may desire. This new Pro Controller will also have a built-in audio jack. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will be sold at a suggested retail price of $80.

In addition to the new Pro Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch Online will have exclusive access to a new GameCube Controller for the console. This new controller replicates the design of the original GameCube controller but is updated with the C button. This new Nintendo GameCube Controller will be available for purchase on the My Nintendo Store on the Nintendo Switch 2’s release date.

3 Nintendo Switch 2 - GameShare Function

Players Will Be Able To Share Select Games With Friends

An improvement to the original Nintendo Switch’s multiplayer function, the new GameShare feature on the Nintendo Switch 2 will allow players to share compatible games with other Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 consoles to play the same game together without necessarily requiring them to detach the Joy-Cons and lend them to friends only to play on the same console. ing up to three systems, the GameShare feature will allow players to play the same game together on their own systems even if the other players don’t own the game.

The GameShare function also s online play, meaning players don’t necessarily have to be together. It can also be used simultaneously with the GameChat feature, which enables voice and video chat rooms. Only select titles will be compatible with GameShare via software updates in the future. As shown in the Nintendo Direct presentation, some of these titles are Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, Super Mario Odyssey, and Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain. Some exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 games will also have for GameShare in the future.

2 Nintendo Switch Online - Nintendo Classics: GameCube (Exclusive To Nintendo Switch 2)

Three Titles From GameCube Will Enter The Expansion Pack At Launch

During the Nintendo Direct, the company also revealed a new benefit for subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, which will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo Classics library will now expand to include titles from Nintendo GameCube. At launch, the service will provide The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, and F-Zero GX. Nintendo promises that these games will be offered with clearer image quality and higher resolutions on the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

While the Nintendo GameCube library for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription service is limited to these three titles at launch, Nintendo has already announced that more titles will be added to the benefit down the road. As was shown during the Nintendo Direct, titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Super Mario Strikers, Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pokémon Colosseum will make their way into the service at a later date.

1 Nintendo Switch 2 First-Party Games Will Get More Expensive

New Nintendo Games Have A Higher Retail Price

Another point of interest for Nintendo Switch 2 is that its first-party releases will seemingly get more expensive when compared to previous first-party titles. It has been announced that Mario Kart World will cost a whopping $80 while the Donkey Kong Bananza will cost $70. This is a major price spike when compared to the standard $59.99 price for first-party titles for the Nintendo Switch, like Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The price increases had already started with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, sold for $69.99, but it seems like prices will continue to increase.

The $80 label on the launch title can be seen on the official Mario Kart World page on the Nintendo website, while the $70 retail price for Donkey Kong Bananza can be seen on its page on the official Nintendo website. Considering how Nintendo tends to keep most of its first-party titles priced similarly, the price increase for future Nintendo releases, such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Kirby Air Riders could be sold at more expensive costs on Nintendo Switch 2.

Source: YouTube/Nintendo of America, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza