The next-gen console comes with a slew of neat features—and it could arrive in the country sooner than you think.
The wait is almost over for Nintendo fans. The Japanese video game company has finally given a glimpse of all the upgrades and new features coming to its much-anticipated handheld console, the Nintendo Switch 2.
For the uninitiated, it has been eight years—March 2017, to be exact— since Nintendo released the Switch 1. And there was a big sigh of relief when the gaming giant confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 is officially happening, with its teaser of the console’s look last January 16.
Now, Nintendo is back to hype up the excitement for its next-gen console. On Wednesday, April 2, the Kyoto-based firm finally spilled the features fans can look forward to in the device. It also shared the Switch 2’s price (USD449) and global release date (June 5) during its livestream of Switch 2 Direct that day.
The Nintendo Switch 2 looks just like its predecessor but with a slew of improvements: a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons, new C button, sleeker aesthetic, and more powerful processing speed and graphics performance. Nintendo also built the device to be backwards compatible with Switch games.
What’s more, Nintendo Switch 2 might be arriving in the Philippines sooner than you think. If you’re eager to get your hands on one of the hottest consoles of 2025, read on ‘cause here’s everything new coming with the Switch 2.
More versatile Joy-Cons
First things first. Let’s discuss the detachable Joy-Con controllers, which have certainly become the key element of Switch. The new controllers for Nintendo Switch 2 attach magnetically to the console, unlike the original Joy-Con which you’d have to slide onto the side of the panel. This snap-on technology also makes it easier for you to detach them after pressing the release buttons at the back.
Adding to the convenience of using Switch 2 are the larger SL and SR buttons, which make them easier to press when using the Joy-Cons as individual controllers. The left and right analog sticks are no longer tiny nubs, but larger sticks close to the size of those on a PlayStation 5 controller. Then there’s the “HD Rumble 2” technology which Nintendo designed to offer more complex yet precise vibration patterns than its predecessor.
Another new feature worth taking note of is the optical sensor, which allows you to use the Joy-Cons 2 as a mouse. You’d simply have to slide the Joy-Con on a table or a pair of pants with the system facing down. This serves as a handy gaming hack, especially when playing titles that require precise aiming.
GameChat for more interactive play
Nintendo is introducing a feature called “GameChat” with the new “C” button, which is located just below the home button on the right Joy-Con, and its built-in noise-canceling microphone. GameChat is Nintendo’s take on Discord’s communication features, enabling players to talk or share their screen with up to 12 other players in real-time.
The feature does not require you to play the same game as the others in the call, meaning you can all play and screen-share different games simultaneously. For gamers who want to level up the experience, you can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately for USD50), plug it into the USB-C port on the top of the console, and start streaming your face along with your game screen.
4K gaming and stronger performance
Nintendo Switch 2 promises vivid, detailed game experiences in its 7.9-inch 1080p display with HDR compatibility. It also supports 4K output at 60fps when connected to the docking station and up to 120Hz refresh rate for smoother motion and better responsiveness, even in AAA games.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade in the Nintendo Switch 2 is the one under its hood. The Switch 2 is engineered to provide “10x the graphics performance” of Switch 1, thanks to its new Nvidia Tegra T239 processor. According to Nvidia, the beefy processor not only enables up to 4K gaming, but also “supports high dynamic range and AI upscaling to sharpen visuals and smoothen gameplay.”
It is boosted by 256GB internal storage, which Nintendo says is eight times the capacity of Switch. For additional storage, Switch 2 only uses microSD Express cards, which, according to Engadget, have faster access speeds than previous microSD models.
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Connectivity looks to be another top priority in the development of Switch 2, as the console now supports WiFi 6 for faster download speeds. It also comes with a built-in Ethernet port, two USB-C ports as opposed to just one, and an HDMI port. The second USB-C port on the bottom of the system enables players to charge it using the included AC adapter while playing in tabletop mode.
As for batteries, the Nintendo Switch is built with a 5,200mAh power block, which Nintendo says can last between 2 to 6.5 hours “depending on the games you play and usage conditions.” This is basically the same as the Switch, which was rated for 2.5 to 6.5 hours.
Launch games and backward compatibility
As of writing, Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 16 games, which include console exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, adrenaline drivers like EA Sports Madden NFL and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, as well as upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Party Jamboree.
Below are all the titles available upon release:
- Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Deltarune
- Fast Fusion
- Fortnite
- Hitman: World of Assassination
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Split Fiction
- Street Fighter 6
- Survival Kids
- Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
Other than these titles, Nintendo Switch 2 users will be able to play games made for the original Switch, as the new system is built to be backward compatible. Nintendo noted, though, that some Switch games may not be fully compatible with Joy-Con 2 controllers and there are some that can only be played via wireless connection to Joy-Con 1 controllers. This includes Nintendo Switch Sports, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con, Game Builder Garage, and the other games found in Nintendo’s guide here.
Other than Switch games, Nintendo Switch 2 will work with games originally built for GameCube, Nintendo’s fourth home video game console launched in 2001. Three titles will be available upon the launch—F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soul Calibur II—which you can access through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack along with other GameCube titles in the future.
When will the Nintendo Switch 2 roll out?
During Wednesday’s Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo announced that the device will be available for pre-order in the UK on April 8 and on April 9 in the US. The new game system will hit shelves globally on June 5, but later between July and September in the Philippines and fellow Asian countries Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Nintendo fans in the US have to wait a little longer in pre-ordering the device, though. The company just released a statement on April 4, saying that they’re delaying pre-orders in the country over tariff concerns.
“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged,” Eddie Garcia told The Verge on behalf of Nintendo.
The much-anticipated game console will retail for USD499.99 (P28,600) at launch, while price in the Philippines has yet to be announced.
All photos from Nintendo
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