It’s been eight years since the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, and after a long and successful reign, it’s time to learn more about its successor. We’ve seen updates to the current Switch with OLED and Lite models, but it seems we’re finally close to a real Switch 2.
After Nintendo became the second best-selling console in history last year, it’s protected to say Nintendo wants to keep things close. However, despite all the mystery surrounding the possibility of a novel Nintendo Switch, leaks have been steadily emerging over the past few months and we’ve gathered all the details we could find about the mysterious sequel ahead of its final official announcement and release.
What will Nintendo Switch 2 look like?
The look and design of the Switch 2 – as we’ll call it from now on until the official announcement – has been the subject of some of the most solemn leaks in recent weeks, thanks to third-party accessory makers releasing prototypes of their Switch 2 accessories. The most eminent of these come from accessory maker Genki, which showed off a Switch 2 reconstruction at this year’s CES, based on the specs of a real Switch 2 that Genki says it has seen and used – something Genki says it has since backtracked on.
IGN caught up with Genki at CES and took a look at several Switch 2 design details we’ve seen in leaks recently, including Joy-Cons that attach magnetically to the tablet rather than sliding on rails like on the current Switch. Also said by Genki CEO Eddie Tsai, who again claims to have based the company’s designs on the real Switch 2 Edge there is an optical sensor that could potentially turn Joy-Cons into something like a computer mouse.
Another novel feature in the Switch 2 is the mysterious novel “C” button on the right Joy-Con. There are rumors that this may be related to some camera feature, but neither Genki nor any leaks have any real confirmation on how this novel button works. Finally, there’s also a novel USB port on the top of the Switch 2, which should allow gamers to charge their system in portable mode if they prefer to have the cable above the screen rather than below it.
Joy-Cons seem to be the area of the biggest changes in Switch 2. In addition to magnetic additions, in May 2023 the patent was filed with the United States Patent Office and published in September, which detailed the magnetic field of the controls rather than the plastic circuit boards used in the current-generation console, which could mitigate “Joy-Con drift.”
In terms of the chassis itself, the Genki-based Switch 2 will remain largely unchanged, although it will be larger. We brought in a measuring tape and discovered that Genki’s Switch 2 model is 10.5 inches wide, 4.5 inches statuesque, 0.5 inch bulky, and has an 8-inch screen. For comparison, the Switch OLED is 9.5″ wide, 4.5″ high, also 0.5″ thick and has a 7-inch screen. The Switch 2 could also come with a U-shaped kickstand, unlike what’s currently available on the Switch and Switch OLED.
Switch 2 specifications and performance
Less is known about the internals of the Switch 2, so performance is still a mystery. Digital foundry was able to confirm that the Switch 2 is running a custom version of Nvidia’s T234 mobile processor called T239. Based on an eight-core ARM A78C processor cluster and a custom graphics unit based on Nvidia’s Ampere RTX 30-series architecture, Digital Foundry’s findings lead me to believe that the Switch 2 will be more powerful than the PS4, but not comparable to current-gen consoles like the PS5.
Another concern is that sources have told Digital Foundry that Nvidia’s custom chip may not feature the Deep Learning Accelerator (DLA), which would limit DLSS upscaling to 1440p instead of 4K.
Finally, according to another leak, alleged retail offers show that the Switch 2 supports newer SD card models with faster transfer speeds and performance comparable to SSD drives.
Switch 2 Launch games
While the Switch 2’s looks and specs are fine, what about the games? Well, we know even less about Switch 2’s launch games than almost everything else about the console. So let’s take a look at some of the games that launched with the first Switch, shall we?
Looking back, the first launch titles on the Switch were pretty lackluster. Aside from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was a truly stunning game, the rest of the Switch’s launch lineup included games like 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, Snipperclips, and Shovel Knight, among others.
The release “window” was slightly better for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS and Splatoon 2, as well as Super Mario Odyssey towards the end of the year.
Will games running on Switch 2 be better? It’s almost impossible to say. Nintendo will still release a few games on Switch in 2025, including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but it will almost certainly be a cross-gen game in the same way that Breath of the Wild was on Wii U and Switch. But who can say whether Metroid Prime 4 will be a launch game or a launch window game?
Will Switch 2 be backwards compatible?
One thing we know for sure: Switch 2 will seemingly be backwards compatible.
Instead of a leak, it came from Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa himself in a statement posted to the official Nintendo X account. During a corporate governance briefing in November 2024, Furukawa announced that “Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”
Furukawa also says that “Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to the Nintendo Switch.”
This is Furukawa. During today’s company management policy briefing, we announced that the Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will also be available on the successor to the Nintendo Switch. More information about…
— Nintendo Co., Ltd. (public relations/IR) (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024
While this statement isn’t entirely revealing, it does at least confirm that current Nintendo Switch games will be available on the Switch 2, and that the version of Nintendo Switch Online we know today will also be available on the Switch 2. More specific details, however, are unclear. whether it’s as simple as playing our games directly from our current Nintendo Switch cartridge or a digital transfer.
Nintendo Switch 2 release date
While Nintendo has yet to announce any official sequels to its hugely successful Nintendo Switch console, a 2025 launch seems almost certain. We just don’t know when.
In February 2024, a Japanese publication was released Nikkei he suggested it the proposed Nintendo Switch 2 console will launch in March 2025 at the earliest, which is contrary to previous reports. While the article touched on information we’ve heard before, such as the proposed iterative design scheme, Nikkei added that the 2025 date was likely due to the company stockpiling consoles to avoid scalping at launch. As any long-time Nintendo fan knows, purchasing one of the company’s new consoles can be a difficult task. Those who have tried will remember how difficult it was to secure a Nintendo Switch at launch in 2017, with the console suffering from inflated prices on the secondary market due to devious sellers.
President of Nintendo, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed in an interview With Nikkeiand translated by VGCthat Nintendo will support the current generation Switch until at least March 2025. This opinion is also confirmed by Furukawa’s previous comments regarding the future of Nintendo Switch In financial information questions and answers in 2022. In that interview, he pledged to focus on “building long-term relationships with our consumers (through Nintendo Accounts),” he continued, “As we continue to release novel Nintendo Switch software for consumers to exploit, our goal is to maintain relationships between generations of hardware through services that exploit Nintendo Accounts and provide them with the ability to exploit our intellectual property through other non-gaming channels.
Even with all the juicy rumors, it’s best not to hold your breath in anticipation of what the Japanese tech titan’s next console will bring until an official announcement is made; Fingers crossed, we will receive this confirmation soon.
Nintendo Switch 2 price
There are many Nintendo Switch models worth considering when shopping, and prices change dramatically depending on the version you want to invest in. As we look forward to a potential Switch 2, inflation and internal specs, among other variables, will likely play a part of what we pay for the novel console at launch.
It’s tough to say what the price of this mystery device will be, but as a reference, here’s the suggested retail price of the current range of Nintendo Switch models:
- Nintendo Switch Lite: $199.99
- Nintendo Switch: $299.99
- Nintendo Switch OLED: $349.99
Nintendo Switch 2 models
With scope Nintendo Switch consoles currently on the market, you may wonder if you’ll have the same number of options to choose from when the next iteration comes out.
The latest OLED Nintendo Switch model has an extraordinary screen and it seems to be the future of the console as it is the latest edition in Nintendo’s lineup. However, according to A VGC reportMay premiere of the next generation Nintendo Switch potentially equipped with an LCD screen Instead.
The current range of Nintendo Switch models is vast and they have been released over the many years of the console’s existence, so it is reasonable to assume that there may be several versions of a potential Nintendo Switch sequel.
This article was originally published on April 4, 2024. It was updated on January 9, 2025.