Nintendo Switch 2: Everything you need to know

After years of anticipation, Nintendo’s Switch 2 will finally be available on Thursday. Like the original Switch, it’s a game console that can be used on the go or connected to a TV, but the $700 device is also a much more tech-forward machine than its predecessor and has many key differences.

A full review of the console will have to wait, as Nintendo has permitted me to play with it for only two days in total, and only under very controlled conditions. But combining that hands-on time with all the data and information the company has published, I can answer the most vital questions you may have about the new video game system.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is significantly more powerful, has been redesigned from the ground up and works with an optional camera.

What makes Switch 2 better than the original?

The original Switch was released in 2017, and technology has changed substantially since. Physically, the system is larger but just as thin, with an improved kickstand and an additional USB-C port on top for use when the system is propped up.

The display is bigger, sharper, faster, brighter and more vibrant, supporting 1080p resolution and HDR colour with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. In person, it’s a stunning screen easily on par with the highest-end handheld gaming PCs. When connected to a TV, games can display in up to 4K resolution at 60Hz, or a smoother 120Hz in lower 1080p or 1440p resolution.

In handheld mode the Switch 2 uses a 7.9-inch, 1080p, 120Hz LCD screen, compared to the 6.2-inch, 720p, 60Hz one on the original Switch.

Nvidia has supplied a custom chip to drive all those pixels, and claims it has 10 times the graphical power of the chip in the original Switch. Switch 2 also supports Nvidia’s DLSS for AI upscaling, has three times the system RAM and eight times the storage of the original.

Finally, Nintendo has integrated a chat feature called GameChat into the system, so you can call friends and share your screen to show them what you’re playing. Certain games support a feature called GameShare, whereby players on other Switch consoles (nearby or online) can join in and play the game being streamed.

Gamechat can be controlled with a new “C” button on the controller. You can talk to friends whether they’re playing the same game as you or not, share your screen or (if you have a USB-C camera attached) include your face.

All of this combined makes for a more capable system with many new options to support both mainstream games and interesting play experiments over the next five to eight years. And while it’s too early to say if Switch 2 will be as successful as the original (though it’s unlikely, as the Switch is Nintendo’s bestselling home console ever), it is at least a compelling upgrade for anyone who plays their Switch a lot and wants to have access to new Nintendo games as they’re released.

How have the controllers improved?

The Joy-Con 2 are significantly different to the original Joy-Con. They are larger with bigger buttons and triggers, and they now magnet onto the sides of the console or controller grip rather than sliding on rails. You can still play with one in each hand or turn them sideways for quick two-player, but the extra size and bigger buttons makes this more comfortable.

The controllers have more advanced rumble, which can produce subtle textured vibrations or big rumbly shakes. And a new sensor on the inside edge of each one allows you to place them on a table (or your pants) and move them around like a mouse. This feels a lot like a mouse on a PC, and can be used to navigate menus and the home screen or as an option for gameplay.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically, and can be used like computer mice.

The major complaint about the original Joy-Con was that extended use could wear the internal parts and result in “stick drift”, or phantom movements that occurred even when the stick wasn’t touched. Nintendo has said the Joy-Con 2 were designed to prevent this, but has not provided any details.

What kinds of games does Switch 2 play?

Thanks to compatibility with original Switch games, there are already thousands of games in all genres you can play on Switch 2, with many more expected over the next year. But specifically, there are three kinds of software that run on the Switch 2:

1. Games released for the original Switch, whether on cartridges or bought from the digital store. Nintendo says a very small number of games are not supported.
2. Games developed specifically for the Switch 2. Some games that would never have run on the original Switch are coming to Switch 2, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws. Many future games coming to PC, Xbox and PS5 will be able to support Switch 2 as well.
3. Upgraded Switch games, which Nintendo calls “Switch 2 Editions”. These may simply upgrade an older game to look or run better, or may add entirely new content and features. If you already own the original Switch game, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition for a fee.

Metroid Prime 4 will release for Switch later this year, but will also come in a Switch 2 Edition that lets it display in 4K or 120Hz. So those not getting the new system yet can play it on the original Switch, and upgrade it later when they get a Switch 2.

What games will be available at launch?

Nintendo will have two major games at launch, both of which I’ve played quite a bit:

Mario Kart World is an evolution of Mario Kart 8, the highest-selling Nintendo game ever. The driving feels familiar but there are fresh nuances, such as hopping to grind on rails or ride on walls. Every course now exists in a massive open world, so you can race them individually or explore as you like, finding secret missions and unlocking new characters and costumes. The Grand Prix and new Knockout modes have you driving seamlessly between courses in one long rally, and the game feels designed specifically for online play and virtual hangouts. This is also the most Mario-focused the series has ever been, with heaps of references and familiar enemies showing up throughout. You can even race as incidental Mario creatures like the cow, penguin, goomba or dolphin.

Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour is partially a museum dedicated to all the work and development that’s gone into the system over several years, and partially a tutorial showing you how the various parts of the Switch 2 work. This would have been an ideal first experience if it were included with the system, but since it’s an additional purchase it’s hard to recommend.

Other Switch 2 launch games (asterisk denotes a Switch 2 Edition)

• Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
• Bravely Default HD Remaster
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Deltarune Chapters 1–4
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• Hitman: World of Assassination
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*
• Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma*
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII*
• Sonic x Shadow Generations
• Split Fiction
• Street Fighter 6
• Suikoden I&II HD Remaster
• Survival Kids
• Yakuza 0

Will Switch 2 physical games be available in stores?

Yes, but it gets a little complicated as there are three kinds of retail packages:

1. The game is on the cartridge.
2. No cartridge, just a printed code that you need to type into the Switch 2’s digital store.
3. An essentially empty cartridge, which Nintendo calls a Game-Key Card. Data is downloaded from the Switch 2 store, but you need the cartridge inserted to play. This means you can still trade or resell the game and someone else can use it.

So how do you know which is which? There are notices on the lower right corner of the game cases that will alert you to download codes, Game-Key Cards or Nintendo Switch 2 Editions.

How much will games cost?

Digital games will run the gamut from a few dollars to more than $100. Nintendo, for its part, has said it will adopt a variable pricing structure and not have one set price for its own games.

The ceiling for Nintendo’s games appears to be $120, at least for now. That’s what Mario Kart World will cost, with July’s Donkey Kong Bananza coming in slightly lower at $110. Other publishers of premium high-end games are aiming at a range of prices, starting at $60 and going as high as $130.

The upgrade fee for Switch 2 Edition games will be either $20 or $30. That means if you already own the original Switch version, or can source it cheaply, paying the upgrade fee can save you money versus buying the full retail Switch 2 version.

Will original Switch games play better on Switch 2?

In short, yes. But it will vary game by game. Because the Switch 2 is more powerful, you should expect some games to load faster or run smoother with no updates required. But the bigger improvements require some work from the game-makers.

Developers can update their games to run better on Switch 2, and you’ll get these updates free. Nintendo has confirmed it will be doing this for at least 12 of its own games. These updates could include HDR support, higher resolutions, faster frame rates or integration with Game Chat and other Switch 2 features.

More major updates should appear as Nintendo Switch 2 Editions which will attract an upgrade fee, but some publishers are opting to simply abandon the old versions of their games. For example, if you bought Sega’s Sonic X Shadow Generations on Switch you can continue to play it on Switch 2, but if you want better performance you need to pay full price to buy it again.

Nintendo classic The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is playable on Switch 2, if you have an online subscription.

Nintendo’s classic game apps will also move over to the Switch 2, and in some cases the emulators have been upgraded. For example the Nintendo 64 games will have a rewind feature and CRT filter option on Switch 2. Nintendo is also offering an app containing Gamecube games (including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX) exclusively for Switch 2.

Do you need a subscription to play Switch 2 online?

Yes, and the options are unchanged from the Switch. The yearly cost is $30 for an individual or $55 for a family of up to eight. There is also an “Expansion Pack” tier that is twice the cost.

In addition to online play, a Switch Online subscription gets you access to retro games, cloud saves, some original online-focused games like Tetris 99 and smartphone apps including Nintendo Music. Expansion Pack adds more retro games and select game expansions, including the Switch 2 Edition upgrades for the two Zelda games.

Are there parental controls for Switch 2?

Yes. These are handled through a smartphone app. You need to create a Nintendo account for yourself, and you can then create child accounts for your kids. When they sign in to a console, it connects to your app. You can set time limits, monitor what games are being played, limit certain features, or block games based on age rating. New Switch 2 features, like GameChat, have controls in the app too.

What accessories will be available for Switch 2?

The system comes with the console, two Joy-Con 2 controllers with straps, a grip for TV play, the TV dock, HDMI cable and power supply. Nintendo will sell separately:

• The Pro Controller at $120, which is an Xbox-style pad with additional rear grip buttons.
• The Charging Grip at $50, with a battery inside to keep your Joy-Con topped up.
• Additional Joy-Con pairs at $140.
• Joy-Con wheel pairs for motion-controlled Mario Kart at $30.
• The Switch 2 Camera at $70, for body-moving gameplay and adding video feeds to GameChat.
• Additional dock sets at $170.
• Additional power supplies at $45.
• An official travel case and screen protector at $40.
• A huge case for everything including a dock at $110.

Plenty of other companies will be making cases and controllers for the Switch 2.

Will my old stuff still work?

Most of it will. Anything that connected to the original Switch wirelessly or through USB should work with Switch 2, though Nintendo will only confirm that it will work with original Switch software. So while your old Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controller can stick around, there’s no guarantee they’ll work with all future games.

Anything that relies on the physical size of the Switch (like the old dock, or Labo) is obviously out, since the Switch 2 is bigger. The old Switch charger will probably top up the Switch 2, but it won’t be strong enough to power it while docked.

Of special note is that the microSD cards supported by the original Switch to store and play games will not work on Switch 2. The new console needs much faster storage, so when you run out of space on its 256GB internal drive, you’ll have to buy a new microSD Express card.

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