Nintendo Switch 2: Everything You Need to Know About the New Gaming Console

Published: June 6, 2025

The wait is over! Nintendo has finally launched its latest gaming console, promising a richer gaming experience for fans around the globe. The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available, starting at $449.99, or $499.99 with a Mario Kart World bundle.

New Features That Make Every Game Look, Sound, and Play Better

The Nintendo Switch 2 builds upon the original design, leveling up the way its games look, sound, and feel thanks to upgrades to the system's screen, processing power, audio. The new console features:

A bigger, better screen: The Nintendo Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch built-in LCD screen, a bump up from the original 6.2-inch screen, that displays in full HD at 1080p.
Faster processing and sharper visuals: An upgraded CPU and GPU mean quicker load times, smoother gameplay, and more detailed graphics across the board.
Crisper audio and spatial sound: Improved 3D sound makes the experience more lifelike, with clearer and more natural audio.
A 4K-ready dock: When connected to the new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, the system can support up to 4K and 120 frames per second on compatible TVs and games.
New accessibility options: In addition to existing tools, the Switch 2 adds more ways for players to customize their experience, including adjustable font sizes, screen reader support, and speech-to-text features.

The Switch 2 Also Has Smart Hardware Changes That Offer New Ways to Play

Nintendo didn't just focus on what's inside the system; it also introduced some clever new design elements that make playing more intuitive and fun. These include:

Magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers: They snap on magnetically, making them way easier to attach and detach when switching between play modes.
Mouse support: In supported games, each controller can now act like a mouse when slid across a flat surface, including your legs, while sitting down.
A sturdier stand: It now adjusts to a wider range of angles, making it easier to find the perfect view when playing in tabletop mode.
A second USB-C port: And it's in a smarter spot, so you can charge while playing upright or connecting various new accessories.

More Storage and New Ways to Share Games

With 256 GB of internal storage, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers eight times more space than the original system so players have more room to store more games, save data, and updates right out of the box. And if you need even more space, the system supports microSD Express cards, which allow for faster data reading speeds than standard microSD cards.

Plus, Nintendo is introducing new ways for players to connect and share their favorite games with friends – whether they own the title or not. This includes:

GameShare: Players can invite others to join in on a game they own, even if their friends don't have a copy. It works via local play between Switch 2 systems (and even with the original Switch), and can also be paired with GameChat for an all-in-one social gaming experience online.
Virtual game cards: Nintendo Switch 2 users can manage and share digital titles more easily using virtual game cards. These cards show all the games tied to your Nintendo Account and let you load them onto a second system – even without internet. They can also be used to lend or borrow games within a Nintendo Account family group, offering more flexibility for families or friend groups who want to share their library.

New Games and Accessories

For longtime Switch fans, the Nintendo Switch 2 plays many of your favorite Nintendo Switch games – both physical cartridges and digital downloads – so you won't have to start your game library from scratch. That said, some older Switch games might not work perfectly or at all on the new system, so it's worth checking compatibility before diving in.

At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives include:

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Mario Kart World
Hogwarts Legacy
Fortnite
Cyberpunk 2077
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut

And many more games are coming down the line, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, plus Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Hades II, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and EA Sports Madden NFL and EA Sports FC.

Is It Worth Upgrading?

If you're still playing the original Switch – now more than 8 years old – the Switch 2 is a major leap forward in almost every category. The system isn't just a modest upgrade; it's a generational leap that brings Nintendo closer to the fidelity and flexibility of competing consoles while still offering its unmistakable charm. Plus, it plays your existing game library (with enhancements for many top titles), adds features fans have been requesting for years, and boasts a launch window lineup that easily rivals any Nintendo system before it.

For more casual players or families who only recently bought a Switch OLED, the decision is trickier. With plenty of games for the O.G. system available to go through – and those games likely available at major discount now – it might be worth sticking with what you got.

But Mario Kart World is hard to resist. The courses are a delight, the new competition modes endlessly fun. And when mixed with GameChat, hours of gameplay go by in minutes.

Ultimately, Nintendo Switch 2 feels like more than just a sequel; it's a new era in Nintendo gaming. And for die-hard gamers, being a part of that experience feels worth every penny.