Satoru Iwata’s greatest masterpiece is none other than the Nintendo Switch. Despite running on hardware that was far outdated by the time of its release back in March 2017, it’s still arguably the best video game console of all time. But where do we stand after more than six years? Here’s everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2.
With an incredible library of first-party titles, the Nintendo Switch has now grossed enough sales to become the company’s second-best-selling console of all time, right behind the DS.
What to Expect from Nintendo Switch 2
By design, the Nintendo Switch is very much based on the Wii U, its predecessor, but improves the form factor by combining all the parts into a system that can be played from the couch or on the go.
Given the incredible praise for the Switch as a console, its awesome lineup of games, and the fact that literally everyone is trying to make their own version of it, the likelihood remains the same that the next system will be called Switch 2.
Rumors ran amok for years that Nintendo would eventually release a Switch Pro, but what we got instead was an OLED model that didn’t give much of a boost in any area aside from the display.
What the Switch 2 needs is a larger, higher resolution screen with an improved battery, OLED as the standard, and the ability to output in at least 4K resolution to keep up with modern TVs.
Latest News for Nintendo Switch 2
8-inch LCD Screen
A report by Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase says Nintendo’s next system will sport an 8-inch LCD screen and will for sure arrive in late 2024, according to Bloomberg. This is the biggest display ever in the history of the company’s line of consoles.
However, sticking with LCD is a step back from the OLED technology already included in the premium version of the Switch. The upgraded console includes a 7-inch screen, and the original model has a 6.2-inch screen.
Release Date Leak
Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe claimed in an OX do Controle video that he received info that Switch 2 will now be released in Q1 2025. According to the same sources, the titles being worked on will launch alongside the console itself.
In a press release revealing a partnership between AI Shark (formerly Game Shark) and Altec Lansing, the planned launch of their new product is set to “coincide with the Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2024.” This is mere conjecture, as there is no telling the authenticity of these claims.
Iteration Rather Than Revolution
According to Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, a Tokyo-based game industry consultancy firm, Nintendo’s next console could launch at around $400 with a series of $70 games, and come out in 2024. This was published on GamesIndustry.biz.
Furthermore, he said, “The next system is also likely to be an iteration rather than a revolution. Nintendo might add some bells and whistles to the device, but it will be similar to the current Switch.
And because there is Pokémon, and Pokémon is associated with handheld gaming, there is no way on earth Nintendo will drop the portability feature for their next big thing.”
Patent Leak
Gamerant discovered a patent filed in late 2022 by Nintendo that relates to Switch 2. There are four image sketches attached to the patent that display a console that looks similar to the current Switch model but with several differences.
The biggest change in the patent leak is the removal of the Joy-Cons, which is alarming. Rather, the console appears more in line with the Nintendo Switch Lite, with the image suggesting it’s an all-in-one unit. It shows the console featuring a single joystick on the left, with four buttons on the right and two shoulder buttons on the top of the console.
Further images reveal that the home and capture buttons have been put under the unit, alongside dual speakers and a USB-C port. The top of the console includes a power button, volume adjuster, headphone jack, and cartridge slot. It’s reassuring to know that Nintendo will continue to use physical media going forward.
According to Gamerant, the patent includes a description of a pressure-sensitive touchscreen display, with the description suggesting that an “input to control directional movement” could be included on the right of the device. This could mean a second joystick that would make the device more similar to the original Switch.
More Details
- According to Nintendo’s annual fiscal year report, no Switch 2 will be coming in 2023.
- Job listings for a role within the European branch of Nintendo hint at the existence of the new system and even provide some insider details regarding it
- Rumors state that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be sharing the same release window as the PS5 Pro.
- In a court appearance, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick confirmed the horsepower of Nintendo’s next-gen console is in line with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. This is a major upgrade considering the original Switch had outdated hardware specs at the time of its release.
- Leaker Nash Weedle first reported a Spanish developer being in possession of a dev kit for Switch 2. Weedle also revealed factual info about Metroid Dread before it came out on Switch.
- Shuntaro Furukawa, President of Nintendo Japan, confirmed that accounts will transfer to next-gen.
- According to VGC, development kits are now in the hands of “key partner studios” as of July 2023.
- Multiple sources also informed VGC that Nintendo is targeting the Switch 2 for the second half of 2024.
- VGC also reported that the new system will feature a “portable mode” like the Switch.
- The Nintendo Switch 2 could boast 512GB of storage and an 8-inch LCD display, according to claims by reputable leaker NateTheHate.
- An unverified tipster by the alias of Jonathan Bark claims that the Switch 2 will be called the Nintendo Focus, coming with a new Mario Kart game. The name Focus is related to VR capabilities yet to be revealed.
- Jonathan Bark also revealed that Switch 2 will be backward compatible in some capacity but will cost $2.99 per game to do so. This could cause outrage within the community of loyal Nintendo fans.
- Switch 2 was shown off behind closed doors at Gamescom 2023 using an enhanced version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, according to a report from Eurogamer.
- VGC published an article that said Switch 2 was running the impressive Epic Games’s Unreal Engine 5 tech demo called The Matrix Awakens. This was first released to demonstrate the power of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S way back in 2021. The demo is also said to be using NVIDIA DLSS upscaling technology, along with advanced raytracing comparable to current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date and Price
Toyo Securites analyst Hideki Yasuda believes that the next Switch will release in the first half of 2025 (between April and July), and will cost just under $499, as stated in a report.
If the job listings within the team at Nintendo of Europe are any indication, in addition to the rumors of a shared release window with the supposed PS5 Pro, then we could see Nintendo finally release the console within the next 12 months.
Nintendo Switch 2 Features
There’s little to go on right now in terms of confirmed features for the Nintendo Switch 2. But there are a lot of things that can be assumed.
For one, given the insane demand for legacy first-party titles and third-party titles to be ported to the Switch, backwards compatibility is a must for the system to succeed.
What’s more, Xbox and PlayStation now offer almost 100% backwards compatibility for their latest systems through cloud services like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. With the success of remasters and remakes like Metroid Prime and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, running older Switch titles on updated hardware would deliver improved visuals and a performance boost.
Another critical improvement to the existing form factor of the Switch 2 needs to come in the Joy-Cons. The drifting issue has been ongoing for what feels like eons, and even though Nintendo has made efforts to solve the problem, it’s important that the new control scheme offers improved precision.
Despite asking for a premium subscription to online services with its games, Nintendo is lagging behind in terms of internet connectivity with multiplayer. Improved Wi-Fi is a must in order to sell the Switch’s successor.
The Nintendo Switch was first released worldwide on March 3, 2017. An economy version of the system focusing on the handheld experience, the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released on September 20, 2019. Later, a revised premium version of the base system model, featuring an OLED display, was released on October 8, 2021.
We still firmly believe that the standard Nintendo Switch model is the best investment for performance and value. It’s available at most retailers, both online and in physical stores.