Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it. As the successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time, expectations are very high for the new gaming device.
Nintendo has been here before. Under pressure to follow up on the hugely successful Wii system, it released the disappointing Wii U. But the Japanese firm rebounded by single-handedly resurrecting handhelds with the release of the beloved Switch in 2017.
And thankfully the buzz around the Switch 2 feels positive. Word will offer a significant jump in the console’s graphics power, support for a ton of new games, and the ability to launch older games.
Here’s what you need to know about the rumored new device, including its release date, price and features.
Nintendo Switch 2 features
With Nintendo dashing hopes of an upgraded Switch Pro in 2019, some thought the company was shifting its focus to a next-gen console.
Nintendo also announced last May that it did not plan to release any new hardware in 2023. Notably, it still hasn’t officially announced its next video game system. However, the rumor mill went into hyperdrive over the summer with a series of reports that all but confirmed the existence of the Switch 2.
Design
Back in July, VGC noted that there were people in the know who claimed that Nintendo was sticking to the Switch’s highly successful design formula with a new fully portable device.
One gaming industry analyst recently agreed with his own prediction that the next Switch “will be more of an iteration than a revolution.”
Kantan Games’ Serkan Toto told Gameindustry.biz that Nintendo may add some “features” to the new device, but it will be similar to the current Switch.
view
But the Switch 2’s screen may initially seem like a downgrade in some respects. It’s likely to use an LCD panel similar to the one on the original Nintendo Switch. The Switch OLED in 2021 has much deeper blacks, higher brightness, and much higher contrast.
Graphic
Behind closed doors, Nintendo has reportedly been showing off the new Switch, running impressive technology usually reserved for the latest consoles and PCs. According to VGC, the device features Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology; this technology allows the game to increase its visual resolution using AI; This means it can probably upscale full HD to 4K quality. Ray tracing is also enabled, allowing it to produce incredibly realistic lighting effects.
Nintendo Switch 2 games
While Nintendo keeps its new console secret, there is no information about the games it will offer. However, VGC said in July that developers began purchasing specialized hardware to test Switch 2 games and software. This is known as a development kit and looks nothing like the finished product released to the general public.
Additionally, Microsoft has previously confirmed that it will release Call of Duty games on Nintendo consoles if the Activision acquisition deal goes ahead, so perhaps we’ll see Modern Warfare 3 on Switch 2.
As part of a secret reveal in August, Nintendo apparently fired up The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo; It was first published in 2021 to show off the power of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Before you get too excited, it’s worth noting that this means the new Switch will rival those machines in terms of performance.
Nintendo vaguely hinted that it might allow players to access older games. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa aforementioned In June, the company announced it wanted to provide a “seamless transition” to its next-gen hardware by allowing players to use the same Nintendo account.
At the show in August, Nintendo also showed off the new console running an improved version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This may be an indication that some PS5-like games will offer new generation versions.
Price
VGC’s sources also said that the console will use cartridges as well as digital downloads, which could potentially increase the cost of Nintendo console games. Similar price increases have already occurred on Xbox and PS5.
Speaking of which, analyst Serkan Toto has suggested that the console will be slightly more expensive than the current Switch, at $400, which could equate to its £349.99-£379.99 pricing in the UK.
By comparison, a Nintendo Switch OLED costs £309.99 direct from Nintendo today.
When is the release date of Nintendo Switch 2?
According to separate reports from VGC and Nikkei Asia, the next Nintendo console could arrive in 2024, but not before spring at the earliest.
Should I buy a Nintendo Switch?
Considering we’re less than six months away from Nintendo’s next-gen device, you may be wondering whether it’s still worth buying a Switch for yourself or your kids.
The good news is that the hybrid gaming device still has plenty of steam left in its tank. A host of new Switch games will keep you entertained for the rest of the year and into 2024.
Upcoming releases include Detective Pikachu Returns, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Princess Peach Showtime, Mario etc. Includes Donkey Kong and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
You can also choose between three versions of the Switch: the original Switch, the Switch OLED with a sharper display, and the handheld-only Switch Lite. While the last of these makes a great stocking stuffer for kids this Christmas, older kids and families can still get plenty of fun from the other prints.
When will Nintendo Switch be discontinued?
Nintendo has confirmed that it will continue to support the Switch with new games until the end of March 2025.
It would not be wrong to say that the console will continue to work after this date due to its great popularity. After all, a 12.5 year old child nintendo 3ds The handheld will lose online features next year.