The wait is sort of over. After years of rumours and hypothesis, Nintendo is lastly set to carry the lid on the Nintendo Swap 2 at its upcoming Nintendo Direct occasion on 2 April.
Whereas the console was first teased again in January through a quick first-look trailer, particulars have been scarce. The video appeared to again up a number of long-standing rumours, together with magnetically hooked up Pleasure-Cons, a bigger show, a refreshed design and a glimpse at a brand new Mario Kart recreation, however Nintendo stopped in need of confirming something outright. Nevertheless, extra info is beginning to trickle out as the total reveal attracts nearer.
On 27 March, Finest Purchase Canada by accident revealed (then rapidly deleted) a weblog put up revealing that pre-orders for the Nintendo Swap 2 will open on 2 April. This matches the unique Swap’s launch technique, which opened pre-orders instantly after the reveal. That very same day, Nintendo shared new promo photos of the console, lastly fixing the thriller of the sq. button on the correct Pleasure-Con.
With the massive occasion simply days away, we gained’t have to attend lengthy for the official breakdown. Within the meantime, right here’s all the things we all know to this point in regards to the Swap 2’s worth, launch date, specs and extra.
Nintendo Swap 2 launch date: When is the console popping out, and when are you able to pre-order?
Whereas Nintendo hasn’t introduced a precise launch date for the Nintendo Swap 2, the corporate has confirmed it’s going to arrive in 2025. It additionally introduced that it’ll reveal all at a Nintendo Direct occasion on Wednesday 2 April at 2pm GMT within the UK.
Primarily based on present leaks and a bit extra hypothesis, we will slim down once we would possibly see it hit retailer cabinets. On 13 January 2025, video games insider Nate the Hate was the primary to accurately announce Nintendo’s plans to unveil the Swap 2 on 16 January 2025. In his podcast, he speculated that the Swap 2 might launch in Might or June this 12 months, a declare supported by the video games trade publication VGC.
To have a good time the launch of the Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo is internet hosting hands-on expertise days across the globe. They’ll happen in April, Might and June, which makes us assume the console might be launched after the expertise days. With the ultimate expertise day set for 1 June in Seoul, we’re leaning in the direction of a launch within the first week of June.
Followers excited about getting up shut with the Nintendo Swap 2 have been in a position to register for Nintendo’s free draw, nevertheless it closed on 26 January. For those who didn’t get picked, you possibly can be part of the waiting list. The UK expertise day will happen on the Excel in London on 11-13 April.
In early February, a former Nintendo worker identified solely as Sean – who was reportedly a gross sales lead in Nintendo’s gross sales and retail division – speculated in regards to the launch date within the Equipment and Krysta podcast. “I feel we’ll see a June launch, I am considering in all probability mid-June, possibly a bit bit later than that. However undoubtedly earlier than the top of the summer season that factor’s popping out,” he stated. “They’re going to need the system to be out earlier than the top of the summer season. I might say firstly of the summer season – finish of college 12 months, so that you’ve received the youngsters at school speaking about what they’re excited for.”
Sean additionally acknowledged that retailers don’t know the discharge date of the Nintendo Swap 2 – they’re simply speculating. “Once we know the launch date, that’s in all probability when retailers will know the launch date, or possibly every week or two upfront of that,” he stated.
As for pre-orders, a current leak could have simply revealed the precise date. On 27 March, Finest Purchase Canada briefly revealed (and rapidly deleted) a weblog put up claiming that pre-orders for the Nintendo Swap 2 would open on 2 April, the identical day as Nintendo’s Direct occasion. That timing would make sense: when the unique Swap was introduced in January 2017, pre-orders went stay instantly after the presentation. If historical past repeats itself, we might see the same rollout right here, with pre-orders opening straight after the Direct.
The dearth of a launch date hasn’t stopped retailers from getting the Mario Get together began early, nonetheless. You’ll be able to already register your curiosity at Currys, so that you’ll be the primary in line whenever you’re lastly in a position to pre-order the console. ShopTo goes one step additional and letting clients reserve their console now for 1p, and paying the total worth as soon as the console has been dispatched.
Nintendo Swap 2 worth: How a lot will the console price?
Whereas Nintendo remained tight-lipped in regards to the console’s worth in its first-look trailer (and is unlikely to disclose extra particulars till nearer to the discharge date), Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa has given us some optimistic clues. In a current earnings name, he hinted the console might be extra reasonably priced than some had first thought.
In early February, Nintendo introduced its third-quarter monetary outcomes; in a Q&A afterwards, Furukawa stated the corporate was prioritising “the affordability that our clients anticipate from Nintendo merchandise”, although he admitted high inflation and Donald Trump’s export tariffs might have an effect. Nonetheless, his feedback on a less-than-predicted worth hike are promising.
It appears doubtless the Nintendo Swap 2 will price the identical as or greater than the Nintendo Swap OLED, which is at the moment priced at £309.99. Analysts who spoke to IGN predict a worth of round $400 (£330), $50 greater than the Swap OLED within the US.
In early February, an Italian retailer listed the Nintendo Switch 2 on its web site, letting clients pre-order the console earlier than it has even been totally unveiled. The system is priced at €389.99 (£325), making it solely barely costlier than the Nintendo Swap OLED.
It’s unclear whether or not the retailer has inside data of the pricing or if that is only a placeholder, with pre-orders probably being amended as soon as Nintendo formally pronounces the value. Nonetheless, the itemizing aligns with feedback from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, suggesting the console might not be as costly as some had feared.
One other Nintendo Swap 2 worth leak surfaced over the weekend. In a put up (solely proven to registered members) on Famiboards, a Costco Canada worker confirmed what was supposedly a placeholder itemizing for a brand new Swap mannequin in Costco Canada’s inner system, priced at $499.99 CAD.
The put up consists of photos of a backend product itemizing and a printed signal misspelt as “NINTENDO SWITCH PALCE HOLDER”. The poster isn’t claiming that is undoubtedly for the Swap 2, however they did point out that in “5 years of working there”, they’ve by no means seen a placeholder like this earlier than. That’s a $50 CAD (£30) enhance over the Swap OLED, which at the moment retails for $449.99 CAD in Canada, giving us extra hope that the Swap 2 gained’t be exceedingly costly.
Once more, Sean – the previous Nintendo gross sales lead – says that we shouldn’t consider costs and launch dates listed by retailers, stating that they don’t know something at this level, however he speculated in regards to the worth when requested. “I can’t think about it being an excessive amount of greater than $400… possibly $450 is the best I can think about,” he defined in the podcast.
Nintendo Swap 2 design
Nintendo gave us a fast first take a look at the Nintendo Swap 2 on 16 January with a flashy first-look trailer. Whereas visually spectacular, the trailer left many particulars unexplained, together with a radical breakdown of the console’s design and the features of its new buttons. However right here’s what we’ve gleaned from the trailer.
Simply from the design alone, the Nintendo Swap 2 seems like a extra grown-up console in contrast with the unique’s playful, brightly colored look. Whereas the blue and purple accents are nonetheless there, they’re extra delicate – restricted to the perimeters of the Pleasure-Cons and thumb sticks – whereas the remainder of the console boasts a modern black end. The sport cartridge slot continues to be in the identical place, and your Swap 1 cartridges will work on the brand new mannequin.
The scale distinction was obvious when Nintendo positioned the Swap 2 alongside the OG mannequin in the course of the trailer. The console is noticeably bigger, and so are the Pleasure-Cons and the show. In a earlier report, OnLeaks and 91mobiles claimed the Swap 2 options an 8.4in show, bigger than the 6.2in show on the unique Swap and the 7in show of the Swap OLED.
The largest upgrades appear to return to the Pleasure-Cons. As a substitute of the normal rail-locking system, the trailer exhibits the Pleasure-Cons clicking on, probably magnetically – a closely rumoured improve. This might imply no extra fiddling round to slip them into place, and it additionally makes them extra steady. Extra importantly, it might lastly clear up the dreaded Joy-Con drift.
There’s additionally a brand new sq. button on the correct Pleasure-Con, slightly below the Residence button. Whereas its goal continues to be unclear, some speculated it is perhaps for a brand new chat function, and people speculations is perhaps right. Due to new promo photos launched on 27 March by Nintendo, we will see the button has a letter “C” on it, including credence to the idea that Nintendo is introducing a chat or neighborhood function to the platform.
One second within the trailer confirmed a Pleasure-Con sliding throughout a floor like a mouse, hinting at mouse-like performance, one thing that might open up a wealth of prospects for the system. Few video games use the Swap display’s contact controls, for instance, so mouse performance might add new gameplay. Newly launched February 2025 patents additionally give extra info on the Pleasure-Cons probably working like a pc mouse.
The dock seems to be broadly the identical however has rounded corners as an alternative of these sharper ones discovered on the unique Swap, simply making it look quite a bit sleeker. Hopefully, we’ll study extra within the coming weeks and months.
In early February, Nintendo filed a brand new patent that means customers will have the ability to connect the Pleasure-Cons to the Swap 2 the wrong way up. In line with the patent, the Nintendo Swap 2 could have gyro-based display rotation, much like how a telephone adjusts its show when tilted.
Nintendo Swap 2 launch video games: What titles will come to the console?
Nintendo solely revealed one recreation for the Swap within the reveal trailer – a brand new Mario Kart recreation operating on the system. Excited followers have analysed frames within the trailer and noticed that there are as much as 24 gamers on a race course without delay. Tracks additionally seem a lot wider – Mario Kart titles have at all times restricted players to 12 racers without delay, and that’s already chaotic sufficient.
Dashing across the monitor on all the things from bikes, karts and snowmobiles to quadbikes, lowriders, jet skis, and, sure even a cheetah, are some acquainted faces, together with Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Bowser, Yoshi, Toad, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Pauline, Donkey Kong, Child Mario, Child Luigi, Toadette and extra (although they will’t all be made out clearly).
Then on 27 March, Nintendo hosted a brand new Nintendo Direct presentation, the place it targeted on upcoming titles for the present Swap system. Within the presentation, Nintendo introduced one thing referred to as “Digital Sport Playing cards,” a brand new function that lets customers share digital video games between gadgets linked to the identical Nintendo Account. Within the effective print detailing this function, Nintendo talked about “Nintendo Swap 2 Version video games”, suggesting that sure current Swap titles will obtain enhanced variations optimised for the upcoming Swap 2 console.
But what other games can we expect to see? In Nate the Hate’s podcast, the games insider speculated a new 3D Mario game will be released in December 2025, and third-party releases could include the Final Fantasy 7 remake, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
We also know that both Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 will be launching in 2025, making them both likely launch titles. Nintendo has also scheduled a 2025 release for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam and a Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D remake.
In early February, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that GTA 6 might be coming to the Nintendo Swap 2, although we’re doubtful about how effectively it’s going to run – it’d simply be a pared-back port of the sport.
Third-party builders have additionally began revealing titles for the Swap 2, although none are main AAA. They’re all primarily small indie choices – we’re nonetheless ready for the foremost builders to announce their video games.
- Yooka-Replayee – Playtonic Video games
- Littlelands – Rafael Martin and Kyle Creamer
- Bestiario – Wiggin Industries
- Synth Beasts – Radhood Advance
- Aurascope – Nick Oztok
- My Time at Evershine – Pathea Video games
- Secret Forest – Zelcar Video games
On 15 March, video games insider eXtas1S, who has been correct when it come to Xbox video games information previously however has a spotty file with regards to Nintendo information, claimed that three Bandai Namco video games could be coming to the Nintendo Swap 2 in a YouTube video.
In line with eXtas1S, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero might be one of many launch titles, and Elden Ring and Tekken 8 may be launched for the system. “I can say that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is predicted to be one of many very first Bandai Namco video games to reach on the Nintendo Swap 2 at launch,” he stated. “From what I’ve been informed, the console will launch in late June 2025, and this recreation will probably be one of many launch titles.”
Nintendo Swap 2 specs
Nintendo has by no means been all that involved with technical specs, so even when it hosts its Nintendo Direct occasion, the gaming big nonetheless won’t go into any substantial element. Prior leaks might give us some thought, nonetheless.
The Nintendo Swap at the moment makes use of Nvidia’s (now very previous) Tegra X1 chip, which includes a 256-core Maxwell GPU. The rumours to this point counsel that Nintendo will probably be sticking with Nvidia for the Nintendo Swap 2, regardless of stiff competitors from AMD, which offered the chip for Valve’s highly effective Steam Deck.
In September 2022, an Nvidia worker acknowledged that the Nintendo Swap 2 would make use of a brand new Nvidia Tegra chip, particularly the Tegra T239 – a beforehand unconfirmed circuit that older rumours steered the Swap 2 would use.
Nvidia’s sources as soon as once more backed up these claims in late February 2024. Video games leaker Moore’s Regulation is Useless stated in a YouTube video that the leak from Digital Foundry in regards to the T239 processor is an “virtually completely right abstract” of the Nintendo Swap 2. The insider claimed that the T239 has an Ampere GPU structure and makes use of Samsung’s 8nm course of node with 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of 128-bit LPDDR5 reminiscence. That would make it as highly effective because the PS4.
Whereas there was no phrase on 4K help, a 2021 patent filed by Nintendo steered it was engaged on 4K upscaling. VGC added to this hearsay in September when its sources have been proven the Nintendo Swap 2 at Gamescon. According to the publication, “One Swap 2 demo is known to have been an improved model of the Swap launch title Zelda: Breath of the Wild, operating at a better framerate and determination than the unique recreation.”
VGC’s supply noticed The Matrix Awakens operating on the machine, which was used as an Unreal Engine check demo for the PS5 and Xbox Collection X. “The demo is alleged to have been operating utilizing Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling know-how, with superior ray tracing enabled and visuals akin to Sony’s and Microsoft’s current-gen consoles,” the report reads.
In September 2024, photographs of prototype elements leaked on a Chinese language web site. In accordance to Digital Foundry, the leak “was real”. Alongside the alleged photographs, one other consumer leaked a reported full spec record of the console. The leak acknowledged it might have 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM and HDMI 2.1 ports.
Primarily based on the leaked specs, the Swap 2 gained’t be as quick because the PS5 or Xbox Collection X, nevertheless it has extra RAM than the Xbox Collection S, making it extra much like the Steam Deck.
We’re unlikely to listen to official details about the specs till the console is within the fingers of the specialists, although an FCC submitting has given us a bit extra perception. As spotted by The Verge, there’s an NFC chip in the correct Pleasure-Con, suggesting the Swap 2 will proceed to help Amiibos. The submitting additionally suggests the console will have the ability to cost from each the highest and the underside USB-C ports, and that it’ll use Wi-Fi 6.
The perfect Nintendo Swap offers
With the Swap 2 formally on the best way, the Swap OLED is beginning to come down in worth. “Its vibrant show, higher construct high quality and larger storage make shopping for the Nintendo Swap OLED a no brainer,” we stated in our review of the console. Proper now, you possibly can choose it up with a reduction on Amazon.
We’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch games for every kind of player
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