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It was a protracted outdated await Nintendo followers, however in January, the gaming big lastly put us out of our distress by unveiling the Nintendo Swap 2 – the successor to its wildly in style hybrid console.
Confirmed for launch someday this yr, the Swap 2 had been the worst-kept secret in console historical past. By the point Nintendo launched its two-minute first-look trailer, leaks had already laid many of the groundwork. Whereas gentle on element, the trailer confirmed long-rumoured options like magnetically hooked up Pleasure-Cons, a bigger show, a refreshed design and a brand new Mario Kart recreation.
Extra just lately, newly released patents counsel the Pleasure-Cons might even operate like a pc mouse – a characteristic hinted at within the trailer. Plus, leaks in regards to the Nintendo Swap 2’s price ticket proceed to drop.
Intriguingly, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has recommended that GTA 6 could possibly be coming to the Swap 2, fuelling hypothesis in regards to the console’s efficiency capabilities. If true, it will mark a big leap for Nintendo, whose previous {hardware} has typically lagged behind PlayStation and Xbox in uncooked energy.
We’ll discover out extra at a Nintendo Direct occasion on 2 April, however for now, what else do we all know? Right here’s the most recent on the discharge date, worth, 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, and has introduced it’s going to reveal all at a Nintendo Direct occasion on Wednesday 2 April at 2pm GMT within the UK.
Based mostly on present leaks and a little bit of knowledgeable hypothesis, we will slender down after 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 yr, a declare supported by the video games business publication VGC.
To rejoice 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 could possibly be launched after the expertise days. With the ultimate expertise day set for 1 June in Seoul, we’re leaning in direction of a launch within the first week of June.
Followers excited by getting up shut with the Nintendo Swap 2 have been capable of register for Nintendo’s free draw, but it surely closed on 26 January. Should you didn’t get picked, you’ll be able to be part of the waiting list. The UK expertise day will happen on the Excel in London on 11-13 April.
As for pre-orders, we stay at midnight, however our present predictions are that you simply could possibly pre-order one after Nintendo hosts its Nintendo Direct on 2 April. When Nintendo launched the unique Swap in January 2017, pre-orders went dwell that exact same day.
An absence of a launch date hasn’t stopped retailers from getting the Mario Occasion began early, nevertheless. You may already register your curiosity at Currys, so that you’ll be the primary in line once you’re lastly capable of pre-order the console. ShopTo goes one step additional and letting prospects 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 value?
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 latest earnings name, he hinted the console could possibly be extra inexpensive than some had first thought.
In early February, Nintendo introduced its third-quarter monetary outcomes, and, in a Q&A afterwards, Furukawa mentioned “the affordability that our prospects count on from Nintendo merchandise” is being thought-about, 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 possible the Nintendo Swap 2 will value the identical as or greater than the Nintendo Swap OLED, which is at present 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 prospects 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 proclaims the worth. Nonetheless, the itemizing aligns with feedback from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, suggesting the console will 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 contains photos of a backend product itemizing and a printed signal misspelt as “NINTENDO SWITCH PALCE HOLDER”. The poster isn’t claiming that is positively 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 present retails for $449.99 CAD in Canada, giving us extra hope that the Swap 2 received’t be exceedingly costly.
Nintendo Swap 2 design
Nintendo gave us a fast first have 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 capabilities 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 refined – restricted to the perimeters of the Pleasure-Cons and thumb sticks – whereas the remainder of the console boasts a glossy black end. The sport cartridge slot remains to be in the identical place, and your Swap 1 cartridges will work on the brand new mannequin.
When Nintendo positioned the Swap 2 alongside the OG mannequin through the trailer, the dimensions distinction was obvious. 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.
The most important upgrades appear to return to the Pleasure-Cons. As an alternative 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 in place and making them extra secure, however extra importantly, it might lastly remedy the dreaded Pleasure-Con drift.
There’s additionally a brand new sq. button on the best Pleasure-Con, slightly below the House button. What is that this mysterious button? It’s unclear for now, however rumours counsel it could possibly be for a brand new chat characteristic on the system. There isn’t a “C” letter on this sq. button, like there may be on the left Pleasure-Con, so we all know it isn’t one other seize button.
One second within the trailer confirmed a Pleasure-Con sliding throughout a floor like a mouse, hinting at mouse-like performance, one thing that would open up a wealth of potentialities for the system. Not a variety of video games use the Swap display screen’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.
When it comes to the dock, it appears to be like broadly the identical however has rounded corners as a substitute of these sharper ones discovered on the unique Swap, simply making it look rather a lot sleeker. Hopefully, we’ll study extra within the coming weeks and months.
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 forensically analysed frames within the trailer and have seen 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 avid gamers to 12 racers without delay, and that’s already chaotic sufficient.
Dashing across the observe on the whole lot 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).
However what different video games can we count on to see? In Nate the Hate’s podcast, the video games insider speculated a brand new 3D Mario recreation will probably be launched in December 2025, and third-party releases might embody the Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake, Murderer’s Creed Mirage and Steel Gear Strong Delta: Snake Eater.
We additionally know that each Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 will probably be launching in 2025, making them each possible launch titles. Nintendo has additionally scheduled a 2025 launch 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 could possibly be coming to the Nintendo Swap 2, although we’re doubtful about how nicely it’s going to run – it would 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 basically 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
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 may not go into any substantial element. Prior leaks might give us some concept, nevertheless.
The Nintendo Swap at present makes use of Nvidia’s (now very outdated) Tegra X1 chip, which includes a 256-core Maxwell GPU. The rumours to date counsel Nintendo will probably be sticking with Nvidia for the Nintendo Swap 2, regardless of stiff competitors from AMD, which supplied the chip for Valve’s highly effective Steam Deck.
In September 2022, an Nvidia worker said 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 recommended 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 Legislation is Useless stated in a YouTube video that the leak from Digital Foundry in regards to the T239 processor is an “virtually completely appropriate 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 recommended 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 the next 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 claimed to have been operating utilizing Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling expertise, with superior ray tracing enabled and visuals akin to Sony’s and Microsoft’s current-gen consoles,” the report reads.
In September 2024, images of prototype elements leaked on a Chinese language web site. In accordance to Digital Foundry, the leak “was real”. Alongside the alleged images, one other person leaked a reported full spec listing of the console. The leak said it will have 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM and HDMI 2.1 ports.
Based mostly on the leaked specs, the Swap 2 received’t be as quick because the PS5 or Xbox sequence X, but it surely has extra RAM than the Xbox Collection S, making it extra just like the Steam Deck. We’re unlikely to listen to official details about the specs till the console is within the arms of specialists who teardown the system.
The very best Nintendo Swap offers
Nintendo Swap OLED: Was £309.99, now £274.99, Amazon.co.uk
With the Swap 2 formally on the way in which, the Swap OLED is beginning to come down in worth. Amazon has discounted the console by £40. “Its vibrant show, higher construct high quality and larger storage make shopping for the Nintendo Swap OLED a no brainer,” we mentioned in our review of the console.
We’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch games for every kind of player
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