"Nintendo Switch 2: Unveiling the New Pocket Flagship"

The official trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 was unveiled on January 16, 2025, taking the gaming community by surprise. Without any prior announcement, the new console's design was suddenly showcased on Nintendo's YouTube channels. Although the release date had been a subject of much speculation and frequent changes, NateTheHate accurately predicted the reveal date. If you missed it, you can catch the trailer below:

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Size Design What's inside? Release Date Price What are we going to play? 0 0 Comment on this Size

From the trailer, it's evident that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be larger across all dimensions. The screen, Joy-Cons, and even the control sticks are noticeably bigger. While exact specs remain undisclosed, rumors suggest the Switch 2 will measure 116 mm in height, 270 mm in width, and 14 mm in thickness. This makes it 3.1 cm wider and 1.4 cm taller than the original Nintendo Switch. Additionally, whispers point to an 8-inch screen, compared to the 7-inch screen of the OLED version of the first Switch.

Image: x.com

Design

The trailer introduces a new design for the Joy-Cons, now featuring magnetic attachments. These are secured to the console in portable mode with two recessed contacts within the body, ensuring durability and preventing easy breakage. The SL and SR buttons, now larger and metallic, facilitate these magnetic connections, promising a secure grip without the risk of accidental detachment. However, this design necessitates bezels on the sides of the screen.

The controllers are shown to slide to the sides after a button press, indicating a change in the holder design, which now has a flat upper part and allows Joy-Cons to insert from the sides. Minor changes have also been made to the Joy-Con buttons, making them slightly larger. Rumors suggest the sticks will now employ Hall effect sensors to minimize drift, a common issue among users. Notably, the IR camera has been omitted, which might affect the backward compatibility of games like Ring Fit Adventure.

Image: youtube.com

The trailer also reveals a microphone and a USB Type-C port on the top bezel of the console. While their specific purposes remain unclear, they could enhance compatibility with wired joysticks and enable in-game voice chat. More details are eagerly awaited.

Image: youtube.com

What's inside?

As we await the Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2, speculation about the Switch 2's internals continues to swirl. It's rumored to have performance comparable to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with potential support for Quad HD resolution in docked mode. Preliminary insider information suggests the following specs:

Image: youtube.com

Thus, most insiders agree on the following specifications for the Switch 2:

Processor: Custom Nvidia Tegra T239RAM: 12 GBStorage: 256 GBMemory Card Support: microSDHC, microSDXC, microSD ExpressScreen: LCD, 8 inches

While an OLED version might not be available at launch, the console's specs are promising, potentially supporting numerous AAA titles from past years and even Genshin Impact, announced for porting in 2020.

Release Date

NateTheHate suggests that the Switch 2 won't hit the shelves before May, with an official announcement expected during the Nintendo Direct in April. A June release seems plausible, especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience tour kicking off on April 4. This tour offers early hands-on experiences in several cities, with registration open until January 26 on Nintendo's official website.

Image: nintendo.com

Here is the list of cities and dates where the console will be showcased:

New York — 04/04-06/04Paris — 04/04-06/04Los Angeles — 11/04-13/04London — 11/04-13/04Berlin — 25/04-27/04Dallas — 25/04-27/04Milan — 25/04-27/04Toronto — 25/04-27/04Tokyo — 26/04-27/04Amsterdam — 09/05-11/05Madrid — 09/05-11/05Melbourne — 09/05-11/05Seoul — 31/05-01/06Hong Kong — To be announcedTaipei — To be announcedPrice

While the exact pricing remains unconfirmed, speculation suggests a starting price of €399, though some hope for a slightly more affordable €349. It's best to keep expectations in check until the official announcement at the Nintendo Direct.

Image: stuff.tv

What are we going to play?

The announcement video teased the first exclusive title for the Switch 2: Mario Kart 9. This game will support online play for up to 24 players, introduce new track types, and feature more visible yellow item boxes.

Image: youtube.com

Further game announcements are anticipated at the Nintendo Direct, but the gaming community is already buzzing with speculation about potential titles for the Switch 2:

We have gathered the most interesting suggestions:

Fallout 4Red Dead Redemption 2Tekken 8StarfieldDiablo IVElden RingMySims Action BundleHalo: The Master Chief CollectionMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024Final Fantasy VII RemakeFinal Fantasy VII RebirthThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

This encapsulates the current knowledge about the Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the Nintendo Direct in April!