After months of anticipation and years of hypothesis, Nintendo is lastly spilling all of the beans concerning the Swap 2. In a Nintendo Direct presentation, the corporate is filling in questions we have had concerning the console because it was first formally revealed in a brief teaser this past January.
Swap 2 launch date and pricing
We lastly know when the console will probably be obtainable: June 5, 2025. It’s going to price $450 at launch. Pre-orders had been deliberate to begin on April 9, however on April 4 the corporate introduced they had been on hold indefinitely due to the newly-announced tariffs in america.
Swap 2 {hardware}
The Swap 2 console has the identical thickness however has a a lot bigger show — 7.9 inches at a 1080p decision, versus the 6.2-inch 720p display on the outdated console. And it runs at as much as 120fps. It’s an LCD show, somewhat than OLED, however it helps HDR at the very least.
As anticipated, the brand new Pleasure-Con controllers connect magnetically and have a lot larger SL and SR buttons for while you’re taking part in on a single Pleasure-Con controller. The sticks are additionally larger, and every Pleasure-Con can be utilized as a mouse on appropriate video games.
The built-in stand seems to be a lot better than those on older Swap programs, and there are two USB-C ports on the console as effectively. Nintendo additionally highlighted 3D audio when utilizing appropriate headphones, and the audio system on the console itself must be loads higher as effectively. The console has 256GB of storage, far surpassing the 32GB on the unique mannequin. The Swap 2 dock outputs at as much as 4K with appropriate video games and the dock has a built-in fan to maintain issues cool when working at greater resolutions.
Swap 2 is utilizing comparable sport playing cards to the unique Swap, however Nintendo notes that they are quicker; you will have to make use of microSD Specific playing cards for additional storage this time although. Normal microSD ones will not be appropriate with the brand new {hardware}.
A brand new Nintendo Swap 2 Professional controller may also be obtainable with the C button to activate GameChat, and it additionally has GL and GR buttons on the again which you can assign to any particular actions. There’s additionally a headphone jack, too.
One of the vital necessary specs on a transportable console is battery life — and sadly, the Swap 2 may not be nice in that division. Nintendo’s spec sheet says it’s rated between 2 and 6.5 hours of gameplay, relying after all on the sport. Even the unique Swap promised a barely higher 2.5 to six.5 hours of battery life. Both method, it is past what the present Swap fashions provide. As for networking, the Swap 2 has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 6.
Voice and video chat
The primary new characteristic Nintendo highlighted on its up to date Pleasure-Con controllers was the C button. The C button helps you to enter the brand new GameChat options. You may voice chat whereas taking part in utilizing a built-in microphone, even when the console is docked. It is the primary time {that a} Nintendo system has had voice chat, and you can even share your sport display with mates as you play as effectively. For instance, in Mario Kart this provides you extra of a really feel such as you’re all taking part in related to a TV regardless that you are distant, as a result of you may see every part that your pals are doing as effectively.
And the chat and screen-share options work even if you happen to’re all taking part in completely different video games, so you may simply get a bunch collectively to hang around whereas taking part in completely different titles. There’s additionally a Swap 2 digicam that permits video chat that’ll present you on display when you’re taking part in. These options would require a Nintendo Swap On-line subscription, however Nintendo will provide it without cost to everybody till March 31, 2026.
Mario Kart World
As anticipated, we’re lastly getting a brand new entry within the venerable Mario Kart collection, Mario Kart World. It seems to be seems to be acquainted whereas additionally displaying off some wild new tips, like skateboard-style grinds on rails and wall jumps. The programs additionally look a lot bigger and wider than any we have ever seen earlier than. For the primary time, it seems to be like there’s an open world connecting all the assorted programs, and climate and time of day will change.
Nintendo additionally says which you can go off-course and drive “just about in every single place.” And becoming these enormous tracks, the Grand Prix can have 24 rivals in a single race. General, it is a large replace which feels applicable — the final Mario Kart sport arrived method again in 2014 for the Wii U and was up to date for the unique Swap. It’s going to be out the identical day because the Swap 2, June 5.
Different video games coming to Swap 2
Nintendo ran down a handful of different video games coming to the Swap 2, together with Elden Ring: Tarnished Version, a brand new title referred to as Drag x Drive that makes use of the Swap 2 mouse controls in what seems to be like an excessive wheelchair sporting occasion, Hades II, Road Fighter 6, Break up Fiction, Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 +4, Hitman: World of Assassination and Daemon x Machina.
Nintendo can be engaged on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which will probably be out this winter; it is being developed in with Koei Techmo video games and can have the identical combat-focused vibes as different Dynasty Warrior-style titles.
From Software program can be releasing a brand new sport completely for the Swap 2 referred to as The Duskbloods in 2026. It feels a lot like Bloodbourne at first look.
Maybe the most important first-party sport to be revealed at present moreover Mario Kart World is a brand new 3D platformer starring Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong Bananza. It undoubtedly has comparable vibes to 3D Mario adventures, however in a very new context.
There is a laundry record of video games that had been talked about at present; Nintendo has helpfully pulled them collectively on this press release.
Lastly, Nintendo has introduced that the Swap On-line service will host one other traditional console, the GameCube. The preliminary sport library contains The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and SOULCALIBUR II. For the primary time on Nintendo’s traditional consoles via the Swap On-line service, GameCube video games will run at greater resolutions than the unique titles.
Nintendo Swap 2 version video games
Along with video games expressly designed for the Swap 2, Nintendo may also be releasing a “Swap 2 version” for chosen titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. These titles can have improved resolutions and body charges in addition to new options that’ll present up in a companion smartphone app. Nintendo did not say how a lot these upgrades would price but.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land can be getting a Swap 2 version that provides a further world to discover, whereas Metroid Prime 4: Past can have each a Swap and Swap 2 version; the Swap 2 version can run in 4K at 60fps or as much as 120fps at a decrease decision.
Replace, April 4 2025, 11:18AM ET: Added particulars about pre-orders being placed on maintain indefinitely.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-release-date-price-new-switch-games-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-133105613.html?src=rss
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