What To Know About The Switch 2 As Nintendo Readies Its First Console Launch In 8 Years

Topline

Nintendo will give a first detailed look at the highly anticipated successor to its best-selling video game console of all time—the Switch 2—on Wednesday, as the gaming industry braces for what could be one of the most successful system launches of all time.

Key Facts

Nintendo offered a very brief sneak peek of the Switch 2 with a teaser video in January, showing off the design of the new console, which appears to be a supersized version of the Nintendo Switch, after a series of leaks about the device.

The teaser also revealed what appeared to be a new entry into Nintendo’s successful Mario Kart racing game franchise, along with a basic look at the console’s new Joy Con controllers and dock to connect it to a TV.

Since the reveal, the company has been radio silent about the new console, and its recent announcements have primarily focused on games coming to the now Switch 1 later this year.

When Will The Switch 2 Event Take Place?

The Mario-maker will hold a “Nintendo Direct” keynote event to discuss the Nintendo Switch at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and the event will be streamed live on the company’s YouTube page and other social media handles.

What Will Be Shown At The Switch 2 Nintendo Direct Launch?

On its website, the company says the keynote will offer a “closer look at Nintendo Switch 2,” without mentioning specific details about games or particular features. Based on Nintendo’s track record from previous Direct keynotes and console launches, the presentation will likely include trailers and demos of the new games that are set to release on the Switch 2 this year. The teaser event offered a glimpse at a new Mario Kart game, which is widely expected to be a successor to Mario Kart 8, which launched in 2014 first on the Nintendo Wii U before being migrated over to the Switch in 2017. Another long-anticipated game that is expected to be displayed on the Switch 2 is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond—the first new entry in the sci-fi shooter series since 2007. A trailer for the new Metroid game was shown off by Nintendo last week as the game is expected to launch on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

What Do We Know About Other Popular Nintendo Games?

Super Mario Odyssey, which launched in 2017 shortly after the Switch’s launch, is the most recent new 3D platformer to feature Nintendo’s main mascot. This has led to speculation the Switch 2 launch will likely coincide with the release of a new entry into Nintendo’s most hallowed franchise. If a new Mario is announced, it is unclear if it will be a direct sequel to Odyssey or a fresh take, an approach Nintendo usually takes with new consoles. Nintendo’s other flagship franchise, The Legend of Zelda, saw a new major release as recently as 2023 with the critically acclaimed Tears of the Kingdom, so a new entry is unlikely Wednesday. However, as it has done in the past, Nintendo could push a remastered or upgraded version of the game with better visuals for the more powerful Switch 2.

What Do We Know About Nvidia’s Involvement In Switch 2?

The original Switch was powered by a Tegra X1 mobile chip made by Nvidia. The Switch 2 will reportedly also be powered by a new Nvidia mobile chip. The new chip will likely feature Nvidia’s new AI-based tools like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which uses artificial intelligence to upscale a game’s graphics. Beyond that, reports suggest the console will feature 12GB of memory—a step up from the Switch’s 4 GB—and a larger screen.

How Much Will The Switch 2 Cost?

Nintendo has not yet revealed the Switch 2’s price, but this is expected to be announced at the Nintendo Direct event on Wednesday. Analysts cited by Bloomberg expect the console’s price to start at least $400, up from $299 for the original Switch. However, President Donald Trump’s tariffs could also impact prices. The Switch 2 will be the first console to launch since the president unveiled 20% tariffs on China, and his administration is set to announce a new round of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on “all countries” on Wednesday. Even if its price creeps over the $400 mark, analysts believe it is on track to be one of the most successful console launches of all time.

Big Number

150.86 million. That is the total number of Switch consoles Nintendo has sold in its lifetime, making it the second-best-selling home console of all time, just behind Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Surprising Fact

While Nintendo has made some of the best-selling consoles and games of all time, the company has a poor record when it comes to making “sequels” for its hardware. The Wii, which launched in 2006, was a smash hit for Nintendo and sold over 100 million units. Similarly, the Nintendo DS, which came out in 2004, is the best-selling portable or handheld console of all time, selling over 154 million units. The Wii’s follow-up, the Wii U, was a sales disaster for Nintendo as it sold only 13.56 million, making it the company’s worst-selling home console. The 3DS also fared worse compared to the DS, selling half as many units at 75 million.