Everything We Know About The Nintendo Switch 2
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VOICE OVER: Richard Bush
WRITTEN BY: Richard Bush
Welcome to WatchMojo, and in today's video, we're looking at everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and in today’s video, we’re looking at everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
Since its launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has become the third best-selling games console of all-time, selling around 132 million units. But it’s almost 7 years old now, and Nintendo is looking to freshen things up with a brand new Switch console - the Switch 2. Although the Japanese brand is keeping things tightly under wraps, there’s still a lot of information to go off, what with dev kits starting to arrive at partner studios and various leaks springing all over the place. It’s a sure thing that the new Switch will launch as a handheld and dockable console, just like the current model - but what else is there to know? Well, here’s everything we know about the Switch 2 so far!
Nintendo hasn’t given a launch date for the Switch 2, but given what Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said about the current Switch, it’s looking likely that the follow-up console will launch in fall 2024. In late 2023, Furukawa reiterated that the company would remain focussed on the current generation Switch until the end of the fiscal year - which is March 2024. We take that to mean that it’s all systems go for the new Switch in the next fiscal year, which is April 2024 to March 2025. A fall 2024 launch would make sense, giving Nintendo enough time to stockpile plenty of units to keep up with holiday season demand, which would hopefully avoid stock shortages, the type that PS5 and Xbox Series X fans faced.
Nintendo has a great track record of keeping gamers happy when it comes to backwards compatibility of games. It has previously made DS games compatible with 3DS, GameCube games compatible with the Wii console, Wii games compatible with the Wii U console, and the list goes on. So, will the Switch 2 play original Switch games? Nobody quite knows yet, but given previous console history, and the fact that Furukawa said “we want to do as much as possible in order to smoothly transition our customers, while utilizing the Nintendo Account” - we think backwards compatibility is looking likely. With emphasis being put on users' Nintendo Accounts, that backwards compatibility might only come in the form of digital downloads instead of physical games. However, sources have told VGC that the Switch 2 will indeed come with a cartridge slot, so it’s unlikely that the new console will be a digital only affair.
Our best guess would be that the Switch 2 will launch with physical cartridges, just like the original Switch, but that games for the original console will only be backwards compatible via digital downloads. Hopefully we’re wrong though, and original Switch cartridges will be backwards compatible too.
Woah there - before the PlayStation and Xbox fans come gunning for us, let us just say that there’s an important distinction between visual prowess and actual power. VGC has reported that Nintendo is experimenting with Nvidia’s clever DLSS upscaling technology, which utilizes AI in order to enhance graphics while putting less strain on hardware.
At Gamescom 2023, VGC reports that Nintendo is said to have showed off some Switch 2 demos behind closed doors, and these demos included improved versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with a higher resolution and frame rate, and even an Unreal Engine 5 The Matrix Awakens.
During a deep dive on Nvidia’s DLSS tech, Digital Foundry said that it’s capable of upscaling native 720p visuals into 4K - which opens up a world of possibilities.
In a nutshell, this means that while the Switch 2 may not be as powerful as the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles, it could have visuals comparable to them. In fact, it’s said that the actual “power” of the Switch 2 is likely to be comparable to that of the PS4. Could this mean that developers would find it easier to port their glossy new titles over to the Nintendo platform? Maybe. Could GTA 6 be heading to the Switch 2? Errm, probably not, but we can dream can’t we?
Joy-Con drift has plagued many of us over the years. You know, when a joy-con’s stick seemingly moves your character or cursor by itself, as if possessed. This can happen due to dust and dirt build up over time, and primarily occurs because the current joy-con controllers use physical parts that facilitate the moving of the stick. A new joy-con patent filed by Nintendo however sees a new set-up that will utilize magnets, which would effectively eliminate the dreaded drift. Will this new joy-con set-up feature in the Switch 2? Well, it would make sense, right?
Another tech consideration for the new Switch is whether it will use an LCD screen or an OLED display - the OLED display being a costlier option for the current Switch. Sources who spoke to VGC have suggested that the Switch 2 will launch with an LCD screen in order to cut costs - and no doubt a pricier OLED model will be made available at a later date.
Plenty of video game sleuths have taken a crack at figuring out exactly which games will likely launch with the Switch 2, but really, it’s anyone’s guess. Many predict that Metroid Prime 4 will be the title to spearhead the Switch 2’s release, given that talk of the game’s release has been quiet for a while now.
A more obvious choice would be a new Mario Kart and or 3D Super Mario game. These game series haven’t had any major additions for some time now, especially Mario Kart. Let’s not forget, the colossally successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a re-release of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, and that dates back to 2014.
To round this video off, it’s worth noting that the new Switch probably won’t be called the Switch 2, if previous Nintendo releases are anything to go by. Sure, the entire gaming world is aptly referring to the Switch sequel as the Switch 2, but Nintendo hasn’t labeled its consoles in numerical order before. The Nintendo DS was superseded by the 3DS, The Super Nintendo replaced the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Gameboy Color and Advance built upon the original Gameboy. So who knows what the next Switch could be called. The Super Switch? The Switch Pro, the Switch Advance, the Switch Supreme? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see.
Since its launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has become the third best-selling games console of all-time, selling around 132 million units. But it’s almost 7 years old now, and Nintendo is looking to freshen things up with a brand new Switch console - the Switch 2. Although the Japanese brand is keeping things tightly under wraps, there’s still a lot of information to go off, what with dev kits starting to arrive at partner studios and various leaks springing all over the place. It’s a sure thing that the new Switch will launch as a handheld and dockable console, just like the current model - but what else is there to know? Well, here’s everything we know about the Switch 2 so far!
It Will Likely Launch Late 2024
Nintendo hasn’t given a launch date for the Switch 2, but given what Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said about the current Switch, it’s looking likely that the follow-up console will launch in fall 2024. In late 2023, Furukawa reiterated that the company would remain focussed on the current generation Switch until the end of the fiscal year - which is March 2024. We take that to mean that it’s all systems go for the new Switch in the next fiscal year, which is April 2024 to March 2025. A fall 2024 launch would make sense, giving Nintendo enough time to stockpile plenty of units to keep up with holiday season demand, which would hopefully avoid stock shortages, the type that PS5 and Xbox Series X fans faced.
Nintendo's Past Points to Backward Compatibility
Nintendo has a great track record of keeping gamers happy when it comes to backwards compatibility of games. It has previously made DS games compatible with 3DS, GameCube games compatible with the Wii console, Wii games compatible with the Wii U console, and the list goes on. So, will the Switch 2 play original Switch games? Nobody quite knows yet, but given previous console history, and the fact that Furukawa said “we want to do as much as possible in order to smoothly transition our customers, while utilizing the Nintendo Account” - we think backwards compatibility is looking likely. With emphasis being put on users' Nintendo Accounts, that backwards compatibility might only come in the form of digital downloads instead of physical games. However, sources have told VGC that the Switch 2 will indeed come with a cartridge slot, so it’s unlikely that the new console will be a digital only affair.
Our best guess would be that the Switch 2 will launch with physical cartridges, just like the original Switch, but that games for the original console will only be backwards compatible via digital downloads. Hopefully we’re wrong though, and original Switch cartridges will be backwards compatible too.
Its Graphics Could Compete with PlayStation and Xbox
Woah there - before the PlayStation and Xbox fans come gunning for us, let us just say that there’s an important distinction between visual prowess and actual power. VGC has reported that Nintendo is experimenting with Nvidia’s clever DLSS upscaling technology, which utilizes AI in order to enhance graphics while putting less strain on hardware.
At Gamescom 2023, VGC reports that Nintendo is said to have showed off some Switch 2 demos behind closed doors, and these demos included improved versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with a higher resolution and frame rate, and even an Unreal Engine 5 The Matrix Awakens.
During a deep dive on Nvidia’s DLSS tech, Digital Foundry said that it’s capable of upscaling native 720p visuals into 4K - which opens up a world of possibilities.
In a nutshell, this means that while the Switch 2 may not be as powerful as the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles, it could have visuals comparable to them. In fact, it’s said that the actual “power” of the Switch 2 is likely to be comparable to that of the PS4. Could this mean that developers would find it easier to port their glossy new titles over to the Nintendo platform? Maybe. Could GTA 6 be heading to the Switch 2? Errm, probably not, but we can dream can’t we?
New Joy-Con, Same Old Screen
Joy-Con drift has plagued many of us over the years. You know, when a joy-con’s stick seemingly moves your character or cursor by itself, as if possessed. This can happen due to dust and dirt build up over time, and primarily occurs because the current joy-con controllers use physical parts that facilitate the moving of the stick. A new joy-con patent filed by Nintendo however sees a new set-up that will utilize magnets, which would effectively eliminate the dreaded drift. Will this new joy-con set-up feature in the Switch 2? Well, it would make sense, right?
Another tech consideration for the new Switch is whether it will use an LCD screen or an OLED display - the OLED display being a costlier option for the current Switch. Sources who spoke to VGC have suggested that the Switch 2 will launch with an LCD screen in order to cut costs - and no doubt a pricier OLED model will be made available at a later date.
It Could Launch with a New Mario Kart Title
Plenty of video game sleuths have taken a crack at figuring out exactly which games will likely launch with the Switch 2, but really, it’s anyone’s guess. Many predict that Metroid Prime 4 will be the title to spearhead the Switch 2’s release, given that talk of the game’s release has been quiet for a while now.
A more obvious choice would be a new Mario Kart and or 3D Super Mario game. These game series haven’t had any major additions for some time now, especially Mario Kart. Let’s not forget, the colossally successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a re-release of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, and that dates back to 2014.
It Probably Won't be Called the Switch 2
To round this video off, it’s worth noting that the new Switch probably won’t be called the Switch 2, if previous Nintendo releases are anything to go by. Sure, the entire gaming world is aptly referring to the Switch sequel as the Switch 2, but Nintendo hasn’t labeled its consoles in numerical order before. The Nintendo DS was superseded by the 3DS, The Super Nintendo replaced the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Gameboy Color and Advance built upon the original Gameboy. So who knows what the next Switch could be called. The Super Switch? The Switch Pro, the Switch Advance, the Switch Supreme? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see.
