The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot to live up to. As the successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time, expectations for the new gaming device are through the roof.
Nintendo has been here before. When it was under pressure to follow up the successful Wii system, it released the disappointing Wii U. However, the Japanese firm bounced back by resurrecting handhelds on its own with the release of the beloved Switch in 2017.
And fortunately, the rumors surrounding the Switch 2 sound positive. The console is said to offer a significant jump in graphical power, support for a ton of new games, and older titles as well.
Here’s what you need to know about the new device, including the release date, price, and rumored features.
Nintendo Switch 2 Features
With Nintendo dashing any hopes of an updated Switch Pro in 2019, some thought the company was shifting its focus toward a next-gen console.
For its part, Nintendo announced last May that it did not plan to release any new hardware in 2023. It should be noted that it has not yet officially announced its next video game system. However, the rumor mill accelerated over the summer with a flood of news that all but confirmed the existence of the Switch 2.
Design
In July, VGC cited insiders claiming that Nintendo was sticking to the Switch’s hugely successful design formula with a new fully portable device.
A gaming industry analyst recently agreed with his own prediction that the next Switch “will likely be an iteration rather than a revolution.”
Kantan Games’ Serkan Toto told Gameindustry.biz that while Nintendo may add some “bells and whistles” to the new device, it would be similar to the current Switch.
Show
However, the Switch 2’s screen may initially seem like a downgrade in some aspects. It will likely use an LCD panel like the one on the original Nintendo Switch. The 2021 Switch OLED has much deeper blacks, higher brightness, and much higher contrast.
Graphics
Behind closed doors, Nintendo has supposedly demonstrated the new Switch with impressive technology that is normally reserved for the latest consoles and PCs. According to VGC, the device includes Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology, which allows it to increase the visual resolution of a game using AI, meaning it could possibly upscale Full HD quality to 4K. It also had ray tracing enabled to allow it to produce incredibly realistic lighting effects.
nintendo switch 2 games
Since Nintendo is keeping its new console under wraps, there is no information about what games it will offer. However, VGC said in July that developers had begun receiving special hardware to test Switch 2 titles and software. This is known as a development kit and typically looks nothing like the finished product being sold. released to the general public.
Additionally, Microsoft has previously confirmed that it will release Call of Duty games on Nintendo consoles if its deal to buy Activision goes ahead, so perhaps we’ll see Modern Warfare 3 on Switch 2.
As part of the secret showcase in August, Nintendo apparently released the The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, originally released to illustrate the power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021. Before you get too excited, it’s important to note that No. That doesn’t mean the new Switch will rival those machines in terms of performance.
For its part, Nintendo has vaguely hinted that it could allow players to access older games. Shuntaro Furukawa, president of Nintendo saying in June that the company wants to ensure a “seamless transition” to its next-generation hardware by allowing players to use the same Nintendo account.
At the August demo, Nintendo also showed off the new console with an improved version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could indicate that it will offer next-gen editions of some games in the PS5 lineup.
Price
VGC sources also said that the console would use cartridges and digital downloads, which could potentially increase the cost of Nintendo console games. Similar price increases have already occurred on Xbox and PS5.
Speaking of which, analyst Serkan Toto suggested that the console will be a little more expensive than the current Switch, at $400, which may equate to a UK price of £349.99 to £379.99.
In comparison, a Nintendo Switch OLED costs £309.99 direct from Nintendo today.
When is the Nintendo Switch 2 release date?
Nintendo’s next console could arrive in 2024, but not before spring at the earliest, according to separate reports from VGC and Nikkei Asia.
Should I buy a Nintendo Switch?
Given that Nintendo’s next-generation device may be less than six months away, you may be wondering if it’s still worth buying a Switch for yourself or the kids.
Well, the good news is that the hybrid gaming device still has plenty of steam left in the tank. A host of new Switch games should keep you entertained for the rest of the year and into 2024.
Upcoming releases include Detective Pikachu Returns, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Princess Peach Showtime, Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
You also have three versions of the Switch to choose from: the original Switch, the Switch OLED with a sharper screen, and the portable-only Switch Lite. The latest of these would make a great gift for kids this Christmas, while older kids and families can still enjoy tons of entertainment with the other editions.
When will Nintendo Switch stop being manufactured?
For its part, Nintendo has confirmed that it will continue to support Switch with new games until the end of March 2025.
Due to the immense popularity of the console, it’s safe to say that it will continue to operate beyond that date. After all, the 12.5 year old child Nintendo 3DS The handheld will lose online features next year.