Nintendo shared its launch plans for the Switch 2 console in a long-awaited livestream Wednesday, announcing that the successor to the massively popular convertible game device will release in June.
The Switch 2 will hit North American retailers on June 5, but the company did not disclose the price during the stream.
Nintendo also shared some details about what new hardware features mean for the Switch 2 experience. The Switch 2 will feature a 7.9-inch LCD display at a crisper 1080p resolution, with HDR support and the option for 120 frames per second on supported games—but the hardware itself won’t be any thicker than the original Switch model.
The system will come with 256GB of internal storage—that’s eight times more than the original Switch model. It will also support microSD Express cards for expandable storage, but not traditional microSD cards.
And the dock will enable 4K resolution when you play on your TV. As previously announced, the Switch 2 will also play original Switch games, both physical and digital, with a Switch transfer feature available to move data over to the new console.
The new Joy-Con controllers feature a magnetic attachment, as previously hinted, with larger control sticks that hopefully will be less susceptible to breaking down (or “drifting”) over time. And yes, the Joy-Cons can be used individually like a mouse on a table for supported games.
For example, the previously spotted “C” button on the right Joy-Con controller will pull up a GameChat feature that lets you connect with friends in a Discord-like audio conversation while you game.
There’s also a screen-sharing feature available, though even Nintendo’s own stream suggested that the video quality will be pretty choppy for external observers. You can add your own image to streams via a USB camera, including one that Nintendo itself will release on day one, as well as put your face in certain supported games.
GameChat will be free to use for any Switch 2 owner through March 31, 2026, though it will require a Switch Online paid subscription after that.
The hardware will be flanked by notable games such as Mario Kart World—a more expansive-looking sequel to the hit driving series, with larger tracks, 24 drivers on the courses (double the previous norm), and fresh elements like weather conditions and swappable costumes.
You’ll even drive between the interconnected courses alongside your rivals, with a separate Free Roam mode letting you explore all of the connected terrain. Nintendo will host another livestream dedicated to Mario Kart World on April 17 to showcase more details from the game.
Nintendo also teased another racing game, Kirby’s Air Riders, and a new 3D Donkey Kong game called Donkey Kong Bananza—yes, like “bananas.” The latter will release on July 17.
Nintendo will also release upgraded editions of some original Switch games—such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, both of which will feature crisper graphics and smoother frame rates.
Meanwhile, an upgraded version of last fall’s Mario Party Jamboree brings in various new features, including gameplay that uses cameras, while Kirby and the Forgotten Land adds a new world alongside visual upgrades. These enhanced versions will be sold on their own for Switch 2, and owners of the Switch originals can purchase an upgrade pack to get the enhancements on Switch 2.
Upcoming Nintendo games Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A will both be released across the Switch and Switch 2 alike, with performance enhancements added for the Switch 2 versions.
The stream also featured various third-party games coming to Switch 2, such as Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades 2, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Hitman: World of Assassination, Borderlands 4, and enhanced versions of Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 and Hogwarts Legacy.
Nintendo is also working on a new Hyrule Warriors action game with Koei Tecmo, Age of Imprisonment, featuring a storyline set before the start of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’s due out next winter.
The Switch 2 will also feature GameCube games available exclusively to Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, with titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX offered digitally—with both local and online multiplayer available.
Additional titles like Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi’s Mansion are also planned for the library, with Nintendo set to sell a GameCube-like wireless controller for Switch 2 as well.
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