Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed: Games, Price Increase, Release Date & More!

The Nintendo Direct event dedicated to the Switch 2 was a showstopper. It featured a slew of new games and never-before-seen features. Here’s a detailed rundown of the announcements.

The Nintendo Direct broadcast on Wednesday, April 2nd, took a full hour to unveil all the features and games of the Switch 2. This event was much more than a simple rundown; it revealed a complete catalog of games that will be available for the console.

Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hyrule Warriors: The Seal Chronicles, and Kirby Air Riders… many exciting new titles will soon grace the Switch 2. Below are all the announcements that punctuated this Nintendo Direct.

The entire Nintendo Direct is now viewable on YouTube. For those who missed the live event, you can catch up and view all the announcements there.

Revamped and Enhanced Design

While Nintendo has opted for a design similar to its predecessor for the new Nintendo Switch 2, numerous enhancements are noteworthy. The console features wider sticks and Joy-Cons, which appear more comfortable to use. These have shed their iconic red and blue colors for a sleek matte black finish, although some pastel accents are hidden beneath the Joy-Sticks.

According to the latest updates, the Joy-Cons for the new Nintendo Switch 2 will offer improved precision and are better crafted to avoid the “drift” issue many users experienced with the original model.

The Joy-Cons will also function as a mouse, confirming recent online speculations. This feature allows for more precise gameplay, especially in shooting games. The console’s stand is adjustable, allowing users to tilt it as desired. The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts a 256 GB storage capacity, which is eight times more than its predecessor that was limited to 32 GB.

The Switch 2 features an LCD screen that supports better colors and is HDR compatible, providing superior contrast between light and dark elements. Games will be displayed with much better screen quality, as Nintendo offers a tablet with 1080p resolution. The screen itself is 7.9 inches wide, compared to the 6.2 inches of the original Switch.

The long-rumored “C” button was finally revealed at the Nintendo Direct. It actually allows users to engage in voice chat with friends. Nintendo has thus addressed a major flaw of the original Switch, which did not support simultaneous play and voice communication. The Switch 2 includes a microphone to capture your voice, even at a distance, with the console automatically filtering out background noise.

You will also be able to view your friends’ screens, whether they are playing the same game as you or not. Nintendo has made it possible to watch another player’s screen to aid them in their quest and assist in their gameplay. Note that only those with a Switch Online subscription will have access to these features.

New Games Available on the Switch 2

The official presentation video for the Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed backward compatibility with the existing games for Nintendo Switch. Owners of titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon can continue to enjoy these on the new Nintendo Switch 2.

Some games, such as Mario Party Jamboree, will be optimized for the Switch 2. This game will utilize the microphone, camera, and the “mouse” feature of the Joy-Cons for several mini-games, making them more immersive and fun than ever. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will also see visual enhancements and be supported by a new dedicated app integrated directly into Nintendo Today.

Similarly, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond will rely on the Joy-Con’s “mouse” feature. Pokémon Legends Z-A will also see visual improvements. Note that even if you own these games on the Switch 1, you will need to spend money to enjoy their optimized versions.

Mario Kart World was the first announcement of this Nintendo Direct. On the agenda: new mechanics, new races, and new characters. The game will be released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. It will be possible to play with up to 24 players on the same map. New game modes will also be introduced: survival, leisure… A major new feature of Mario Kart World is the open world. You can roam with friends in different universes and enjoy the innovations of this new video game title.

The Nintendo Switch will integrate a range of highly popular games into its catalog, such as Elden Ring, Hades II, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman: World of Assassination, Yakuza O, Borderlands 4, Civilization VII, WWE 2K, Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Two Point Museum, Star Wars Outlaws, Fortnite, Professor Layton and the New Steam World, Human Fall Flat 2… The Duskblood, an exclusive game for the Switch 2, will also make its debut in 2026.

A new Zelda game was announced. Titled Hyrule Warriors: The Seal Chronicles, the game lets you play as the princess in a vibrant and action-packed adventure. The game will be released this winter and serves as a prequel to Tears of The Kingdom.

The Nintendo Direct continued with the unveiling of Kirby Air Riders, set to release in 2025. The game, inspired by Kirby Air Ride on GameCube, returns with brand new machines unique to the Switch 2.

The Nintendo Direct concluded with the announcement of an all-new game spotlighting the character of Donkey Kong. Titled Donkey Kong: Bananza, the 3D game is set for release on July 17, 2025. It promises an “explosive adventure” that “rhymes with exploration and demolition,” according to Nintendo’s press release.

A Price That Won’t Please French Gamers

The Nintendo Switch 2, being a superior version of the first generation, logically comes at a higher price given its improved components. While the original Switch was priced around 349 euros, the new Nintendo Switch 2 is listed at 469.99 euros.

You can also purchase the console bundle with Mario Kart World for 509.99 euros. Games will be priced around 80 euros for digital versions and 90 euros for physical copies. Official preorders for the console begin on April 8th, but will only be accessible to a select few.

Only players who have had a Switch Online subscription for at least two years as of March 31, 2025, will be able to preorder the Switch 2 on April 8th. Nintendo will prioritize customers with significant playtime on their consoles. The third and final condition: having agreed to receive promotional emails and messages from Nintendo. However, you can bypass these requirements, as the console is already available for preorder on online stores.

Note that the French price is somewhat disadvantageous compared to other countries. For instance, the United States will sell the Switch 2 at 449.99 dollars, which equates to about 415 euros in France. In Japan, two models of the console will be available: one entirely in Japanese for 334 dollars, and another with a multilingual system for 467 dollars. In any case, the French Switch 2 is priced more impressively than its international counterparts.

Release Date for the Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available on June 5, 2025. Just a few more months of waiting before you can get your hands on the console if you are lucky enough to be drawn for the preorders!