The Nintendo Switch 2 is here! Well, kinda. After months of rumours and speculation, today saw the console finally break cover in the form of a reveal trailer. Like the previous machine’s debut, it answered plenty of questions but left behind a lot more, many of which aren’t set to be resolved until a Direct Presentation on April 2.
Putting that aside though, there is plenty of new information to dig into and speculate on, so let’s get started before something else leaks and takes our attention away.
The Screen Is Bigger And Sleeker
There’s no denying how archaic the form factor of the original Switch can feel. Its screen is defined by bulbous margins that take up much of the real estate, while the Joy-Con must be slid on with military precision to avoid any potential mishaps.
It’s unclear whether the display will be OLED, LED, or LCD. Nintendo is yet to release any official specs to the press or as part of its marketing materials.
Our first glimpse at the Switch 2 immediately tries to remedy that concern by removing both its controllers and then blowing the screen up by an inch or two before removing the bezel altogether. Already, it feels like a more modern console.
The Body Is Smoother With Way More Buttons
We also see the old console shed its skin like a snake to reveal its new form, wiping away the past in order to add a larger, more robust kickstand and a handful of buttons and inputs that better reflect modern usability. It has two USB-C ports for docking, charging, and likely some accessories, alongside volume buttons, and a tried-and-trust headphone jack.
Not much has changed in the grand scheme of things, with this new console design acting as the first of many signs that Nintendo is keen to be more iterative than evolutionary with the Switch 2.
If Your Joy-Con Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix Them
Another sign of this iterative approach comes in the form of the new Joy-Con. They are more or less unchanged, aside from the addition of an additional button on the right-hand controller that people are referring to as the ‘C-button’, while the layout of the face buttons, sticks, plus and minus inputs, and capture/share button remains unchanged.
I could be reading too much into things, but the way they slide across the screen after the wrist straps are attached feels like a hint that motion controls will make a return here.
They are rounder at the edges and complemented by splashes of orange and blue, however, and now stick to the console using MacBook charger-esque magnets instead of sliding back onto the unit when you aren’t using them in isolation. They’re smoother and more elegant, while hopefully devoid of long-standing problems like drift.
The Dock Is Back And Way More Circular
Nintendo has undergone its corporate makeover and is now ready to make everything super smooth and circular. That goes double for the Switch 2 dock, which rounds off any odd sharp edges so the console can slide right in without any risks of wear and tear.
Like the previous console, it is both a way to charge the machine and output whatever you might be playing to an applicable display, hopefully boosting performance and resolution to boot. It might just be marketing imagery, but there is only a single wire connecting to the TV during the reveal trailer, so maybe things have been simplified on that front as well.
The adorable dog-eared controller is back too, although I’ll likely buy a Pro Controller and end up using that for the next eight years like last time.
Switch 2 Is Fully Backward Compatible
Everything about this trailer frames the Switch 2 as an upgrade. Like a new phone, it is a step beyond what came before without the intention of leaving anyone behind. But this is Nintendo, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it decided to charge us again for dozens of things we already own just for some additional profits.
That isn’t the case so far though, and instead of leaving us wondering about whether Switch 2 is backward compatible or not, it hits the nail on the head immediately. All our physical and digital games will work right out of the box, a confirmation that I didn’t expect a company like Nintendo to throw out with such dismissal. But that’s what it needs to do if it wants Switch 2 to match the success of its predecessor.
There will be a few exceptions, like perhaps Ring Fit Adventure will have trouble as you’d need an original Joy-Con to connect to the accessory.
We’re Getting A New Mario Kart
Part of me was afraid that this new entry was going to be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Deluxe, but a new track, 15 characters on the course at once, and some updated designs heavily imply Switch 2 is set to launch with a new version of the beloved racer.
We don’t know much about it beyond that, but considering how many millions of units Deluxe sold despite being a port of a Wii U game, it would be silly of Nintendo to pass it by. With any luck, the launch line-up will be filled with a selection of other bangers too.
No More Switch 2 News Until April
Nintendo dropping this trailer and peacing out for the next three months is certainly a choice. It has been confirmed that a Switch 2-themed direct will take place on April 2, followed shortly by a number of hands-on showcases around the world for fans to get their hands on the console.
If the original machine is any indication, the release date won’t be far behind.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.