Summary
- The Switch 2 will have two USB-C ports.
- In addition to the bottom-facing port that’s already found on the original Switch, the upcoming console will also feature a top-facing USB-C slot.
- The top port will make the Switch 2 much more convenient to charge during handheld play and could even pave the way for some quirky accessories in the vein of the Game Boy Color Camera.
The Switch 2 features two USB Type-C slots, Nintendo has confirmed. This simple addition could significantly improve the convenience of one Switch 2 use case relative to its predecessor.
Following months’ worth of leaks that mostly turned out to be accurate, Nintendo at last announced its next console on January 16. Its two-minute reveal trailer was largely focused on showcasing the exterior of the device, in addition to highlighting some major features, such as the Switch 2’s backward compatibility.
Related
Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Game Seems To Feature a Big Improvement
The newly confirmed Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to feature a big improvement compared to its predecessor.
The very start of the first-ever Switch 2 promo video offers a close-up look at the console from all sides. The trailer first focuses on the bottom of the console, which features a USB-C port, much like its predecessor, before showing that an identical slot is sitting on the opposite side of the device. The new USB-C port is located slightly to the right on the top side of the console, sandwiched between the 3.5mm jack on the right and the cooling vents on the left.
Nintendo Switch 2 Should Be Convenient to Charge During Handheld Play
The addition of a top-facing USB-C port should make the upcoming console significantly more convenient to use in handheld mode while charging it. As with any portable device, the Switch 2 is likely to see a lot of use while being held in the lap, or in a way that its bottom side is resting on a surface like a bed, table, or chest. Charging the original Switch in this scenario is impossible—an issue that its successor promises to fix, enabling more playing positions.
Top-Facing USB-C Port Could Pave the Way For Switch 2 Attachments
The top-facing USB-C port could also be used for a variety of accessories extending the console’s functionality. Nintendo has a long history of releasing such devices, including the Game Boy Color Camera and GBA e-Reader, as well as the DS Rumble Pak and 3DS Circle Pad Pro. The still-ongoing Switch era also saw Nintendo engage in similar experiments, as underlined by games like Nintendo Labo and Ring Fit Adventure, both of which rely on physical accessories.
While the Switch 2 is still waiting for a release date, there will be an April 2 Nintendo Direct that promises to reveal more details about the device. Some industry watchers speculate that Nintendo opted to tease the console two and a half months ahead of its dedicated Direct to provide third-party publishers with ample time to start announcing Switch 2 games. A series of physical preview events is scheduled to take place the world over between early April and June 1. The console hence isn’t expected to hit the store shelves before June 2025 at the very earliest.
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.
- Brand
-
Nintendo
- Original Release Date
-
2025-00-00