The gaming world has big news! Nintendo has officially made the announcement to launch the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Yes, you read that right. The long awaited successor to one of the best-selling consoles is being released on 5 June. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa called the new console “a leap forward,” eight years after the release of the original Switch.
The Switch 2 will go on sale for $450 in the US, or $500 with a download code for Mario Kart World included. In the UK it will be priced at £395 for the base console or £429 for the bundle, while Canadians can expect to pay $630 or $700 CAD, and Australians will be paying $699 or $769 AUD. For Pakistani fans, Nintendo Switch price in Pakistan will be from PKR 120,000 to PKR 150,000.
Upgraded Specs in Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is rumoured to come with significant hardware upgrades to improve gameplay performance and graphics. The company said the new device would have better graphics and audio than its predecessor, as well as a chat button allowing players to speak to each other while playing. But this is unlikely to be the feature that makes the users want to buy the device.
The new Nintendo Switch 2 OLED model also has a comparatively larger display of 7 inches that is supposed to upgrade the hand held gaming experience. The resolution has also been upgraded from 1080p to 720p, with HDR support and a frame rate of 120fps.
Audio is not left behind either. The device now has improved speakers for clearer audio and a sturdier, adjustable kickstand for tabletop mode. This will offer a 3D audio experience via headphones and a microphone that is built into the top of the console.
Additionally, the Switch has a big storage upgrade with 256GB of internal storage. This is a historic moment for Nintendo fans as the company is usually really stingy in this matter.
While playing the game, players will pop up at the bottom of the screen; appearing almost like Zoom or Teams. This is probably the most unique feature as of now!
There are other marginal changes too, such as larger buttons and control sticks. The C button on the Switch controller is the new bit of hardware for the Switch 2. It appears to help control a voice chat feature that is built into the system.
The Upcoming Game Lineups
Apart from the huge interest in the device itself, fans have been keen to find out what games they will be able to play on it.
One game that is catching the most attention is Mario Kart World, the most famous game of Nintendo. The franchise appears to have given it a significant refresh. The gameplay footage shows hints of new tracks and power-ups. For the first time, players will also be able to freely drive around the world. The game will also support up to 24 players in multiplayer races, the most in the series’ history.
Read More: GTA 6: Rockstar Games Officially Reaffirms 2025 Release Date
The firm is also set to release Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders. It’s a sequel to a fan favourite game released back in 2005.
This doesn’t end here. It seems like they have only just started. The game lineup will also include:
- A New 3D Mario Game
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 3.
- Metroid Prime 4
- Pokémon Gen 10
- Enhanced Third-Party Support (like EA, Ubisoft, and Capcom).
Backward Compatibility
Nintendo also clarified how different types of games will work on Switch 2, splitting them into three categories. Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World will be exclusive to the new hardware, requiring its boosted performance to run. Then there are some original Switch games that will be backward compatible with the Switch 2—but not all (we have asked for more clarification on those titles or requirements). Finally, there are “Switch 2 Edition” games, which will be original Switch 1 games receiving an upgrade for Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch: The Best-Selling Console of All Time
There’s no doubt that the original Nintendo Switch is one of the best-selling consoles of all time. Only Sony’s PS2 and Nintendo’s own DS have proved more popular. Again Nintendo is up against itself. They themselves have set the bar too high for Nintendo Switch 2 and hopefully they will meet it even this time too.
The only challenge on the way is the global trading picture mainly due to the President Donald Trump’s tariffs announcement. We will have to see how this could affect the production and sales of the Nintendo Switch 2.