The Nintendo Switch 2: A Fascinating Sequel

On April 2, 2025, Nintendo officially announced the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 console: June 5, 2025. During this announcement, they showed off a bunch of new features and gameplay advantages. But do these design improvements really hold up to scrutiny or are they simply not worth the price tag?

Base model changes

The Switch 2 will have, according to Nintendo, a 7.9 inch screen - a massive upgrade from the original Switch's 6.2 inch screen and even a step up from the Switch OLED's 7 inch screen. This makes it even bigger than its leading competitor, the Steam Deck, which rolls in at 7.4 inches. That being said, the console itself is no thicker than the original Switch, which I take as a bonus; it lets players enjoy a similar handheld experience for comfort and familiarity. The only issue I really have with the physical size difference is that it will be slightly harder to tote around than the original Switch, and those that use them will have to buy a completely new protective case, as anything designed for the original Switch won't fit Switch 2.

Looking past the physical sizing, the Switch 2 addresses a fairly major flaw with the original Switch: screen resolution and frame rates. The original Switch was widely disparaged for supposedly supporting 1280 x 720p resolution and a disappointing 30fps, which was frustrating to gamers used to 60fps for PC and other consoles. The Switch 2 steps up the game to supporting up to 4k resolution and up to 120fps. And this isn't just blowing smoke - early testers attending Switch 2 premier events have said that the console lives up to the hype and plays even intense games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with buttery smoothness and beautiful high definition.

Finally, the Joy-Con 2 controllers are attached to the Switch 2 via "strong magnets," per Nintendo, and feature larger buttons for one-controller play. I find this both promising and concerning; while I love that it'll now be much harder to accidentally knock your Joy-Con out of its slot and damage the hardware, I'm concerned as to whether Nintendo have actually addressed the issue of drifting that's plagued the system since its launch. If not, there are going to be lots of very unhappy fans a few months post-release. I will say that I'm fascinated by the mouse control options in the Joy-Con 2s, which gives it, in my opinion, a hand up against the Steam Deck again; diversity in gameplay style has always been a strong point for the Switch systems, and adding this additional element may make it an easier transition console for PC games as well as a simpler learning curve for new gamers.

New games and upgrades

I'll say it proudly: I am so looking forward to playing Mario Kart World purely for the fact that I'll be able to toodle around looking at things without having to race at all. I'm going to spend so much time doing nothing at all in that game. That being said, I am also thrilled about the new knockout mode, the increased number of racers per round (which'll make things all the more challenging), and the new characters we'll be able to play as. Moo Moo Meadows Cow mains are going to be hilarious.

I'm also very excited to finally get a glimpse of Deltarune's chapters 3 and 4, and more than happy to buy the game knowing the number of updates Toby Fox has planned for it. I'm a massive fan of Undertale and so proud of how far the developer has come since his debut. I absolutely can't wait to play through the rest of the story and fall back into the nostalgia and genuine love I have for the series...while still cursing my inability to do well in bullet hells.

We also got a glimpse of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which fans have been clamoring over, though there's not a lot of information available about it. It looks gorgeous from the small amount we've seen, and with a team as dedicated as Team Cherry, I'm sure it'll be well worth playing.

Other releases like Witchbrook and Kirby Air Riders look like great fun, and though they're not my style of gameplay, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Dusk Bloods look absolutely stunning and terrifying in their own ways.

I'm quite disappointed in how Nintendo is handling upgrading original Switch games to the next generation, though. While I'm glad we'll be able to see Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom in HDR, I don't think the Zelda Notes feature and HDR alone are enough to justify the upgrade cost. I think perhaps the Kirby: Forgotten Lands upgrade pack might be worth getting, as it adds an additional adventure to the game, but in the end, it'll all come down to pricing. As of right now, we don't have official prices for the upgrade packs, though some sources speculate they'll be between $10 and $30 depending on the game and region.

Voice and video chat features

An interesting development for the Switch 2 is the addition of voice chat. It was a bit unexpected, but not unwelcome, especially if it works as advertised in the trailer with minimal lag and solid noise cancellation (Kudos to Nintendo for showing the lag, actually, that gave me a little faith in how it'll actually work). I love that it supports chat between games and can be used within certain games as a feature as well; I love chatting with my friends while we play, and if we can do that on-platform rather than having to go through a third party like Discord on another device, it's all the better.

I'm uncertain as to whether I like the addition of the camera, though. I can't imagine that running smoothly on a system like the Switch 2. I just don't think it has the power necessary to maintain multiple video feeds and a high-resolution game at the same time. We'll just have to wait and see.

Pricing

So, what sort of horrendous price tag has Nintendo put on this kitted-out system? How much of my soul will I have to give up to get one?

The answer is...$449.99, or $499.99 if you bundle the console and Mario Kart World.

This is honestly surprisingly affordable to me. Yes, it's more than the original Switch's $299.99 release cost, but it's actually less expensive than the Steam Deck OLED ($549.99), which is, again, its leading competition, and about on par with other consoles in this generation. I was fully expecting to have to pay $600 for the console, so I'm fine with this price tag.

Now of course, this doesn't take into consideration the rising cost of Nintendo games - upwards of $70 per game for even digital editions - or the cost of all of the accessories like the new camera ($49.99) or the Pro controller ($79.99). That, I think, is a big part of Nintendo's pricing problem and why fans are so upset. Still, I think the console itself, perfectly playable without accessories, is fairly priced.

So, is it worth it?

Whether or not the new Switch 2 is worth the cost will heavily depend on user experience in the months post launch. If the updates they've made to the hardware are sincerely beneficial and not just hype, then yes, I think it's worth upgrading. It's really just a matter of waiting to see what early adopters think.

I do wish they'd released a new version of the Switch Lite alongside the Switch 2, for affordability's sake, but maybe that's in the works for the near future. Who knows?

I know I'll be making the switch (yes, pun intended), so if you like, you can wait to hear what I think about it, but I think the best way to make sure you're willing to spend the money is to demo the system in stores like GameStop or at events like PAX if you get the chance. Until then, we'll just have to trust that Nintendo is going to hold up their end of the bargain after such a long and tumultuous wait.