It’s finally happened. Through a thick, 60-minute Direct showcase, Nintendo has revealed the release date and pricing for the hugely-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 – among a heap of other information.
You can find all of our stories on what went down right here, but below is a quick and dirty recap (please, it’s 4.30 AM right now) of what was featured in the presentation:
Everything Announced At The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
The Console
This is the big-ticket item, naturally! The folks at Nintendo finally took us on a full tour of the new Nintendo Switch 2, revealing everything from the snazzy new magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers, to a fan-powered dock, 256GB of storage, a huge 7.9″ LCD screen with HDR, built-in microphone, fun new accessories like the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera along with a new Pro Controller, and plenty more.
The Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025 for an RRP of $699.95, and will also be available in a bundle with Mario Kart World for $769.95
Take a look at the official Nintendo Switch 2 Overview Trailer below:
GameChat
Also revealed is a marquee new feature for the Nintendo Switch 2, dubbed GameChat. It’s essentially a chat system, but one designed to bring not just your friends and family together but to bring their games into the mix. This is done with the ability to see live feeds of what others are playing, or themselves via the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, among other things.
Take a look at the explainer video for GameChat below:
Mario Kart World
I think it’s pretty reasonable to say that just about everyone who’s thought about the next big Mario Kart title after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has come to a common conclusion – open world.
In what is definitely going to be the biggest Mario Kart experience to date, this new title is set in a sprawling world made up of multiple distinct regions housing dozens of tracks as well as a heap of wide open space for players to explore. The game now supports up to 24 racers, and multiple modes making use of the interconnected world, along with other exciting new wrinkles to races like wall-jumping!
Donkey Kong Bananza
Dubbed Donkey Kong Bananza, which is frankly an incredible title, this all-new adventure for DK looks to be an ambitious adventure filled with huge, destructible environments, a mix of fresh gameplay ideas with a sprinkling of old-school 2D sections and… that redesign of DK himself.
Donkey Kong Bananza is not a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, but instead is coming out just a little over a month after the console hits shelves, on July 17, 2025.
GameCube Classics
After years of fans crying out for it, it’s finally happening. GameCube titles are indeed being added to the roster of classics available to those who subscribe to the various tiers of the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership, and they’ll be exclusive to folks playing on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Launching day-and-date with the new console on June 5, 2025, the new versions of these games will feature better image quality including higher resolutions, online multiplayer, control customisation and the ability to save/load suspend points much like the already-available classics.
Like the other “premium” retro offerings on Switch, you’ll need to be subbed to the more expensive Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier, but for your money you’ll get access to a pretty decent selection of games, eventually:
Switch 2 Edition Games
Nintendo is introducing the idea of special, new Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of certain titles being prepared for launch and in the future.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games are, similarly to something like recent PlayStation 5 remasters, moderately enhanced versions of games that contain just enough new bells and whistles to justify existing as a new product SKU. That means you’ll be able to buy them specifically for the Switch 2 or, as has been revealed, pay upgrade your existing Switch copies.
So far, titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have been confirmed as getting Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, along with Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree. Some future titles have also been confirmed to be getting Nintendo Switch 2 Editions the same day they launch on the original Switch, including Metroid Prime: Beyond and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
The Duskbloods
Who’d have thought the Switch 2 would get a new Bloodborne before PlayStation?
From the official description: “The moontears will flow for one and one alone when The Duskbloods, a brand-new multiplayer game by FromSoftware, is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.”
Kirby Air Riders
From the official description: “Kirby Air Riders, a brand-new title originated from the Nintendo GameCube classic racing-action game Kirby Air Ride, and Masahiro Sakurai, the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, was announced for release this year. The trailer revealed a dramatic introduction of Kirby on his Warp Star machine and other Kirby air riders on a variety of unique machines, as they joined together on a racetrack. Kirby Air Riders will glide onto Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.”
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
From the official description: “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the newest title in the Hyrule Warriors series and is developed by Koei-Tecmo Games with support from Nintendo. The game features epic battles against hordes of enemies as it tells the untold story from Hyrule’s distant past of the Imprisoning War that ultimately led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Fans of the Legend of Zelda series and players of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can experience the thrill of battle and this canonical tale featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other familiar characters. Fight for Hyrule’s future when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes to Nintendo Switch 2 this summer.”
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
From the official description: “While it’s understandable that players will want to hit the ground running (or racing) with Nintendo Switch 2, they can also explore a variety of features and details the new console has to offer. Players can enter a virtual exhibition with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and gain insights into what makes Nintendo Switch 2 such a unique gaming experience. Through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players will get to know the new console inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be available to buy from Nintendo eShop from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, 5th June.”
Drag x Drive
Drag x DriveFrom the official description: “Use the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls and enjoy a new experience by strapping into Drag x Drive. A new online 3v3 game experience, Drag x Drive (pronounced “Drag and Drive”) challenges players to use the mouse controls with both Joy-Con 2 at the same time to intuitively steer, speed up, perform tricks and make plays such as dunks. Get ready to gear up when Drag x Drive launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.”
Third-Party and Partner Games
We also got a look at a heap of games coming from third-party and partnered developers and publishers coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, including Hades II, Split Fiction, Elden Ring, Borderlands 4, Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Street Fighter 6, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 and even more!
