Week in Review: Nintendo Unveils the Switch 2
This week, Nintendo finally pulled back the curtain on its highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, marking its first major console reveal since the original Switch debuted in 2017. The announcement, made during a Nintendo Direct livestream on April 2, 2025, sent waves of excitement through the gaming community, delivering a detailed look at the hardware, features, and a robust lineup of launch titles. Here’s a rundown of the biggest news from the unveil.
The Switch 2 launches globally on June 5, 2025, with a base price of $449.99 in the U.S.—a significant jump from the original’s $299.99 tag. A bundle including Mario Kart World will retail for $499.99, effectively dropping the game’s cost to $50 for early adopters. The console boasts a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen (up from 6.2 inches), magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse-like functionality, 256GB of storage expandable via microSD Express cards, and 4K docked output with HDR support. New social features like GameChat—with voice and video options via a built-in mic and optional camera—aim to make online play feel more connected. It’s backward compatible with most Switch 1 games, though battery life (2–6.5 hours) has raised some eyebrows.
The star of the show was Mario Kart World, a launch title blending traditional racing with open-world exploration and a 24-player battle royale mode, set to capitalize on the franchise’s 70-million-unit legacy. Other exclusives announced include Donkey Kong Bananza (July 17, 2025), a 3D platformer with destructible environments, and The Duskbloods from FromSoftware, slated for 2026. Enhanced Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will feature a new ZELDA NOTES companion app, while third-party hits like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hades 2 are also confirmed.
Pre-orders were initially set for April 9 but were delayed in the U.S. due to new tariffs on Japanese imports announced by President Trump this week, though the June 5 launch date remains firm. Retailers like Best Buy are planning midnight openings, and analysts predict sales could top 14 million units in 2025, driven by Mario Kart World and Nintendo’s loyal fanbase. Despite the higher price and mixed battery life outlook, the Switch 2’s blend of innovation and nostalgia has positioned it as a must-watch for the gaming year ahead.