Summary
TheSwitch 2has finally been announced by Nintendo after weeks of leaks and rumours. And despite the reveal video showing us what the new handheld/console hybrid looks like, it left plenty of room for questions.
Nintendo has already announced that a Switch 2 Direct will be held on April 2, where we will likely get our first deep-dive look into the system’s bells and whistles. Until then, however, we are left to fill in the gaps ourselves with all the questions we have left about the successor to the Switch.
7Will The Joy-Cons Come In Different Colours?
All The Colours Of The Rainbow
The Switch 2’s colour scheme has definitely gone for a sleeker, more mature approach than the original Switch. Gone are thebrightly coloured Joy-Consin favour of a universal tone only broken up by splashes of red and blue under the analogue sticks and on the connecting sides.
Still, this is Nintendo we’re talking about—the console manufacturer who loves to release different colour variants of their hardware more than anyone. It would seem unlikely that the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons never receive varying colour combinations, but for now, this is purely speculation.
6Do The Switch 2 Joy-Cons Work As A Mouse?
The Big N Enters The Mouse House
One of the most peculiar moments of the reveal trailer occurred when the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons were turned over horizontally and started sliding around as if they were a computer mouse. The question remains whether this was just a fun little animation or intentional signalling of a new functionality of the Joy-Cons.
If it’s the latter—which it would appear to be—this opens up a whole new mode of play and interactivity for the Switch 2 and its games library. If nothing else, this opens up the door for a new Mario Paint title, and that’s worth getting excited about on its own.
5What OG Switch Games Are Not Backwards Compatible?
Who Gets Left Behind?
While OG Switch owners around the globe breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the trailer’s revelation that their Switch libraries will be playable on Switch 2, there was an important asterisk to take note of. Nintendo made it clear that not all Switch games will be backwards compatible on Switch 2… it just wasn’t clear about which games they were referring to.
Both physicaland download-only Switch gameswill be compatible with Switch 2, so that’s not a concern. So, does that mean that special hardware games like Labo or Ring Fit Adventure won’t work? Or games with specific licenses? We won’t know until Nintendo makes it clear what the parameters look like.
4How Big Is The Switch 2?
Size Does Matter
One thing that the launch trailer made crystal clear is that the Switch 2 is going to be bigger than the original Switch. How much bigger? Well… it’s hard to say for sure.
Nintendo hasn’t released the precise dimensions for the Switch 2 hardware, so any guesses as to the size of the system are just that: guesses. A simple eye test on the trailer would suggest that the Switch 2 is roughly 15 percent larger than the original Switch, but until we get those specific dimensions, nobody can say.
3What Is The Switch 2 Launch Library?
It’s All About The Games
A new gaming hardware launch is only as exciting as the games it launches alongside, and Nintendo will be wanting the Switch 2 to start off with a bang. After all, the original Switch released alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, possiblythe greatest launch game of all time, so the stakes are high for its successor.
We know from the trailer that a new Mario Kart game is in the works for Switch 2, which could possibly be there on day one alongside the system. Another potential option could be a cross-generation launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2, although given the up-and-down commercial viability of the Metroid series, this may be seen as too risky by Nintendo.
2What Is The Launch Price?
Money, Money, Money
Video game systems are getting more and more expensive so it will be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to play nice by the consumer or opt to enter the Switch 2 into the market with a luxury price tag. The original Switch launched in the USA for $299 – a price that certainly helped the system appeal to a larger audience of gamers.
On the other hand, the Steam Deck will cost you anywhere from $399-649 depending on which model you buy. It will be interesting to see where Nintendo lands on the price of the Switch 2, as getting the number right will have a big affect on the system’s fortunes moving forward.
1When Will It Launch?
Mark Your Calendar For…
One of the downsides of announcing a new system so early in the year is that it now feels as though there is an infinite amount of time ahead of us of when the Switch 2 could launch. With the Nintendo Direct in April, it would appear that a northern hemisphere summer launch could be on the cards, but this is hardly set in stone.
The system could also be pushed back for a November release (which has been a more traditional time to launch gaming hardware), but that would result in an uncommonly long build-up. As it stands, waiting for the Switch 2 means having to wait for more information on the Switch 2. Hopefully, good things come to those who wait.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release on Jun 24, 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.
