Nintendo Switch 2 will launch for $450 on June 5
Video games and hardware functionality released for Nintendo’s latest console
Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, as revealed during its Snarl livestream today. The price for the base model Switch 2 is confirmed at $450 (or £396 in the UK), with pre-orders beginning on April 9 (or April 8 in the UK).
In addition to enhanced graphics and sound, the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a variety of new online and hardware features, including upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers that support a mouse interface. Held magnetically in place on the handheld device, when detached, the two Joy-Con 2 controllers can be turned on their side and used to navigate the screen in a mouse-like fashion.
Nintendo has also unveiled GameChat for Switch 2, a new online social feature that enables screensharing and live chat for up to 12 players. The GameChat interface is activated using the new C button on the Joy-Con 2 controllers, and thanks to the console’s built-in microphone, it does not require a headset for use.
A newly introduced Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is also compatible with GameChat and will be available on June 5 alongside the console. Certain games may utilize the player’s camera feed as a feature. Using GameChat will eventually necessitate a Nintendo Switch Online subscription – however, it will be free to use from launch until April 2026.
Despite being the same thickness as the original Switch, the Switch 2 features a larger 7.9-inch LCD display, supporting up to 1080p at 120fps in handheld mode. When docked, the Switch 2 can achieve up to 4K resolution, with the dock’s built-in fan keeping the system cool.
Additionally, there is an extra USB-C port on the top of the Nintendo Switch 2, in addition to the existing port on the back of the unit, which can be utilized with the camera accessory. Like the Switch, the Switch 2 supports physical game cartridges. It also offers a more substantial 256GB of internal storage while accommodating additional memory via microSD cards.
The company confirmed new software for the Switch 2 including the launch title Mario Kart World, which features a larger, more interconnected environment for Nintendo’s racing franchise. Another title set to release on June 5 is the digital game Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, allowing players to explore a 3D map of the Switch 2 and discover more about its features, including mini-games that demonstrate how the various functionalities, like mouse controls, operate.
Other notable Switch 2 exclusive games will launch after the initial release, including the 3D platformer Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17, FromSoftware’s 2026 multiplayer game The Duskbloods, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which is set for late 2025.
Nintendo also clarified how backwards compatibility will function with original Switch games. While the library of current digital and physical Switch games is largely compatible with the new console, certain titles will feature paid Support Packs for additional functionalities.
These include Expansive Mario Occasion Jam