Nintendo Unveils the Highly Anticipated Switch 2: A New Era of Gaming Begins

The anticipation has come to an end. Nintendo has at last lifted the curtain on the Switch 2, its successor to the extraordinarily popular Nintendo Switch. It remains uncertain what the console’s price will be, although Nintendo has suggested a release sometime in 2025.

Developers not informed about Nintendo’s strategy have been anxiously awaiting details about the new hardware features the upcoming console may include. Following the Nintendo Wii, the company has placed emphasis on unique capabilities like motion sensor controls, second screens, and portability over sheer graphical and processing power. What about this time? Well, it seems we can expect more of the same—just enhanced.

In a brief announcement video (embedded below), Nintendo showcased a device that resembles a larger version of the Switch, equipped with several additional features. The Japanese company did not reveal explicit technical specifications, but we noticed redesigned Joy-Con controllers that attach to the sides of the console (as opposed to sliding on), a new kickstand and dock design, a larger display, and more ports.

Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with some Switch titles, but many specific games “might not be supported or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.”

Software announcements were also missing from today’s reveal, though we did see the Switch 2 operating an enigmatic version of Mario Kart in both docked and handheld modes.

The company has promised to share further details about the console at a later date. A Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2 is currently scheduled for April 2, 2025.

Speculation regarding the Nintendo Switch successor surged over the past year, as developers, executives, and internet sleuths with keen detective skills sought to uncover how the company could potentially elevate the surprise factor of a portable console with detachable controllers introduced in 2016. Today’s announcement allows developers and publishers unfamiliar with Nintendo’s intentions to start envisioning what the company has in store as it prepares to launch its next hardware cycle.

When the Nintendo Switch debuted in 2017, its primary competitors were the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming had not yet entered the market, and the proposition of a console that could function effectively both in living rooms and on the go appeared to be a significant gamble.

Now, portability is a key focus for every manufacturer, with Valve’s Steam Deck, Sony’s PlayStation Portal, and a variety of other handheld devices emerging on the scene. None of these devices can match the Nintendo Switch’s astounding sales figures (Nintendo projects that the console will reach 154.8 million units sold by April 2025), but their presence indicates that Mario’s domain is expanding beyond the allure of portability.

Nintendo Switch 2 sales projections

Our colleagues at Omdia have already formulated some predictions regarding the sales performance of the Switch 2. Analyst James McWhirter informed Game Developer that the company anticipates Nintendo to sell 14.7 million units in the calendar year 2025.

This is certainly the company that brought us the Nintendo Ring-Con, Nintendo Labo, and Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo. Even when they are not launching new consoles, the company is continuously exploring and introducing innovative methods for physical hardware.

Expectations are running high for the Switch 2 on multiple fronts. Investors are enthusiastically contemplating the returns that new hardware could bring to Nintendo, and developers everywhere are hoping that a new Nintendo console—and hopefully the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later this year—can breathe some life into the stagnant gaming market and provide more financial stability after two years of layoffs and studio closures.

Game Developer and Omdia are sister organizations under Informa.

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