Everything we know so far
When the first Nintendo Switch console launched in 2017, it was a revelation—a vision of a portable gaming future. Everyone was keen to get their hands on one, and now, seven years later, we’re all eagerly awaiting its successor.
Will it be Nintendo Switch 2? Will it have a completely new and different name? The internet is awash with questions as countless journalists, hobbyists and fans scour social media for clues.
All eyes are on Nintendo’s upcoming console, and despite the company’s consistent openness in confirming that there is no officially Nintendo Switch 2 news – the hype is growing every day. To satisfy your curiosity, here is everything we know (so far) about the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2: Latest news and updates
August 5, 2024: Nintendo reports significant financial decline compared to the previous year
“In its recently published financial report, the company confirmed significant declines in net sales (-46.5%), operating profit (-70.6%) and net profit (-55.3%), with this comparable loss being due to “exceptional factors” in the first quarter of 2024, including the publication of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom And The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
“There is currently no news on the next Nintendo console, and until a release is confirmed, Nintendo will likely continue its temporary downturn. According to the financial report, the first quarter result is not unexpected for Nintendo, and it will likely continue like this until the next console comes out. When that happens, we can expect a significant increase in Nintendo’s results.”
June 19, 2024: Nintendo Direct June 2024: All important game announcements
“Even though we knew for sure that there would be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor console, we were still blown away. There were plenty of trailers waiting to be eagerly watched by us – including The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Mario & Luigi: Brothershipand much more.”
May 8, 2024: Nintendo will announce the Switch 2 console by March 2025
“Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has accepted it Twitter / X to officially announce that the company will unveil its next console – colloquially known as Nintendo Switch 2 – by March 2025. Although the announcement was not very detailed, that has not dampened the excitement as fans look forward to the long-awaited console.”
April 29, 2024: Rumor has it that Nintendo Switch 2 will have magnetic Joy-Cons
“Per vandalwhich correctly reported on the Switch OLED before the reveal, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will feature revised Joy-Con controllers that attach magnetically rather than via a slide rail. This suggests that the new Joy-Cons will feature a revised design and that older Joy-Cons may not be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2’s main body.”
When is the release date of Nintendo Switch 2?
Although Nintendo has said that the successor to the Switch will be released this fiscal year, that may not be the case. Journalist Christopher Dring recently said in a GamesIndustry.biz Podcast: “No developer I’ve spoken to expects a launch this fiscal year. In fact, they’ve been told it’s not expected this fiscal year.”
Furthermore, a report by Japanese analyst Hideki Yasuda (translated by Automaton Media) in August 2024 suggested that the Switch’s successor will launch in the first half of next year. With Nintendo’s fiscal year ending in March 2025, speculation online has led to a believed release date between April 2025 and June 2025 – although there’s no word yet on how legitimate these rumors might be.
Will the Nintendo Switch 2 be presented at Nintendo Direct?
If Nintendo is good at anything, it’s keeping the public informed, especially when it comes to whether or not we’ll hear news about the next console. During the last few Nintendo Direct broadcasts, Nintendo’s official X/Twitter accounts have posted that made it clear to fans that they’re not quite ready to reveal more yet.
The benefit of this openness is that the likelihood of a surprising flood of information is somewhat reduced. Avid fans should keep an eye on Nintendo’s social media channels for new insights.
How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?
While we’re still waiting for details on the console’s release, specs and price, we do know that its predecessor sold for around AUD$469.95 in Australia when it released in 2017. These days, you can buy a Nintendo Switch for just over AUD$400, with OLED versions selling for just under AUD$500.
Given inflation, demand, and the fact that there is already so much hype surrounding the product, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Nintendo Switch 2’s starting price was higher upon release.
According to analyst Dr. Serkan Toto in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz“I think the next hardware will be $400 next year. There’s a good chance games will cost more too: $70.”
If this is true, we would expect the console to be priced at around AUD 600 (in Australian dollars).
Read: Pokemon Legends: ZA: What is the next Pokemon game?
What are the launch titles for the Nintendo Switch 2?
While we are still waiting for concrete information about the Switch successor, we can already speculate a little about which titles are likely to come with the Switch. There are some clear favorites – a new Luigi’s Villa is our first choice – but there are actually pretty good reasons to choose some games over others, and some we can rule out.
It is unlikely that there is a Legend of Zelda Game, given the upcoming release of Echoes of Wisdom. It is unlikely that it is something that has not yet been announced. But you know what is likely? According to VDGMS, “in 7 out of 11 cases (64%) where Nintendo launched a console, there was a new Mario Play along.”
The chances are good that Pokémon: ZA will be one of the first games to appear in the program, and thanks to the statistics above, there is a good chance that it will be a Mario Rate.
Will the Nintendo Switch 2 be backwards compatible with Switch games?
The honest answer to backwards compatibility is that nobody knows for sure yet, but given the number of titles announced during the Nintendo Direct in June, the chances are pretty good. Tentpole releases like Metroid Prime 4 deserve a strong, long lifespan, so releasing them exclusively on the original Switch could be quite limiting – but you never know.
