After a long wait, the gaming community was finally treated to a ton of new details about the upcomingNintendo Switch 2on Wednesday, as Nintendo presented their Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, a keynote full of game reveals, release dates and other new details about the highly-anticipated new gaming console slated for release later this year.
From Software Announces The Duskbloods Exclusively for Switch 2
From Software today announced a new IP exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods.
Nintendo held an exclusive press event in New York on Wednesday for the debut of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, including hands-on demos and an exclusive roundtable interview with Nintendo Switch 2 Producer Kouichi Kawamoto, Director Takuhiro Dohta and Hardware Design Lead Tetsuya Sasaki. Hardcore Gamer was personally invited to attend the event, giving us the chance to share everything we learned about the Nintendo Switch 2 from the experience with you.
A New Generation of Hardware
With a larger screen, higher definition, and a completely redesigned body and controllers, the Nintendo Switch 2 is not just an “update” to the original Switch, it’s the next generation entirely. Nintendo’s new console will be arriving on August 24, 2025, and will be priced at $449.99 (there will also be a bundle with Mariokart World for $499.99).
The new Joy-Con 2 controllers have even more features than the originals, with a complete redesign from the ground up for the new system (including the joysticks, which we’ve been assured are much less likely to suffer from stick-drift issues). The new mouse controls allow the Joy-Con 2 to be turned sideways and used like a computer mouse, opening up tons of new design and gameplay possibilities. While you’re able to always use them on a normal hard surface, Nintendo has made adjustments to the sensors so that you can control the mouse on your pants. It depends on the material, but Nintendo has confirmed that other surfaces nearby are functional as well. No “table peripheral” will be required. The Joy-Con 2 also contains a feature that can automatically detect when a player is trying to use mouse controls or Joy-Con controls. Whether or not it’s used is left up to the software developers, as they are given the option to have the mouse controls turned on automatically by detecting the positioning of the player’s grip or to be manually activated via a menu setting.
One aspect of the hardware we didn’t get a concrete answer on is battery life. Battery life for the Nintendo Switch 2 “depends on the environment and the conditions” that you use it in. It depends on the title that you’re playing, as well as system-side things like GameChat and other features being used. It has a wider possible range of battery life, so it’s harder to declare the exact difference in battery life. The hardware team did confirm during the roundtable that while the Nintendo Switch 2 does use more energy, the battery size has been increased to accommodate that.
Fans of the original Nintendo Switch won’t be left in the dust, however, as plenty of hardware and accessories for the Nintendo Switch will be backwards compatible with Switch 2. Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers for the first Nintendo Switch will be compatible with the new Switch 2 for playing Nintendo Switch games. You won’t be able to physically connect the original Joy-Cons to the Nintendo Switch 2, but the accessories built for those Joy-Cons will still be compatible, such as the Ring-Con and Leg Strap for Ring Fit Adventure. You’ll also still be able to play with other forms of controllers, such as GameCube controllers.
It’s Not Just A Sequel…
The most important form of backwards compatibility is in the games department and Nintendo has thankfully confirmed that the majority of your Nintendo Switch titles will be accessible on the Nintendo Switch 2. Most first-party Nintendo-developed titles will be available to play day one, both physical and digital. As for other Nintendo Switch games, whether they can be played on the new console depends on certain limitations and is a case-by-case scenario. There aresome titles that aren’t compatiblefor obvious reasons, such as the Nintendo LABO, which wouldn’t be able to fit the new dimensions of the Nintendo Switch 2. The list of compatible titles will continue to be updated on the official Nintendo website as the launch approaches.
Some Nintendo Switch games (though no specifics were given) will see improvements in frame rate and loading times on the Nintendo Switch 2, but the biggest improvements and changes will be seen in the new Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of select Nintendo Switch titles, which will add new accessibility and gameplay mechanics to the games (if players pay the additional upgrade cost). This seems to work similarly to PlayStation’s recent string of remastered games, which allows owners of the original to purchase an upgrade to the remastered version at a fraction of the price.
Mario Kart World First Game Announced for Nintendo Switch 2
Many assumed it was going to be called Mario Kart 9, but Nintendo pulled that rug out from everyone during the showcase.
One upgrade that sets the Nintendo Switch 2 apart from its predecessor is the new GameChat feature, which allows players to chat with their friends in multiplayer without the use of a secondary device. This isn’t a new development for the industry in, but Nintendo is bringing their own flair into the world of online multiplayer parties by introducing video chat as an option. Compatible cameras (specifically the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which will be sold separately for $49.99) will allow players to see the faces of their friends in real time as they play games together, with options to stream other players' gameplay at the same time as well.
One upgrade that sets the Nintendo Switch 2 apart from its predecessor is the new GameChat feature
Nintendo addressed concerns over security and safety practices regarding the new GameChat system, assuring parents and fans that they’ve taken steps to verify it’s a positive experience for everyone involved. Parental controls for the camera can be set and controlled in the Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat app, and the only people you’ll be able to chat with are the friends that the parents have already accepted. Additionally, you’ll need to be friends with any other players you’re in a chat with, so there’s no chance that you’ll find yourself in a chat with strangers. If something does happen, there’s always a report feature that can be used.
New Levels of Gameplay Possibilities
Of course, what we’re most excited about are the new games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, with a small but killer roster of titles confirmed for launch and beyond during the Nintendo Direct. Kicking off the event was MarioKart World, which appears to be taking the series in a new direction by constructing all the courses on one giant continent, allowing players to hop between them. Multiple game modes are coming (as well as more details on the game during a dedicated Mario Kart World Direct at a later date), but there’s an open-world aspect to the game that has the potential to be as game-changing as the open-world mechanics seen in Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
Plenty of other titles were announced during the presentation, from first-party titles like Donkey Kong Bananza to highly-anticipated indie games likeHollow Knight: Silksongand Enter the Gungeon 2. One of the standout announcements was the reveal of FromSoftware’s new title The Duskbloods, a Switch 2-exclusive title that will embrace a new PvPvE playstyle focused on multiplayer combat. FromSoftware also confirmed that their hit game Elden Ring (as well as its DLC Shadow of the Erdtree) will see a release on the Nintendo Switch 2, which lead the pack in a number of high-quality ports coming to the new system (thanks in part to its upgraded performance capabilities).
We learned that the Switch 2 will be capable of 4K display at 60fps and above when docked, and haveconfirmed that it has ray-tracinghardware capabilities as well as a variable refresh rate of over 100 Hz. These new specs will no doubt come in handy for AAA titles that have been confirmed for the Switch 2, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 4. With 256 GB of storage pre-installed, the Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be a worthy contender with the likes of Valve’s Steam Deck and other handheld PC gaming consoles. What remains to be seen is whether third-party developers will be able to optimize their games for the Switch 2, which has proven to be a problem with past Nintendo consoles and the new phase of PC-based handheld consoles.
Nintendo Switch 2 Fully Revealed with a $449 Launch Price, Grab Bag of Features, Games from Other Platforms
Nintendo today fully revealed the details for their next console, Nintendo Switch 2, including a look at the new hardware features and games.
