Nintendo Switch 2

"Switch 2" redirects here. For the album by R&B group Switch, see Switch II.

Nintendo Switch 2
CodenameOunce
DeveloperNintendo
TypeVideo game console
Release date2025
Online servicesNintendo Switch Online
Backward
compatibility		Nintendo Switch
PredecessorNintendo Switch
Websitenintendo.com/successor

The Nintendo Switch 2[a] is an upcoming video game console developed by Nintendo. The successor to the Nintendo Switch, it was unveiled on January 16, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in 2025.

History

In a June 2023 shareholder question-and-answer session, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that Nintendo sought to make the transition between the Nintendo Switch and its successor smooth for consumers, and was planning to retain the console's Nintendo Account system.[1] The following month, Video Games Chronicle reported that Nintendo had sent out software development kits for its next console to development partners and that Nintendo wanted to avoid the shortages that the other ninth generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S had suffered at launch.[2] Nintendo showcased the console in a private presentation during Gamescom in August; among the tech demos were a version of the Switch game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), running at a higher frame rate and resolution, and the Unreal Engine 5 demo The Matrix Awakens (2021).[3][4]

On May 7, 2024, Furukawa officially acknowledged the development of the Nintendo Switch's successor, stating that more information would be revealed later that fiscal year.[5] Rumors of a new console persisted through 2024, and at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in early January, several third-party accessory vendors highlighted gear slated for the Switch 2, leading Nintendo to issue a statement that none of the mockups used at the show were official.[6]

On January 16, 2025, the Switch 2 was revealed via Nintendo's official channels, introducing its new design and magnetic Joy-Con controllers, as well as a sneak peek at an upcoming Mario Kart game.[7] A Nintendo Direct centered around the console is scheduled for April 2, 2025.[8][9][10]

The console was initially expected to launch in late 2024; however, in February, Bloomberg News reported that Nintendo had informed publishers it was delaying the release into early 2025.[11] The Nikkei, corroborating Bloomberg, reported the delay was to prevent shortages and scalping.[12] Nintendo's shares fell by nearly six percent following the reported delay.[11] In August 2024, GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer reported that the console would not launch before April 2025.[13]

Hardware

The Switch 2 is a hybrid console, which can be used as both a portable handheld console, or placed into a dock connected to a television or monitor to be played more like a home console. The unit maintains a similar form factor as the Switch, and consists of the main body that includes the screen and primary hardware, and two Joy Con devices that can be attached to the main unit's sides in handheld mode, or can communicate wirelessly to the main unit when docked. The overall size is slightly larger, and the Joy-Con controllers also feature a raised edge, and have larger buttons compared to the previous generation.[14] Nintendo planned to include Magnetic Joy Cons on the original Switch console, but scrapped the idea since the console would often "fall into your lap."[15][16]

VGC's July 2023 report said the console would initially ship with an LCD, rather than an OLED, to reduce costs.[2] Sharp Corporation stated it had been providing Nintendo LCDs for the console since mid-2023, and the technology analysis firm Omdia stated these were likely 8-inch screens.[17]

The console's alleged system on a chip, the Nvidia Tegra T239 (codenamed "Drake"), was leaked in the 2022 Nvidia ransomware attack by Lapsus$. It features an octa-core ARM Cortex-A78C CPU, a 12 SM Ampere GPU, and a 128-bit LPDDR5 memory interface.[18] Internal Activision emails from FTC v. Microsoft indicated that in terms of power, the console would be similar to eighth generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,[19] though it reportedly supports Nvidia's deep learning super sampling (DLSS) technology and ray tracing to allow for visuals comparable to more recent consoles.[4]

On September 18, 2024, supposed images of the system leaked on Reddit, with details that matched previous reports.[20] In October 2024, Pokémon series developer Game Freak became the target of a significant data breach which exposed various development materials associated with the franchise. Among them included references to the tenth generation titles in the franchise, and that they were targeting a release on the Nintendo Switch's successor, codenamed internally as "Ounce".[21][22]

On January 1, 2025, alleged images of the system's motherboard appeared.[23] A user on Famiboards then calculated, based on the physical dimensions, that the system on a chip was likely produced using a 5 nm process node.[24] However, Richard Leadbetter of Digital Foundry concluded that, rather than porting the Ampere-based architecture to a smaller process node, it is more likely that the existing low-cost Samsung 8nm process node is being used. While such a process poses difficulties for performance and battery life, Leadbetter believes these can be relieved due to the nature of fixed hardware platforms, which allow for custom optimizations to be implemented.[25]

Software

Distribution

See also: Nintendo Game Card

As with its predecessor, games for Nintendo Switch 2 can be obtained in physical and digital formats, with physically distributed games being stored on proprietary Game Cards that share a similar form factor with those used on Nintendo Switch.[26] Original Nintendo Switch Game Cards are also supported for backwards compatibility.[27]

Online services

See also: Nintendo Switch Online

During an investors' meeting in November 2024, Nintendo confirmed that the Nintendo Switch Online service would be retained on the Switch 2.[28]

Library

The console's reveal trailer in January 2025 was accompanied by early footage of an as-yet untitled Mario Kart game, though Nintendo has yet to confirm the gameplay as representative of a Switch 2 title.[29][30]

Third-party support

In December 2022, Microsoft Gaming announced as part of their bid to acquire games publisher Activision Blizzard, that they were in negotiations with Nintendo over a ten-year agreement to bring Activision's future Call of Duty games to their platforms following the merger's finalization.[31] The agreement became legally binding by February 2023, ahead of the merger's completion that October.[32][33] By July 2023, development kits for the console had been secured by key third-party partners.[34] A survey conducted at the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in January 2024 inquired 3,000 independent and AAA developers on game creation and which platforms they were engaging, of which 250 individuals identified themselves as already producing games slated for Nintendo Switch 2, while a further 32% of those surveyed expressed interest in developing for the console.[35] In May 2024, Nintendo announced their intentions to acquire Miami-based developer Shiver Entertainment from their prior parent company Embracer Group, with the company detailing in a statement that the merger enabled them to procure specialized in-house resources for the development and porting of software, while allowing the studio to continue their commitments to Nintendo Switch and other platforms.[36] Bloomberg News later reported that the acquisition was for bolstering Nintendo's efforts in securing games from third-party developers on Nintendo Switch 2, with Shiver assisting external developers in the optimization of such titles from competing platforms.[37] In September 2024, developer Pathea Games announced My Time at Evershine, the spiritual successor to My Time at Portia (2019) and My Time at Sandrock (2023), which became the first publicly confirmed game for Nintendo Switch 2.[38]

Backward compatibility

See also: List of Nintendo Switch games

The Switch 2 will be backward compatible with most existing Switch games.[28][39] In the console's reveal trailer, it is specified that some Switch games "may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2".[10] Rumors in February 2024 indicated that developers would be able to update games to take advantage of the new hardware, though this is yet to be verified.[40]

Existing Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are expected to be backwards compatible with the Switch 2.[41]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: ニンテンドースイッチ2, Hepburn: Nintendō Suitchi Tsū, Nintendo branded the console in Japan in its English name

References

  1. ^ Welsh, Oli (June 27, 2023). "Nintendo promises 'smooth transition' to next console with Nintendo Accounts". Polygon. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Robinson, Andy (July 31, 2023). "Sources: Nintendo targets 2024 with next-gen console". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Phillips, Tom (September 7, 2023). "Nintendo demoed Switch 2 to developers at Gamescom". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Robinson, Andy (September 7, 2023). "Sources: Nintendo showed Switch 2 demos at Gamescom". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Tom Richardson (May 7, 2024). "Nintendo Switch 2: Official announcement promised within next year". BBC. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (January 10, 2025). "Nintendo Breaks Silence on Switch 2 Mockups and Photos Leaks". IGN. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  7. ^ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (January 16, 2025). "Nintendo offers brief first look at the Switch 2 console". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Victoria. "It's official: Nintendo Switch 2 revealed after months of waiting". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  9. ^ Welsh, Oli; McWhertor, Micheal. "Nintendo Switch 2 has been announced". Polygon. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Valentine, Rebekah (January 16, 2025). "The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Officially Almost Fully Backward Compatible". IGN. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Kharpal, Arjun (February 19, 2024). "Nintendo shares fall nearly 6% after report that the Switch 2 will be delayed until 2025". CNBC. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  12. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 26, 2024). "Nintendo Switch 2 Reportedly Delayed to March 2025 in Part to Combat Scalping". IGN. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Phillips, Tom (August 14, 2024). "Hopes fade for Switch 2 launch in early 2025". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Nintendo of America (January 16, 2025). Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via YouTube.[non-primary source needed]
  15. ^ Seedhouse, Alex (February 26, 2017). "5 Things You May Not Know About Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Insider". Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  16. ^ "5 Things You May Not Know About Nintendo Switch". YouTube. Nintendo. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  17. ^ Mochizuki, Takashi; Furukawa, Yuki (January 25, 2024). "Nintendo's Next Switch Coming This Year With LCD, Omdia Says". Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Leadbetter, Richard (November 3, 2023). "Inside Nvidia's new hardware for Switch 2: what is the T239 processor?". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  19. ^ Warren, Tom (September 18, 2023). "Activision was briefed on Nintendo's Switch 2 last year". The Verge. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  20. ^ Robinson, Andy (September 18, 2024). "Alleged images of Nintendo's new Switch have appeared online". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 13, 2024). "Pokémon Developer Game Freak Reportedly Hacked, Stolen Data on Unannounced Games as Well as Nintendo Switch 2 Codename Leaked Online". IGN. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  22. ^ Fischer, Tyler (October 12, 2024). "Massive Pokemon Leak Reveals Gen 10 and New MMO". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Palumbo, Alessio (January 1, 2025). "Nintendo Switch 2 Motherboard Pictures Leaked on the Web". Wfcctech. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  24. ^ De Meo, Francesco (January 2, 2025). "Nintendo Switch 2 Leaked Motherboard Analysis Suggests SoC Uses Samsung 5nm Node; NVIDIA DLSS 4K Upscaling Mentioned in New Patent". Wfcctech. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  25. ^ Leadbetter, Richard (January 6, 2025). "DF Weekly: What does the Switch 2 motherboard leak say about system performance?". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  26. ^ Welsh, Oli (October 3, 2023). "Everything we know about Switch 2, Nintendo's next-gen console". Polygon. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  27. ^ Webster, Andrew (January 16, 2025). "The Nintendo Switch 2 supports original Switch cartridges". The Verge. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  28. ^ a b Bankhurst, Adam (November 6, 2024). "Nintendo Switch 2 Will Officially Be Backward-Compatible With Original Switch Games". IGN. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  29. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (January 16, 2025). "A New Mario Kart Game Is Seemingly Coming to Nintendo Switch 2". IGN. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  30. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (January 16, 2025). "Mario Kart 9 First Look Suggests 24 Person Races Are Coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 Game". IGN. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  31. ^ Life, Nintendo (December 7, 2022). "Microsoft Enters "10-Year Commitment To Bring Call Of Duty To Nintendo"". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Life, Nintendo (February 21, 2023). "Microsoft's Commitment To Bring Call Of Duty To Nintendo Is Now Legally Binding". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Warren, Tom (October 13, 2023). "Microsoft completes Activision Blizzard acquisition, Call of Duty now part of Xbox". The Verge. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "Sources: Nintendo targets 2024 with next-gen console". VGC. July 31, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  35. ^ "8% of developers in a GDC survey say they're working on Nintendo's next console". VGC. January 18, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  36. ^ Life, Nintendo (May 21, 2024). "Nintendo Announces Acquisition Of Shiver Entertainment". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  37. ^ Mochizuki, Takashi (May 20, 2024). "Nintendo Buys Studio to Bring More Outside Games to Next Switch". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  38. ^ Life, Nintendo (September 17, 2024). "'My Time At Evershine' Revealed, Confirmed For Switch Successor". Nintendo Life. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  39. ^ McEvoy, Sophie (November 6, 2024). "Nintendo confirms backwards compatibility on Switch 2". Games Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  40. ^ Serin, Kaan (February 11, 2024). "Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly have digital and physical backward compatibility, plus "enhanced" older games". GamesRadar+. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  41. ^ Reynolds, Ollie (April 29, 2024). "Rumour: 'Switch 2' Said To Be Fully Backward Compatible With A Larger, 1080p Screen". Nintendo Life. Retrieved August 17, 2024.