Nintendo Switch 2 and logo.
(Image credit: Nintendo Switch 2)
After a brief tease, Nintendo is finally detailing the Nintendo Switch 2 in full.
The Switch 2 is physically larger than the original Switch, with a larger Joy-Cons to accompany it, as well as a new dock. The kickstand has been redesigned, and the Switch 2 has a second USB Type-C port. The much-anticipated console/handheld hybrid will have big shoes to fill, as the original Nintendo Switch was Nintendo's best-selling console of all time, with over 150.86 million units sold.
The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch screen and is 13.9 mm thick, the same depth as the Switch. That display is 1080p, up from 720p. The screen will go up to 120 frames per second on compatible games. It's an LCD screen with HDR support, but doesn't have OLED from the Switch OLED. The dock will allow some games to go up to 4K on a TV. It also has a built-in fan to keep the system extra cool while playing on a TV or monitor.
The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically, which Nintendo says keeps them "firmly attached." There are bigger SL and SR buttons on the inside, should you play with a single Joy-Con. The control sticks are larger, but nothing else was said about them (ora bout drift). Each controller can be used a mouse for compatible games, giving it some PC-style controls.
Nintendo is promising a 3D audio system, even if you don't have surround sound. Sony had touted this kind of tech for the PlayStation 5.
The system has new kickstand is larger and bends back.It also features a second USB-C port on top, for charging in tabletop mode or connecting a camera.
The Switch comes with 256GB or storage built in, and reading and writing data is "faster." That's far bigger than the 32GB in the original Swtich.
The Joy-Con 2 controller features a new C button, which Nintendo promoted early as a flagship new feature. It allows for GameChat, letting you talk with friends while playing games. There's a built-in microphone in the Switch that will recognize your voice, and Nintendo didn't show it in use with a headset. In fact, Nintendo shoes a blender in the background, suggesting it will cancel noise. The chat menu will also have game screens sharing to share with others in your party, though Nintendo's direct made it look a little choppy. Your chat can include players in different games, so you don't have to be playing together. It's nice to see this built in, as the original Nintendo switch required a smartphone app.
Another software feature is GameShare, which will let you share games on local networks with other consoles.
There's also a Nintendo Switch 2 camera that you can connect to the system to broadcast yourself on screen and video chat in front of your screen. The camera feed will also be incorporated into games, like some Mario Party-style mini games that were shown in the Direct.
Nintendo started the stream with Mario Kart World, showcasing what is sure to be a powerhouse game that will sell throughout the Switch 2's lifetime. It will launch day and date with the Switch 2. Beyond more detailed graphics, it showed wall-riding, the ability to take control of a truck, and more. The game will change with time of day and weather conditions. You can drive off the track, driving from race to race. The game will have 24 players in each race, the most in the series' history and a showcase of the Switch's increased compute power. There's also a free-roam mode in Mario Kart World, exploring an open world similar to Microsoft's Forza Horizon series.
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Andrew E. Freedman
Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.
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