Nintendo Switch 2: Every detail revealed

Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and an exclusive game by Elden Ring’s From Software headlined the announcements in today’s Nintendo Direct. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Nintendo’s sequel to its best console. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost Australians $699. 

That’s better than many expected after hearing the console would cost $US449 ($713).

There will also be a bundle with Mario Kart World included for $769.

The original Nintendo Switch launched on March 3, 2017, for $469.95.

Then Nintendo Switch Lite arrived on September 20, 2019, for $329.95 and the Nintendo Switch OLED model hit shelves on October 8, 2021, with a price tag of $539.95.

By comparison, a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X both cost $799.

When (and how) can you buy one?

Pre-orders have already begun, with EB Games the first cab off the rank to announce their pre-orders for Australians. Further details will come through individual retailers. 

It’s rare to find new consoles available on store shelves at launch but Nintendo has promised to “take all possible measures” to combat scalping with the Switch 2. 

Scalpers contributed to a shortage of the original Switch back in 2017. 

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told Japanese magazine Nikkei “we are making preparations” when asked about scalping, and the company is believed to be manufacturing far more stock this time. 

How powerful is the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo, like Apple, doesn’t usually go into extreme detail about power.

However, we got a lot of information about the Nintendo Switch 2. 

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond will have two modes on Switch 2; one pushing 4K 60FPS and another at 1080p and 120FPS when docked. 

The console will also handle HDR (High Dynamic Range) for better quality images.    

A fan is built into the Nintendo Switch 2 dock to keep the system cool during more taxing sessions. 

The Switch 2 has a 7.9 inch LCD screen which is roughly 30 per cent larger than the display on the original Switch and 15 per cent larger than its OLED model.

Some fans would have preferred an OLED display, but a 1080p LCD is far from a backward step.

The 120Hz display (up from 60Hz) is a huge addition here and will allow for smoother and more responsive games. 

Wait… mouse mode is real?

Nintendo’s new Joy-Con aren’t just magnetic – they’re a mouse! 

Each controller can be turned sideways and dragged across a surface (or your leg) to move a pointer on screen or, in one example, Drag + Drive, you’ll push them forward like you’re pushing a wheelchair.

We finally know what the mysterious ‘C’ button does too. 

Nintendo spent way more time on this than I expected. 

A camera can be plugged into your Nintendo Switch 2, allowing for video chats with friends during games via a built in microphone. 

These video feeds don’t look great. They’re low resolution and low framerates, but maybe you don’t need those when you’re focused on your screen. 

I’m not super sold on the concept (yet) but Nintendo is. 

Their tag line for GameChat, and the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, is “All together, Anytime, Anywhere.”

Nintendo also confirmed a “GameShare” feature which will allow you to play your multiplayer games with friends, even if they don’t own that game. 

More details about GameChat are coming from Nintendo on Friday. 

Can I play my old games on the Switch 2?

Yes, most of the time. Nintendo has confirmed the Switch 2 will be able to play digital and physical Switch games. 

Some games like Nintendo Labo or Ring Fit Adventure may not be fully compatible because they use physical accessories which are designed for the original Joy-Con. 

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will not work on an original Nintendo Switch. 

How many games can the Nintendo Switch 2 fit?

The Switch 2 has 256GB of “faster” storage. 

That’s a major upgrade over the original Switch which had just 32GB of internal storage.

Nintendo are the masters of small file sizes but still pushed 18.2 GB for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. 

On the Switch 2, you’d be able to fit 14 games of that size. 

If you’d like to upgrade your storage space, you’ll need a MicroSD Express card. 

Regular MicroSD cards, which you might already have for your Switch, will not work on Nintendo Switch 2.     

How long will its battery last?

Nintendo focused a lot on specs but battery life didn’t get a mention! 

The Nintendo Switch had a battery life of 2.5 – 6 hours at launch. 

Better batteries and the OLED model eventually improved battery life to 4.5 – 9 hours.  

When will I be able to play one?

In Australia, Nintendo is holding one preview event and tickets are already exhausted. 

Melbourne is the only Aussie city getting a preview event on May 10 – 11. 

Other preview events around the world include: 

Here’s everything you’ll get in the box: 

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa says “Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch”. 

“With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches,” he said.

More details on the Nintendo Switch 2 are expected in the coming weeks.