Yesterday was the big reveal for the Nintendo Switch 2, during which many details, including hardware specs, new design functions, and more, were unveiled. After more than eight years the NS2 is almost here, although it will remain to be seen if the console maker can out-supply scalpers. Pessimism aside, it will be priced at $449 (console only), and a limited edition Mario Kart World bundle going for $499. It should be noted that Nintendo has indicated both MSRPs are truly only suggested and actual price(s) may vary, so buyer(s) beware. Nintendo has previously said it has been working to ensure enough supply for launch day to combat scalping so here’s hoping their efforts pan out for consumers.
Well, with that out of the way let’s get on to the more exciting parts of the Nintendo Switch 2 release announcements. First off here is a list of over twenty third-party games coming to the NS2. One that is getting more prominent media coverage is CD PROJEKT RED’s Cyberpunk 2077. It was notorious for a somewhat disastrous 2020 launch that saw it removed from the PlayStation store after many complaints regarding its buggy state and performance issues. Since then the developers have polished the game to the point its become one of the best games available for PC to showcase advanced software and hardware features.
Games List (1, 2, 3):
- Borderlands 4
- BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
- DELTARUNE
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Drag x Drive
- EA SPORTS FC
- EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
- Enter the Gungeon 2
- FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
- Hades II
- HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition & Project 007
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Kirby Air Riders
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (paid upgrade pack)
- Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
- NBA 2K
- Pokemon Legends Z-A (upgrade pack)
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- SPLIT FICTION
- STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions
- Street Fighter 6
- Super Mario Party Jamboree (paid upgrade pack)
- Survival Kids
- The Duskbloods
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (paid upgrade pack)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (paid upgrade pack)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
- WWE 2K
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
Upgrade Packs:
Following Sony’s strategy of releasing generational upgraded versions of its more popular games, Nintendo in turn is offering upgrade packs for some of its games. While there will be some free title upgrade packs others will cost between $10-$20. The upgrades can include feature updates to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware, new modes, and support for alternate controls. Nintendo has also announced that it is bringing select Gamecube titles to the NS2.
Current list of free upgrade packs:
- ARMS
- Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
- Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
- Game Builder Garage
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Hardware Specifications (per official product page):
| Size | Approximately 4.5 inches tall x 10.7 inches wide x .55 inches thick (with Joy-Con™ 2 controllers attached). *The maximum thickness from the tip of the control sticks to the protruding parts of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.2 inches. |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approximately .88 lbs (Approximately 1.18 lbs with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached) |
| Screen | Capacitive touch screen 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen 1920×1080 pixels HDR10 support VRR up to 120 Hz |
| CPU/GPU | Custom processor made by NVIDIA. |
| Storage | 256 GB (UFS) *A portion of the storage is reserved for use by the system. |
| Communication features | Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6) Bluetooth In TV mode, Nintendo Switch 2 can be connected using the wired LAN port on the dock. |
| Video output | Output via HDMI connector in TV mode Maximum of 3840×2160 (4K) resolution at 60 fps (TV mode) Supports 120 fps when 1920×1080/2560×1440 resolutions are selected Supports HDR10 *Maximum 1920×1080 resolution in tabletop mode and handheld mode, following screen resolution. |
| Audio output | Supports linear PCM output 5.1ch Output via HDMI connector in TV mode *Surround sound effect can be applied when outputting to headphones or to the built-in speaker (surround sound effect when outputting to the built-in speaker requires a system update). |
| Speakers | Stereo The independent enclosure structure provides natural, clear sound quality. |
| Microphone | Built-in microphone (monaural) Noise cancellation, echo cancellation, and auto gain control provide a more comfortable voice chat experience. |
| Buttons | POWER Button/Volume buttons |
| USB-C® Ports | 2 USB-C® Ports The port on the bottom is used to charge the console and connect to the Nintendo Switch 2 dock. The port on the top is used to connect accessories and/or charge the console. |
| Audio jack | 3.5mm 4-contact stereo mini-plug (CTIA standard) Please note: Nintendo cannot guarantee functionality with all products. |
| Game card slot | Both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch game cards can be inserted. |
| microSD Express card slot | Compatible with microSD Express cards only (up to 2 TB) *microSD memory cards that are not compatible with microSD Express can only be used to copy screenshots and videos from Nintendo Switch. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, and mouse sensor located in Joy-Con 2 controllers Brightness sensor located in console |
| Operating environment | 41-95 degrees F / 20-80% humidity |
| Internal battery | Lithium-ion battery/5220mAh |
| Battery life | Approx. 2 – 6.5 hours *These are rough estimates. The battery life will depend on the games you play. |
| Charging time | Approximately 3 hours *While the system is in Sleep mode. |
Other improvements include the Joy-Con 2 controllers featuring HD rumble 2, strap, and charging grip, with a battery life of up to 20 hours and can be fully recharged in ~3 1/2 hours. The NS2 dock includes 2x USB ports, HDMI, and LAN ports and weighs just under one pound. Available accessories include the NS2 Pro Controller ($79.99), Joy-Con 2 Wheel (set of two- $19.99), the NS2 Camera ($49.99), and more (cases, dock set, etc.) which can be found here.