The Nintendo Switch 2 was announced back in January of 2025, with minimal information released. Fans were not told the price or the hardware of the Switch, and no games were announced either. But with the latest Nintendo Direct, fans no longer had to speculate.
The Nintendo Direct is a presentation where Nintendo usually unveils new products, features, and updates. Usually, a couple are live-streamed every year, and fans anticipate these because of the new information and how Nintendo often changes the gaming environment every couple of years. From the NES to the Wii U, Nintendo has revolutionized gaming. Fans look forward to the Direct to see them continue to do so.
Nintendo Switch 2 Features:
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The C Button & GameChat: On the Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Switch 2, they have added a new button called the C Button. This allows you to communicate with friends and family. With the new built-in microphone, you can play games while talking to others. It appears to have a built-in noise suppression system, so even in a noisy environment, it will single out your voice, allowing others to hear you while, for example, a vacuum is going in the background. You’ll also be able to screen share with others and even play different games while chatting. With the new communication features, the new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera will allow you to video chat with other people while playing your favorite games. Some new games will be using this in their gameplay, though it’s unclear if any games will require the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat, but it will have an open-access period that ends on March 31, 2026. “ALL TOGETHER, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE” – Nintendo.
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GameShare: This feature allows you to play with other Nintendo Switch systems with just one game card, up to three other systems at a time. This is only available with certain games, but you’ll be able to use it with both generations of Nintendo Switches. You’re not just limited to local play with the GameShare feature; you’ll also be able to share online with just one game card.
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Joy-Con 2: The Joy-Con 2 is a new, improved version of the original Joy-Con, taking playability to another level with the mouse feature, allowing you to use it as a mouse on a smooth tabletop surface. It will also be magnetic compared to the previous version, which used a latch to slide it in.
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Dock: The new version of the dock includes an internal fan that cools the Switch 2 when in docked mode. It also supports HDR and 4K when in docked mode, allowing for a better display of games.
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Hardware: The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch screen with a thickness of 13.9 millimeters. It doubles the original amount of pixels, allowing for better visual quality. It supports 120 fps with a Vivid LCD screen and HDR support, making it a serious upgrade from the original Switch. The new version also has better speakers for high-quality 3D sound and 2 USB-C ports—one on the bottom and one on top, originally designed for use with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. It will also come with 8x the storage of the original Switch, totaling 256 gigabytes of storage.
The price of the Switch 2 was also announced as $450 USD, a $150 increase from the original Switch price of $300 USD. Nintendo also announced Mario Kart World, a new installment in the Mario Kart franchise, priced at $80, causing some controversy online among fans of Nintendo and other competitors like PlayStation and Xbox. Some argue that Nintendo will single-handedly change the gaming market’s price for AAA games with this move, making the new standard $80. However, it’s worth mentioning that the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch games. While the controversy sparks online debates, there is also hope that it will be a great new version of the old Switch.
Sources:
https://youtu.be/VrTVeYm4iIM?si=mMVc5z4cpUFVO76D
“If this article gets enough support I the writer will buy a Nintendo Switch 2 and give you my honest opinion on it!”-Dalton Lopez
