Nintendo has shared the initial information about its upcoming game console, the Switch 2.
In an hour-long presentation, the Japanese video game company showed excited fans the first glimpses of games, its launch date, and the mystery behind the C button.
Available to purchase from 5 June this year, the Switch 2 is the long-awaited successor to Nintendo’s beloved Switch console. The Switch was launched back in 2017 as a rival to Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One.
Ever since, it has had to contend with the ninth generation of consoles From both brands, the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S.
Although it might not have matched the computational capabilities of its competitors, the Switch garnered a massive following due to its entertaining games and novel docking mechanism, serving as both a home and mobile console simultaneously.
The Switch 2 allows Nintendo to better align itself with competitors. In terms of visuals, the new model will feature twice as many pixels compared to its predecessor thanks to an LCD display capable of rendering at 1080p and supporting frame rates up to 120fps. Additionally, it boasts a substantial increase in memory, offering 256GB of built-in storage, which is eight times more than what was available previously.
Enthusiastically, the console’s dock will also support 4K resolution for certain titles with HDR when used in TV mode. Additionally, it comes equipped with a fan to maintain optimal temperature.
Prior to the release, much speculation surrounded the enigmatic C button on the Switch 2’s Joy-Con controllers. It turns out that during gameplay, pressing this button will enable players to chat with one another. This new model includes a built-in camera along with an enhanced online GameChat feature accessible via the C button.
Might C represent "conversation"? Actually, this isn’t exactly the thrilling discovery everyone was anticipating.
An even more captivating new feature is GameShare, enabling certain titles to let players share a single game with as many as three additional users. It’s also reassuring that the Switch 2 will support backward compatibility, highlighted by the introduction of a special Switch 2 GameCube controller—including an added C button—specifically designed for die-hard 'Super Smash Bros. Melee' fans.
Additionally, you can flip one of the Joy-Con controllers sideways and utilize it as a mouse. This feature is crucial for playing first-person shooter games.
Several Switch games are expected to receive upgrades for the next-generation console. Notably among these are the highly acclaimed 'Legend of Zelda' series entries, 'Breath of the Wild' and 'Tears of the Kingdom'.
Should you already have the original versions of these games, you will be able to purchase an upgrade bundle; however, Nintendo has not yet announced the pricing for this.
Regarding pricing, it wasn’t mentioned during the presentation. Nevertheless, keen-eyed fans who went online to attempt preordering the console from Nintendo discovered that their site had listed the prices for Mainland Europe: €470 for just the console and €510 including the new Mario Kart game. Pre-orders are set to open on April 8th.
This leads us into the topic of games. The inaugural officially released game will be 'Mario Kart World,' which marks the ninth installment in the franchise, introducing new elements like free-roaming racing and competitions involving up to 24 players.
Other titles set for release on Switch 2 will feature 'Elden Ring', 'Hades 2', and 'Street Fighter 6'. Additionally, you can look forward to 'Madden NFL', 'Hogwarts Legacy', and a follow-up to 'Hyrule Warriors'.