The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct finally aired! Giving us more details about the console and its games. Missed it? Here’s the summary.
And we are off to a start! Let’s see what the Nintendo Switch 2 will bring. It will be released on June 5th in two versions: standalone (469€) or with a download version of Mario Kart World (509€), the newest addition to the Mario Kart Universe.
Mario Kart World
As suspected, the teaser we saw in the initial trailer is for a new Mario Kart game. Officially called Mario Kart World, this time, it features great-looking karts with great graphics and new roads to conquer. Bikes are returning, and boats and other vehicle options will be added – including plane-looking carts and a drivable cow character? Another addition looks like skins for the characters, dressing them up like characters from other games and worlds – which reminded me a lot of Mario Oddysees’ play style.
The title reveals it already – the game takes place in different places worldwide, with options for weather, atmosphere, and all other kinds of gimmicks, including the possibility of driving across the whole map towards the following map (with 24 racers). Another added option is the Knock-out tour, which lets you race worldwide while being forced to score a particular position – otherwise you will be eliminated. And if you want to explore the map, you can go on a scenic drive across the maps – with the addition of a photomode! It will be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.
New Features
Joy Con 2
A new C button is added to the Joysticks, which can be used alone or together. It will feature GameChat—voice chat through the dock system but active through the Joy-Cons! A microphone is built into the Nintendo Switch 2, with noise-cancelling options and game screen sharing options in handheld mode. This will enhance the ability to play together at a new level. Press the C button to open the chat menu for quick options and muting yourself. There is also a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera launching to enter a form a streaming mode, in which your friends can see you ingame or replace the place usually used by the Mii on the Switch 1. It also looks like there is an option to use motion controls with the camera, but this wasn’t directly confirmed by text, only by the sports game shown on screen. To use GameChat, you will need an NSO online subscription.
Local GameShare
You can now game share games through local play while being in the same place. It can also be used to play online games that use the GameShare experience—there will be more online Game-Share options on the Nintendo Switch 2 games.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 will have a 7.9-inch screen, a 1080p screen, but with the same thickness. It will support 120fps for smoother gameplay. It will be delivered with an LCD HDR screen. Joy Cons will be magnetically held in place. The SL and SR buttons are bigger and better to use, especially in horizontal play. The same goes for the Joy Cons. Joy Cons will be used as a mouse.
Audio Balance is enhanced, and the Nintendo Switch 2 will also have a built-in mic with 3D sound and noise-canceling features. The new stand will be much bigger, so there will be no more fear of breaking it. It will also be released with two USB ports, one at the bottom and one at the top. The storage will be expanded to 256 GB. Micro SD cards can again be used to extend the storage. You can also transfer your old files to the new Nintendo Switch 2.
The new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock also supports 4 K and HDR in TV mode. It has a built-in fan with better cooling options. On Nintendo Switch 2, you can play Nintendo Switch 2 games and compatible Nintendo Switch 1 games. The game cards will be the same size but colored red and have faster writing/reading times. In addition to changing the gamecards, the Pro Controller 2, with two programmable buttons, will also be released.
Three types of games;
So, next to the new features, the Nintendo Switch 2 will focus mainly on three types of games.
- Nintendo Switch 2 games, which will use the features of the Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo Switch 1 games, which are compatible
- Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will be enhanced versions of the Nintendo Switch 1 games.
Nintendo Owned Games:
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a game in which you will be transported into the Nintendo Switch 2. You can walk around and look at the different functions of the Nintendo Switch 2 by pressing the question marks found around the world. It will also feature a lot of mini-games and tech demos to try out the new functions of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Super Mario Jamboree will be expanded with games using voice control, mouse control, and accessories. Mario Party mode will use the camera, which shows emotions throughout the game. Bowser-Live is the mode in which the most lively team will be —using full-body mode. Rollercoaster mode will use mouse control to shoot down enemies. It will be released on July 24th, and for those already owning the game, you can buy an upgrade pack.
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will also get Edition variants – primarily focusing on graphical enhancements. Another addition is the Zelda Notes 0, which will work with the Nintendo Switch app – showing you all the temples and seeds you haven’t found like a Zelda TomTom. You can also share the QR codes for the stuff you build.
Kirby and the Forgotten World will also get enhanced graphics and an extra story part in which Kirby traverses a world hit by a huge meteor.
Metroid Prime 4 will be released as an NSO 1 and NSO 2 Edition, the latter of which will use the mouse and 4K 60fps or even 1080 120fps HDR in presentation mode.
The same goes for Pokemon Legends ZA, which will feature a better frame rate and graphical performance on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Next up is a game that relies solely on the new mouse function of the Joy-Cons. It’s called DragxDrive and looks like off-road wheelchair basketball. The color scheme reminded me a lot of ARMS, and some features looked like reused tech from that game. But the concept can be cool, with the ongoing strength of games like Rocket League. It will be released in the summer of 2025.
The next trailer mentions the imprisoning war, so that can only mean one thing! Hyrule Warriors time. Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisoment will be released in the winter of 2025.
Kirby will also be getting a new addition in the form of Kirby Airriders—developed by Sakurai himself! They will be released in 2025.
A reworked Donkey Kong smashes through the wall and shows some gameplay you would typically see in a Super Mario game. But this time, it’s DK that’s doing the heavy lifting. It has a Spyro x Mario x DK vibe, and the new reworked DK looks fantastic. I love the old-school look they gave him. Is this Donkey Kong Jr. Jr. all grown own? Time to find out in Donkey Kong Bananza, releasing on July 17th.
Nintendo Partner Games:
Elden Ring is also coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, making it clear that Nintendo is not just for the ‘kids’ anymore. Time to become Elden Lord all over again – in the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition.
Hades II is also coming to the Nintendo Switch! It’s time to go back into the depths of hell, and it looks amazing. More will be revealed later this year.
Capcom will release Street Fighter 6 with 26 playable fighters and three new amiibo! It’s called the Year 1-2 edition.
Daemon x Machina is also coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, and it looks fantastic! It features high-adrenaline gameplay, lots of action, great dialogue, and maps to cruise on. I can’t wait to find out more.
Split Fiction will come to the Nintendo Switch 2! It will be a launch game.
EA Sports will release EA Sports FC (FIFA’s new name) and Madden NFL.
Hogwarts Legacy will also be coming to Switch 2, using the new mouse controls, so it’s time to brush up on your magic wand waving skills.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 is shown next and will also be released on the Nintendo Switch 2. It includes a Spongebob SquarePants Easter egg.
Hitman: World of Assassination Signature Edition is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 as a launch game. Right after this announcement, a very comforting sound is played, and Project 007 is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2, with more details to be announced.
Square Enix will bring Bravely Default Flying Fairy Remastered to the Nintendo Switch 2. And the big Final Fantasy 7 remake will also come to the Nintendo Switch 2!
Sega will be getting Like A Dragon 0 Directors Cut, and there will also be a launch game, with the promise of more Like a Dragon games coming to Nintendo.
Deltarune Chapters 1+2+3+4 by Toby Fox will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. It looks great, and I can’t wait to play it.
Gearbox will bring Borderlands 4 to the Nintendo Switch 2, no release date set yet, just that it will be launching in 2025. With more Gearbox/2K games coming towards Switch 2 games coming towards the Nintendo Switch 2. The close off with the announcement that W2K and NBA2K will also be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Civ 7 will also be available as a launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2 (with an upgraded version).
Next is Survival Kids, a survival/cooperation game where four kids find a treasure map. It will also launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 as a release title.
Enter the Gungeon 2 will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 with some brief gameplay elements. It will be in 3D instead of side-scrolling.
Starseeker – Astroneer Expeditions by Devolver will release in 2026.
Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition will come to the Nintendo Switch 2, which seems promising.
Next is an overview view trailer featuring: Hollow Knight Silksong, Goodnight Univiser, Two Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, a new Story of Seasons, Witchbrook, PuyoPuyo Tetris, a new Rune Factory, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws are shown in a brief overview trailer, next to a new Nobonaga’s Ambition, Fast Fusion, Shadow Labyrinth, Raidou Remastered, No Sleep for Kaname Date, Reanimal, Fortnite, Arcade Archives Ridge Racer, Professor Layton New World of Steam, Tamagotchi Plaza and Human Fall Flat 2.
The last title Nintendo Partners showed is the upcoming vampiric game by From Software, titled The Duskbloods. It looks amazing. It’s very dark and very gothic, with transforming powers and a touch of Devil May Cry gameplay. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch 2 exclusively in 2026.
Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch 2 will have a new exclusive feature: GameCube games! The first three games featured on this app will be Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II, and F-Zero GX. A brief trailer shows even more Fire Emblem, Pokemon, and Chibi Robo on the way for the GameCube app, which will launch with a GameCube Nintendo Switch Two controller.
Conclusion
This presentation blew me away. Nintendo delivered and gave me much more than I anticipated. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks fantastic and has a powerful third-party lineup secured, with some heavy-hitting studios bringing their games to the system. Nintendo once again shows us that they can innovate on things they tried and succeeded with older consoles, but spinning it in a way that only Nintendo can. I’m not entirely convinced by the mouse function just yet, but other than that, I love the new features and first-party games and can’t wait to see what the console can do when it releases on the 5th of June.
