After a long eight-year wait, Nintendo has finally revealed the hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s due to be released very soon.

The new console offers a wholly upgraded experience with boosted performance, with support for 1080p at 120fps in handheld mode and 4K in TV mode, along with a larger, faster screen, redesigned controllers, new chat features, new accessories and a swathe of new software features to boot.

It really does look like it could be one of the best game consoles when it launches in the UK, US and other regions in June – but for now, here’s everything you need to know about the console, from release date and pricing to the key new features on offer.

Keep reading to discover everything we know so far about the Nintendo Switch 2, including all the latest news surrounding the price, release date, features and games. You can also scroll down further if you’re interested in what the latest leaks and rumors have to say about all the aspects that have yet to be announced. 

We’d also recommend checking out seven important details you might’ve missed from the Switch 2 announcement, for more on the current Switch line-up, visit our guides to the Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite.

We’ve also ranked some of our favourite consoles and games in our best lists, including the best Nintendo Switch console, best Switch games and best game consoles.

Nintendo Switch 2 At a Glance

• Nintendo Switch 2 to launch on 5 June 2025
• Costs £395.99/$449
• US pre-orders halted due to new tariffs
• Bigger, higher-res 7.9-inch LCD screen
• New JoyCon 2 controllers with new input modes and more
• Will work with ‘compatible’ Switch games

Nintendo Switch 2 release date & pre-orders

Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2, along with new games and accessories, will all be available to buy on 5 June 2025 around the world.

However, the pre-order situation is a little complicated. Pre-orders in the UK are live at retailers like Argos, Smyths and Very, and Amazon. However, stock in basically non-existent currently. See our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order UK page for more.

The situation is a little more complicated in the US, however. Despite confirming that pre-orders would go live on 9 April in the US, issues with President Trump’s new sweeping tariffs have now caused a delay.

Nintendo confirmed that pre-orders will go live in the US on April 24, however listings for the Switch 2 are already live at Best Buy and Walmart in the USA, though you can’t pre-order on either site just yet.

If it’s anything like the PS5 and Xbox Series X launches from a few years ago, pre-ordering is recommended if you want to get it on day one.

Nintendo Switch 2 pricing 

While Nintendo didn’t confirm pricing during the announcement stream itself, the company later confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will start at £395.99/$449 for the console by itself, or £429/$499 if you want it bundled with the new Mario Kart World game.

That’s a pretty high price, considering the first-gen Switch retailed at £279/$299 at launch. It’s worth noting that Nintendo has confirmed that tariffs aren’t the reason behind the higher US price tag, though we could see Nintendo’s stance change on that as the company reassesses its pre-order plans following Trump’s tariff announcements.

Nintendo Switch 2 Experience 

Nintendo has scheduled a number of Experience events in cities around the world to give fans a first hands-on look at the new console. These started on April 4 and wrap up on June 1, just ahead of the console’s June 5 launch.

While the deadline to register for all the Experience events has now passed, you can join the waitlist for your desired city via Nintendo’s Switch 2 Experience page.

You can find the full list of cities and the remaining dates the Experience events will take place below:

North America

• New York – April 4-6
• Los Angeles – April 11-13
• Dallas – April 25-27
• Toronto – April 25-27

Europe

• Paris – April 4-6London – April 11-13
• Milan – April 25-27 
• Berlin – April 25-27 
• Madrid – May 9-11 
• Amsterdam – May 9-11 

Oceania

Asia

• Tokyo (Makuhari) – April 26-27 
• Seoul – May 31-June 1 
• Hong Kong – TBA
• Taipei – TBA

Nintendo Switch 2 design & screen

The Nintendo Switch 2 retains the same overall look and feel as its predecessor, complete with detachable controllers, but practically every element has been improved.

That starts with the screen, which offers a sizeable jump from 6.2 to 7.9 inches with the new Switch 2 and an increase in resolution from 720p to 1080p to match. There’s also support for a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, though Nintendo says that’ll only be available in supported titles.

It’s still an LCD rather than the OLED screen tech we saw with the Switch OLED, but it’s highly likely we’ll see an OLED-powered variant appear somewhere down the line – just don’t expect it any time soon.

Flip the Switch 2 around, and you’ll find a completely redesigned stand system that’s both way larger than the original and more sturdy. It uses a bar-style design and provides more freedom in terms of angles than the original. While we haven’t tested it for ourselves yet, it looks way sturdier, too.  

There’s also an additional USB-C port, with ports atop and below the screen, though it’s worth noting that only the bottom USB-C port will support video output. According to GNN News, “the video output of Switch 2 is limited to the USB-C port at the bottom; the USB-C at the top cannot output images” despite the fact that the top USB-C supports data transfer for camera compatibility.

Despite all these improvements, the Switch 2 measures in at the same 13.9mm thick as the original Switch, meaning it’s just as portable as ever.

The accompanying dock has also had an upgrade to match, with a new design sporting built-in fans to keep your console cool and stabilise performance over longer periods of play. That’s especially important now that the dock supports native 4K output, offering a 4x boost compared to the 1080p output of its predecessor.

There’s also 256GB of internal storage, an 8x boost on the 32GB of the original Switch, and it can be further expanded – though there is a catch. Unlike the original Switch that supported regular microSD cards, the Switch 2 only supports more premium microSD Express cards due to the faster read speeds on offer. 

JoyCon 2 & other accessories

It’s not just the body of the Switch 2 that has had a much-needed facelift – the accompanying JoyCon controllers have been overhauled to match. The new JoyCon 2 controllers might look similar to the original controllers, but there’s a magnitude of differences on offer.

Aside from a tweaked design that makes the controller nicer to hold, complete with larger shoulder buttons and bigger analogue sticks, the JoyCon 2 controllers snap into place on the sides of the console using powerful magnets. Magnets so powerful that, according to Nintendo, you’ll need to use a dedicated release button on the rear to remove them. 

New sensors within the controller also enable a new mouse control mode, where you hold the JoyCon horizontally and swipe it across a desk, much like you would with a controller. Both Nintendo and third-party developers are building games with experiences specific to this functionality, with upcoming Switch 2 games like Drag x Drive focusing solely on the new form of input. 

There’s also a new ‘C’ button on the right controller that has a new function tied to it – but more on that shortly.

Many Switch gamers were hoping that Nintendo would adopt the Hall Effect joystick design in a bid to combat the joystick drift that has plagued the first-gen Switch since its release, but Nintendo has since confirmed this isn’t the case. It’s a redesigned system that feels different to the first-gen analogue sticks, but it’s not Hall Effect.

Along with the JoyCon 2 controllers, Nintendo announced a new Switch 2 Pro controller with new rear triggers and a Gamecube-style controller for use with the new GameCube Classic collection available as part of the Switch Online service. Both are set to go on sale alongside the console in June.

For more on the new controllers, take a look at how the Switch 2 JoyCons compare to the original controllers.

Nintendo Switch 2 software

Nintendo didn’t just focus on hardware during the Switch 2 reveal; it teased a range of software features headed to the console later this year.

The biggest new feature is undoubtedly GameChat, which is essentially voice communication when playing games. You can chat with friends and family in games that you’re playing together, or alternatively, chat away while you all play separate titles. There’s a new microphone in the console itself to support this, with noise cancellation features to minimise environmental sound.

As well as chatting, you can also share your screen for others to see – great if you’re playing a racing game and want to see who’s ahead at a glance. This can be displayed in a feed at the bottom of the screen or, if you want to get a better look, you can view them in full-screen mode too.

That’s where the new C button on the controllers comes into play; pressing the button brings up your chat menu, where you can quickly perform actions like muting your microphone or disconnecting completely.

Plus, if you pick up the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, you’ll be able to share a video feed in chats and even in games themselves, bringing the real you into the virtual world in titles like Mario Party.  

Nintendo is also making it easier to play locally on multiple consoles with GameShare. It essentially allows a group of friends to play a game on multiple devices using only a single copy of the game. It allows you to play together in games where you don’t want to share the screen – like card games – and works with both the OG Switch and the new Switch 2. 

Nintendo Switch 2 game compatibility

Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 can play original Switch titles, though only those that have been upgraded to be compatible. Importantly, just because a game is compatible doesn’t mean it’ll utilise the new hardware on offer from the Switch 2.

For that level of support, you’ll need to hunt down Switch 2 Edition games. These are titles originally developed for the Switch with upgrades to take advantage of Switch 2 hardware, be it better quality textures and higher resolutions or new input modes that take advantage of the console’s new mouse control mode.

Nintendo has already confirmed a flurry of Switch 2 Edition games, including favourites like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At launch, 51 titles will be available.

Of course, there will also be a range of Nintendo Switch 2 games to play on release, including an all-new entry to the popular Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart World. 

The latest title brings sweeping changes to the game’s format, offering an open world experience for the first time. What’s more, with maps based on real-world locations, elements like weather will reflect the real-world weather in that location. 

There’s also the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour that essentially provides a fun and interactive way of showcasing the Switch 2’s tech, from the adaptive vibration motors to the new JoyCon mouse support. The catch? Nintendo has confirmed that it’ll cost $9.99 at launch in June – a surprise to many, this writer included.

For more on all the games headed to the console at launch and later this year, take a look at our list of confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 games.