In 2017, the first Switch came out. Nintendo said it was getting ready to move on to the next version of consoles in the summer of 2023.
The new gadget hasn’t been officially unveiled yet, but most of the details are already out there. Gathered all the information you need about the Nintendo Switch 2: its estimated technical specs, the games that are being made for it, and the date that it will be available.
Nintendo Switch 2 Design
Switch 2 will continue to be a hybrid console with portable and stationary modes. According to a source cited by VGC publication, Nintendo intends to retain the popular device’s form factor.
The type of controllers for the Switch 2 remains unknown. Currently, no publication has confirmed a new version of Joy-Cons, the detachable wireless controllers. However, Nintendo has filed a patent for a Hall sensor. IGN publication speculates that this patent might be for the new version of Joy-Cons.
The incorporation of a Hall sensor aims to address the prevalent issue of stick drift. Gamepads equipped with Hall sensors are deemed to be more advanced and reliable. Enthusiasts have installed joysticks in devices like the Steam Deck, PS5 controllers, and even current Joy-Cons.
Expected Technical Specifications
According to an email from publisher Activision Blizzard, which received the information from Nintendo, the Switch 2 is comparable in terms of power to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The console will feature an LCD screen instead of an OLED screen, as Nintendo opted for a cheaper display. Initially, an OLED version was considered for the first Switch as an advanced model of the base version. After a few years, such a version may be released in the next generation.
The display size of the Switch 2 will be 8 inches, compared to the 6.2 inches of the original Switch’s screen.
The Switch 2 is expected to support upscaling to 4K resolution, which involves scaling up the resolution using neural networks to enhance picture quality. This technology is commonly used in modern PC games, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5 titles, with upscale from Nvidia and AMD. In 2020, Nintendo filed a patent for its upscaling technology.
The Switch 2 will use Nvidia’s technology. According to Reuters, Nintendo has already ordered Taiwanese corporations to supply the new processor. Additionally, VGC’s source, who attended Nintendo’s presentation of the new device at Gamescom 2023, confirmed that the showcased games utilized DLSS upscaling technology.
Can You Play Your Switch Games on the Switch 2?
Eurogamer reports that the Switch 2 is set to feature backward compatibility with titles from the original Switch. Certain games may see enhanced performance on the new model if developers issue patches. Compatibility is expected for both physical cartridges and digital copies of the games.
What to Play on the Switch 2?
An improved edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, featuring higher frame rates and increased resolution, was showcased at Gamescom 2023. However, whether Breath of the Wild will be officially re-released for the Switch 2 remains uncertain.
New Call of Duty installments are in the pipeline for the Switch 2. Activision Blizzard has requested that DevKits develop its games for the new console. Microsoft, Activision Blizzard’s owner, has confirmed the intention to develop games for Nintendo devices. The companies have signed a 10-year contract to release new Call of Duty titles on Nintendo consoles.
Dozens of games are already in development for the Switch 2. According to Eurogamer, hundreds of developers worldwide have obtained access to the console’s DevKits. Among the titles expected at launch are a port of Hi-Fi Rush and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Nintendo Switch 2: Release Date
VGC, citing Nikkei, says the exit is scheduled for March 2025. Nintendo wants to avoid a shortage of devices and is preparing a launch line of games. At the same time, the company will continue to support the first Switch until March 31, 2025. After the Switch’s launch in 2017, Nintendo released games for the outdated Wii U for two more years—probably the games for Switch 2 will first be released on the previous console.
The new console’s official announcement is scheduled for June 2024. This month, Nintendo is scheduled to hold a presentation, which will describe the features and games in detail.
