After months of speculation and rumors, Nintendo has finally pulled back the curtain on its latest creation: the Nintendo Switch 2. While the name itself suggests a subtle upgrade, a closer look at the console reveals a treasure trove of fascinating details that hint at how Nintendo has purposefully evolved its popular hybrid console.
This article delves into the intricacies of the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer, dissecting over two dozen changes that redefine the console’s form, functionality, and potential. From a brand new space button to innovative ways of utilizing the Joy-Con controllers, we’ll unveil everything that Nintendo has meticulously crafted into this next-generation console.
A Subtly Larger Design with a Touch of Class
The Nintendo Switch 2 maintains the core form factor of its predecessor, albeit with a slightly larger footprint. The main console unit boasts an increase in size, accompanied by taller Joy-Con controllers. We can estimate a roughly 15% increase in overall size compared to the original Switch.
Gone are the vibrant red and blue Joy-Con colors that characterized the last generation. The Nintendo Switch 2 opts for a uniform gray across the entire console, lending it a sleeker aesthetic reminiscent of the Steam Deck. However, this doesn’t translate to a complete absence of color. The console pays homage to the original Switch’s iconic color scheme with rings of red and blue surrounding each analog stick. This color scheme extends to the inner edges of both the console unit and each Joy-Con, adding a stylish touch while also serving a functional purpose – red goes into red, and blue into blue, making it easier to identify which Joy-Con goes where.
Joy-Con Evolution: A Farewell to Rails, a Welcome to Magnets?
The way Joy-Con controllers attach to the console has undergone a significant transformation. No longer do they slide into designated rails. Instead, the Joy-Con now slots directly into the device with a protruding connector on the main unit that plugs into a corresponding slot on the inner edge of the Joy-Con. While unconfirmed by the trailer, rumors suggest that these Joy-Con utilize magnets similar to Apple’s MagSafe laptop charging cables, providing a secure and convenient attachment method.
The rear of each Joy-Con features a redesigned trigger system. A quick glimpse in the official video reveals that squeezing this trigger releases the controller from the main unit. This suggests a piston-like mechanism that pushes the Joy-Con away from the console for easy detachment.
On the front of the Joy-Cons, the classic controller layout remains largely unchanged. The analog sticks retain their offset positions, with the left stick positioned above the four directional buttons and the right stick nestled below the familiar A, B, X, and Y face buttons. The plus and minus buttons reside near the top of the controllers, while the square capture button and circle home button occupy their usual spots on the left and right sides, respectively. Below the home button sits a new, currently unlabeled button, leaving its function a mystery for now.
The L and R shoulder buttons remain in their expected locations, with the ZL and ZR triggers positioned beneath them. These triggers appear to have a deeper and more rounded design compared to the original Switch, potentially offering enhanced comfort and ease of use.
The analog sticks themselves retain their low-profile design, but with a noticeable change – a smaller inner ring radius and thicker, taller rims. This modification is likely intended to improve grip and support for the player’s thumbs.
One seemingly missing element is the NFC amiibo interface on the right Joy-Con. However, this doesn’t necessarily confirm its absence, as this feature was also invisible on the original Switch. A more concerning omission appears to be the IR sensor that was present on the bottom edge of the original right Joy-Con. Considering how few Switch games actually utilized this feature, its removal from the Switch 2 might be a strategic decision to streamline the design.
The good news for players who enjoy using individual Joy-Con controllers is that the internal edges retain the SL and SR buttons. More importantly, these buttons have received a significant size upgrade, potentially being up to four times larger than their counterparts on the original Switch. This substantial increase in size will undoubtedly make them easier to use in single Joy-Con mode.
The four green LEDs that indicate player assignment for each Joy-Con make a reappearance, although they’ve been relocated to the forward-facing edge of the connector strip. Nestled between the SL and SR buttons is the familiar connector port that links each Joy-Con to the main console unit. However, this isn’t all that’s present. Mirroring the original Switch, we can see the sync button for pairing a Joy-Con with the console.
The component above the connector proves most intriguing. This small, clear lens could well be a laser sensor, similar to those found in computer mice. If so, it would enable the Joy-Con to function as a mouse, a possibility hinted at in the trailer where the Joy-Con, equipped with wrist wraps, appear to “scurry” like mice. Speaking of wrist straps, they return in a redesigned form, featuring red and blue accents to match the internal color scheme of each Joy-Con.
A Larger Screen and Refined Design for the Main Console Unit
Moving on to the main console unit itself, the most significant improvement is a larger screen. While not quite reaching the near-edge-to-edge display of the Switch OLED, it occupies a considerably larger portion of the unit compared to the original Switch. The display technology remains to be seen. While an OLED panel would be ideal, the base model may opt for a more traditional LED panel.
The top edge of the device retains a familiar layout, featuring a slightly redesigned power and volume switch, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a ventilation grill that appears similar in size to the original Switch, albeit split into three vents instead of five. The game card slot also remains on the top edge, suggesting that the Switch 2 will use the same cartridge format as its predecessor, given the console’s backwards compatibility.
However, a new addition appears on the top edge: a USB-C port. Its purpose remains unclear. It could potentially be used for connecting a variety of USB-based peripherals, or perhaps the next Pokémon game will embrace a more old-school approach, utilizing a Link Cable for trading monsters.
Alongside the bottom-mounted USB-C port for docking and charging, the Switch 2 features new downward-firing speakers, replacing the rear-facing speakers of the original model. This new speaker placement should theoretically result in improved sound quality.
The rear of the console showcases a brand new kickstand system that spans the entire length of the device. While it might appear a bit flimsy, the rubber feet on the edges of the console unit should help provide stability. The kickstand appears to lock into multiple angles, including a shallower angle that allows the console to lie almost flat.
As expected, the Switch 2 can be docked and connected to a TV. The dock itself bears a strong resemblance to the original Switch’s dock, with rounded corners to match the radius of the Joy-Con controllers. Of course, the dock proudly displays a prominent Switch 2 logo on the front.
A Glimpse into the Future: Mario Kart and Backwards Compatibility
No console reveal trailer would be complete without a showcase of upcoming games. The Switch 2 reveal offers a sneak peek at a brand new Mario Kart game. This iteration appears to be a larger, more chaotic experience, with the starting line accommodating a staggering 24 racers, a significant increase from the 12 racers in Mario Kart 8.
The starting line also features a sign reading “Mario Kart Mario Bros. Circuit,” hinting at a brand new, seemingly American-themed track. This track appears to offer a more open-world feel with off-road sections, adding a new dimension to the Mario Kart experience.
The clip confirms 10 characters for the roster: Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Donkey Kong, Daisy, Rosalina, and Wario, who makes a brief appearance as the screen flips.
While exciting new titles like Mario Kart are undoubtedly on the horizon, the trailer also emphasizes the console’s backwards compatibility. However, it acknowledges that certain games may not be fully supported. This likely refers to games that rely on peripherals that directly connect to the Switch’s Joy-Con, such as Ring Fit Adventure, which requires the Joy-Con to be slotted into the ring. The new Joy-Con design may not be compatible with these older peripherals.
The Road to Release: A Global Tour and a Countdown to Launch
The reveal trailer confirms that the Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for release in 2025, meaning we can expect to learn more about the console, including a specific release date, within the next 12 months.
Following the reveal, Nintendo is embarking on a global tour, allowing players to get hands-on with the console themselves. The “Nintendo Switch 2 Experience” will kick off in April 2025, visiting cities such as New York, Paris, London, Berlin, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Seoul.
Participation in the tour is open to all Nintendo Account holders, but requires winning a ticket through a free-to-enter ballot. Registration for the ticket raffle opens on January 17th.
These are just some of the key details revealed in the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement trailer. Be sure to watch the full trailer for more in-depth look.
Nintendo will also hold Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events, where consumers can go hands-on with Nintendo Switch 2, in cities around the world.
Nintendo Switch 2 Experience host cities and schedule. All dates are local.
North America:
- New York, April 4-6, 2025
- Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025
- Dallas, April 25-27, 2025
- Toronto, April 25-27, 2025
Europe:
- Paris, April 4-6, 2025
- London, April 11-13, 2025
- Milan, April 25-27, 2025
- Berlin, April 25-27, 2025
- Madrid, May 9-11, 2025
- Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025
Oceania:
- Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025
Asia:
- Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26-27, 2025
- Seoul, May 31-June 1, 2025
- Hong Kong, To be announced
- Taipei, To be announced
Source: Nintendo
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav