The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 has been, without exaggeration, one of the most anticipated events in the world of game consoles in the past few years. During an incredibly successful life cycle, the first Nintendo Switch first became the sales leader among consoles of its generation, and then took the overall third place in history with an incredible 152.12 million units and over 1.3 billion games. Fans and analysts did not stop building theories. What will the new console be like? Will Nintendo bet on power? Will the hybrid concept be preserved? What name will the device get?
Announcement and sales expectations
When the company finally confirmed the release of the new console, albeit with its characteristic restraint, without a loud press conference, but through a laconic video, the Internet exploded with discussions. Everything from the size of the cartridge to the new NVIDIA chip was analyzed pixel by pixel. Some had high expectations: from 4K in docked mode to full backward compatibility with the library of its predecessor. Someone was skeptical about the minor changes in the concept and a simple increment in the name, which is not typical for Nintendo.
But the real drama began after pre-orders opened. In a number of EU countries, including Poland and the Baltics, users faced unexpected customs fees – additional tariffs when ordering from the official European Nintendo store. And in the US, pre-orders were postponed altogether. All this because of the actions of one odious politician. This caused a wave of indignation: social networks were filled with complaints, angry posts and advice on how to bypass the system by ordering through intermediaries or other regions.
Another important aspect was Nintendo's change in pricing policy. The Switch 2's base price is $449 (or €469.99 in the EU), and some games, including Mario Kart World, are priced at $80, a 33% increase over the previous generation. This has sparked debate among gamers about the value of the new console and its games.
But despite all the difficulties, the console reached its first owners. And now the Switch 2 is in my hands. It's time to tell you whether the expectations were met and what impressions the device gives from the first minutes.
Unboxing and updated design
Unpacking the Nintendo Switch 2 is an experience that immediately sets the mood for a new generation of consoles. The box has become slightly larger and noticeably heavier compared to its predecessor. The new console is not only a direct successor to the Switch, but also adopted the packaging style, design and complete set of the first. The Nintendo Switch 2 packaging has a branded red color and a design similar to previous models. On its front side there is an image of the console itself with Joy-Con connected, and this may mislead some buyers, it is difficult to immediately distinguish the new generation from the previous one without carefully reading the marking. I remember a similar problem with positioning and naming was at the release of the Wii U.
Inside, the layout and set-up are familiar, but updated. The console itself lies separately from the Joy-Con controllers. Underneath them are cables, a charger, a docking station, and a Joy-Con holder so you can play in front of your TV like a gamepad. All of this will be familiar to owners of the original Switch and Switch OLED.
Nintendo Switch 2 retains the familiar form factor, but has noticeable changes and improvements. The device itself has increased in size, as the screen diagonal has grown. Now it is as much as 7.9", which is already comparable to the screens of modern handheld gaming PCs. And this is after 6.2" in the original Nintendo Switch and 7" in the OLED model. Also, the increased size will allow you to hold the console more comfortably in portable mode, as the size of the controllers has also increased.
The complete accessories have also been updated. The docking station is larger and heavier, because it hides a little more than "TV adapters". The new Switch 2 has a cooling system in the docking station, because the work in stationary mode is now somewhat different. The design has also changed slightly - the docking station now has rounded corners and additional ports. The charger now has a separate USB Type-C cable and has become more compact. The Joy-Con holder has remained without a USB port, and to charge the controllers, you will have to connect them to the console or buy a separate accessory. This can be the same holder, but with the ability to charge, or charging stations, which have already begun to appear on sale. Also in the box there are also attachments for controllers for convenient use in the mode detached from the console. They will also help you use the new Joy-Con as a mouse.
In my case, the new Nintendo Switch 2 is a bundle with the new Mario Cart World. Therefore, in the box there was also a leaflet with a code to download the game from the eShop. Yes, unfortunately, in the modern digital world there is less and less space left for games on physical media.
The technical evolution you can feel
The Switch 2 isn't about "wow, how different it's become" but more about "oh, this is how it should have been from the beginning." The larger body, larger screen, and controllers are the first noticeable changes. There's also been the addition of another USB Type-C port on the top of the console, so you can connect accessories when it's docked, as well as charge the device when it's on its own stand on a table.
Speaking of the stand, it has changed here and, at first glance, is less stable and reliable than it was in the updated OLED version of the console, which is strange. Although it has a rigid opening stroke, it looks too thin and fragile.
The Nintendo Switch 2 screen is not just bigger, but sharper, more contrasting. Now there is HDR and 120 Hz with VRR support. It is bright even in the sun, despite the fact that Nintendo decided not to put OLED in the first revision. Yes, 7.9 inches is noticeably larger than the old sizes, and after 720p everything looks sharper, faster, more vivid on the screen with an expansion of 1080p. But we know that the company is simply preparing the ground for a re-release of the console with an updated screen in a couple of years.
Joy-Con no longer click when inserted into the rails, Nintendo Switch 2 has magnetic holders and a "click" occurs when you lift the controller from the side. This is a new kind of pleasure to unlock and return the controllers. There is almost no play, which was a noticeable problem of the first Switch (especially the first revisions). The triggers are deeper, the HD Rumble vibration is even more pleasant. The increased size allowed for a more ergonomic grip and clearer hitting of the buttons even with thumbs. The sticks feel very similar to the previous ones, but they seem to have become smoother. But how they will show themselves during long-term use can only be discussed in the experience of use.
The docking station, as befits a new era device, outputs 4K with HDR and can output a picture at 120 Hz, but for some reason not simultaneously. The high refresh rate is only available at 1080p and 1440p. When playing in stationary mode, the Switch 2 uses additional computing power, so a small cooler was added to the dock. It works almost silently, like in an office laptop under light load.
The Nintendo Switch 2 ships with 256GB of internal storage, which should be enough for the first few games, as most games are made for the previous generation of the console. However, you can expand the storage using a new microSD Express card. Older cards are not compatible with the new console, so you won't be able to transfer them from your previous Switch.
All in all, it's not a revolution. Nintendo didn't reinvent the experience, it polished it. And now the Switch can be a full-fledged console that's not afraid of a big-screen TV.
First accessories
Speaking of the big screen: The Switch 2 also has a Pro Controller for more comfortable gaming in front of the TV. Although the first version of this gamepad was quite successful with players and had excellent ergonomics, Nintendo still decided to update it. Here, buttons were added to the back of the controller, a similar feature is available on the Elite Controller for Xbox and Dual Sense Edge for PlayStation. But overall, the ergonomics have not changed, it seems that it repeats the shape of the first revision almost 1-1. The materials of the case and the feel of them have changed, but the grip has remained the same.
For full-fledged portable gaming, you need to be able to carry your console with you. And here a protective case will help. Along with the console, Nintendo released a hard protective case with a nice design and high-quality materials. What can you not say about the protective film that came with it. It immediately had traces of glue and was too thin to protect anything. Therefore, a better-quality protective glass is needed here. Time will tell whether the dock will scratch the screen, as it did with the first Switch. By the way, the new console already has a film glued over the screen, which Nintendo strongly asks not to remove.
In addition to cases, chargers, holders and Joy-Con attachments in the form of a steering wheel, Nintendo introduced something unusual. Namely, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. This new accessory works in conjunction with the console's new features - GameChat. This is almost the most noticeable new feature in the Nintendo style, because the company's consoles have almost always been not about power, but about new experiences and emotions. This time, the in-depth socialization of players on the Switch 2 is responsible for this.
A familiar menu and a few new tricks
The first launch and setup of the Nintendo Switch 2 is very similar to the first Switch. If you upgraded from the OLED version, then almost everything will be similar here. Join the network, select a region and log in to your account, and then the console will offer to migrate from the old device. Quite quickly and without problems. All data is transferred directly to the new Switch 2, except for the games themselves, because they will be downloaded in the background when the migration is complete.
Next, we are greeted by the familiar main menu. Minimalistic and fast, as it was in the first Switch, which simplifies navigation. But a few new features have been added. For example, the bottom panel has new items. Now there are ten icons instead of seven. Of the new ones, this is the aforementioned GameChat, for which a new "C" button has been added to the controllers (including the Pro Controller), GameShare - a shared game function, and Virtual Game Card - a system that allows you to borrow games.
All these features should emphasize the new focus of Nintendo consoles - socialization. Play with friends via video chat, share games, even if they don't have a purchased copy, and borrow those that you no longer play yourself to complete. It looks promising and may be successful. However, the "big N" does not forget about its true "self" and will make access to the chat only with an active subscription starting in April 2026. And there are many such nuances. For example, the already paid Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour demo ($10) requires a camera and a 4K TV to fully complete the passage.
Otherwise, the system software is familiar to users of the previous Nintendo console, and in addition to the described innovations and settings related to new technical characteristics, there is only mouse settings. This is another feature of the Switch 2 - its Joy-Con can be used as a mouse, and this allows you to play some games with a PC-like experience. For example, the version of Cyberpunk 2077 for Nintendo Switch 2 supports playing with this controller, the new Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will also be able to switch to playing with a mouse, and some games will generally be oriented to this type of control. However, whether this story will develop or is it just another gimmick for advertising at launch, time will tell.
So what to play?
The launch of each console generation is met with the usual question "Are there any new games?" And rightly so, because a new device is bought for new games. Although the Nintendo Switch 2 is like the next generation, many players had doubts whether Nintendo wanted to sell the usual "Pro version" under the guise of a new console. With the Nintendo Switch 2, everything is not so clear-cut with games.
The first and most alarming sign for gamers is the updated pricing policy for games from Nintendo itself. Now, hit projects will cost $80 or even $90 instead of the usual $60-70 until recently. Unlike most games, prices for Nintendo titles show extremely low volatility, and sometimes even increase.
Another controversial innovation is pushing the gaming industry further and further from physical distribution to digital. And it's not just about selling games in boxes with activation codes. Nintendo has invented something new here too, namely Game Key Cards. This is no longer the usual activation code (as was the case with my version of Mario Kart World), but the license is sewn into a cartridge that does not have the game itself. By inserting such a cartridge into the console, you activate downloading the game from the Internet, as when buying a digital version. However, in the case of the Game Key Card, you can give the "key" to a friend, and he will be able to play as long as he has the cartridge. A compromise on the way to full digitalization? Probably so. But such game distribution should still remind you of the times when everything was simpler. Insert the cartridge and play. Although now it's "insert the cartridge, wait for the game to download from the Internet, and play."
My set of games that were purchased with the console includes both a full physical game and a Game Key Card. The first is Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which, together with the Phantom Liberty add-on, is on the cartridge, despite the scale of this project. This allows you to start playing even without the Internet. The other is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, a remaster of the classic JRPG from Nintendo 3DS, which takes up less than 10 GB. And for some reason they decided not to download this game onto the cartridge.
Is there anything to play on the Nintendo Switch 2 release besides the "new" games mentioned above? Yes, but mostly these are updated games from the previous generation. With the Switch2, you can take The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, both in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition version. Or update the previous generation versions, if available, for about ten dollars each. For these two, there is also the opportunity to get a free update if you have a "Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack" subscription. Other updates have to be purchased separately. It's good that some developers release games at no additional cost. Of the new games, Split Fiction, Street Fighter 6, the latest iteration of Hitman, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut and others that you could have played on competing platforms.
A slew of ports from other platforms are also in the works for the Switch 2. A slew of Nintendo exclusives are also planned for this year and next, including the fresh Donkey Kong Bananza, the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, From Software's new game The Duskbloods, and many more.
In addition to new games, the vast library of original Switch games is available through backward compatibility, with the exception of some tiles. These are mainly games that require accessories that are incompatible with the Switch 2. Some previous-generation games, while not re-released on the Nintendo Switch 2, have received performance and graphics improvements on the new console at no additional cost.
What do we have and what to expect?
Nintendo Switch 2 is not a revolution, but an improvement. The console takes the best from the first Switch and closes its weaknesses. The screen is better, although still without OLED. The performance gain is tangible. The interface is faster. New features are not for the sake of a tick, but have real potential. Everything has become more stable, clearer, more confident.
But at the same time, it still feels like a full-fledged new generation. It's just a transitional period. Some games are old, some are updated, and those that are truly made for the Switch 2 are just starting to appear. And so, Nintendo is hinting that the division will become clearer in the future: new cartridges, new features that simply won't work on the old hardware.
Will it be a success? If we take into account the success of the first Switch, then yes, without a doubt. Sales started strongly, demand is high, Mario Kart World is driving console sales, like Zelda drove the original. But the main question is not hardware, but new impressions and experiences. If Nintendo and partners do not delay with new games in Switch 2, everything will be fine.
I repeat – this is not about “wow”, but about “this is how it should be”. And that’s fair. Expensive? Yes, without a doubt. But if you want to update your old Switch – this is exactly the case when the difference is noticeable. If you are a beginner, then there will be no better moment to enter, because there is still time to get acquainted with the classics.