Gamers have been highly anticipating the Nintendo Switch 2 for many months now, clambering for any information they can get regarding the successor to the potentially soon-to-be best-selling console. Finally, in January 2025, Nintendo confirmed what had previously been leaked for months prior: the next console would be the Nintendo Switch 2, and it is set to launch sometime in 2025.
Following a brief trailer showcasing some of its predecessor’s new features and upgrades, Nintendo announced that a full Nintendo Switch 2 presentation would be held on April 2nd, giving players a better idea of what to expect from its next outing.
Some lucky players will also be able to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 between April and June 2025 at special events held by Nintendo across the United States, which also means it is unlikely we will see the console hit store shelves until sometime during the Summer or Autumn.
While we wait for April 2nd to roll around, all millions of gamers can do is speculate on what we can expect from the Nintendo Switch 2. However, a new Mario Kart and Pokemon Legends Z-A have been confirmed through previous trailers, with Mario Kart 9 being shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer.
Pokemon Legends Z-A’s reveal trailer mentioned the Nintendo Switch’s successor as being a platform it will be on, hinting at a dual release as we saw with titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Nintendo Moving To A Numbered Naming Structure Could See Another Wii U Disaster
For the first time in Nintendo’s history, its next console will be a numbered upgrade, with the Nintendo Switch 2 being an updated version of the previous Nintendo Switch console. The Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a larger screen, more powerful hardware, which could be as powerful as a PlayStation 4 Pro, and many quality-of-life changes that will improve the overall user experience including improved Joy-Cons, which may be able to predict a player’s next move according to a new patent.
Nintendo has never used a numbered structure for its consoles, instead opting to include words to highlight that it is an improved and upgraded platform. Examples of this include the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as the Wii and Wii U.
Currently, only the PlayStation uses a numbered format, with the original PlayStation being released in 1994, and the current console being the PlayStation 5. This structure makes a lot of sense and has worked for Sony as it is easy to identify which system is the latest.
However, with Nintendo never using this format, we could be about to see another Wii U disaster, which could spell disaster, especially after the Nintendo Switch is very likely going to become the best-selling console of all time.
Following the success of the Nintendo Wii, which went on to sell over 101 million units, backed up by an impressive library including Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, and Wii Sports, the next console released by Nintendo seemed like a guaranteed smash hit. Unfortunately, this was not the case and it was partly due to the name of the system, the Nintendo Wii U.
Released in 2012, the Wii U was almost an immediate flop, only selling a total of 13 million units during its lifecycle, being outsold by the Nintendo Switch within its first year. When all was said and done, the Wii U became the worst-selling Nintendo console of all time.
There are many reasons why the Wii U didn’t succeed, including many third-party developers bypassing the system meaning that the US library saw just 181 games released physically on disc, including many incredible games such as Xenoblade Chronicles X. But, much of the issue stemmed from the console’s name, which caused a snowball effect that Nintendo could never recover from.
The Nintendo Wii saw many add-ons, such as the Wii Fit board, which one Grandma played for over 5,000 hours, and a whole host of accessories, which contributed to the Wii U confusing more casual gamers and parents, with many seeing it as a non-essential add-on the original Wii, rather than the next-generation console.
Had Nintendo called it a more unique name, such as the Nintendo Switch, which does feel like a prototype concept for what would become the Nintendo Switch, then history may have been different as it would have been obvious it was a new system.
With the success of the Wii and Nintendo’s name value being at an all-time high, the Wii U would have likely been a huge hit with gamers across the board like the Nintendo Switch is today.
Although it is unlikely to be as bad as what we saw with the Wii U, there is a chance, even if it is small, that the Nintendo Switch 2 could go in the same direction, with more casual gamers and parents thinking “Why do I need a Switch 2 when I’m happy with the Switch?” Like the Wii, everyone and their gran likely own a Nintendo Switch at this point, with devices such as the Switch Lite proving to be incredibly popular for young children.
Nintendo Switch Console
- Over 146 million consoles sold and 1.3 billion games.
- Hybrid console allowing for both handheld and home console experience.
- Library including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
This could further be an issue due to the Nintendo Switch 2 looking incredibly similar to its predecessor, with just minor visual changes but it overall looks like the same system. It doesn’t stand out as being a new product, unlike looking at the PlayStation 4 vs PlayStation 5 which both look vastly different.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Not A ‘Switch Pro’
If you are on the fence about whether you need to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2, there are many reasons why when the console will launch later in 2025. The Nintendo Switch 2 will be Nintendo’s ninth generation offering, going alongside the current-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and it will see a major boost in power compared to the previous 2017 console.
Despite being released four years later, the Nintendo Switch is less powerful than the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and sits in between those and the previous generation’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in terms of power, with both of those consoles being released in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
This has led to poor performance, particularly in handheld mode, when it comes to trying to run more demanding games, with some such as The Witcher 3 running at just 540p and Wolfenstein 2 seeing dips down to 360p.
Titles such as Mortal Kombat 1 look particularly awful when it comes to graphics, with the Nintendo Switch struggling to play many AAA releases outside of Nintendo’s first-party lineup, which is often fairly well-optimized for the mobile hardware.
Players Will Need To Wait A While Longer For Official News
Players will have to wait until April 2nd to find out just how powerful the Nintendo Switch 2 will be. Still, current rumors suggest that the system will sit somewhere between the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox Series S in terms of power, bridging the gap between the eighth and ninth gen, which is a significant upgrade.
We should see resolutions such as 1080p consistently, with leaks even suggesting the possibility of 1440p or even 4K in docked mode.
However, this would very likely be upscaled using Nvidia’s DLSS rather than native resolution, something even many high-end PC GPUs struggle with at higher frame rates. If this can be achieved using mobile hardware, then it will be a major achievement for Nintendo to push its system to stand alongside its competitors.
Nintendo has traditionally not focused on graphics and performance over the past two decades, with first and second-party games often making the most of what is available.
With many third-party AAA releases being made available on the Nintendo Switch, it has become evident that Nintendo needs to focus on graphics and performance once again, especially as many top publishers including Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, and Bandai Namco confirming they will be releasing games on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Xbox’s Phil Spencer has confirmed that Xbox titles will see Nintendo Switch 2 releases in the future, further expanding on the recent decision to release games such as Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 on its main competitor, the PlayStation 5.
No titles for the Nintendo Switch 2 have been officially announced, but apart from the titles hinted at during the reveal trailer, we can also expect to see a new mainline 3D Super Mario game, the first since 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey, the tenth generation of Pokemon games should also be released on the system, likely in 2026.
Pokemon Legends Z-A looks like it could see a dual launch on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, similarly to how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched on Wii U and the Nintendo Switch.
Speaking of The Legend of Zelda, it is extremely likely that a new entry will be released at some point on the Nintendo Switch 2, but don’t expect it anytime soon due to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launching in 2023.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Be Expensive, But Its Launch Titles May Cushion The Blow
While all of this sounds incredibly exciting, it may not be cheap to secure the latest Nintendo console when it launches, as current rumors and leaks suggest a price tag of up to $399/£349, putting it more in line with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which is a significant increase compared to the Nintendo Switch’s launch price of $299/£279.
With there being a rumored 28 launch titles ready to go, the increased price could be justified as gamers will have plenty to dive into later this year, a far cry from the measly six retail games available on the Nintendo Switch’s release date.
If you can’t wait to get your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo is holding Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events between April and June, with major cities in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia playing host to the upcoming console where gamers will be able to try out the system ahead of its launch.
Tickets are no longer available for the events, with scalpers already trying to sell them for up to $900, but players can join a waitlist to try and secure a spot.
