Nintendo has finally hosted its hugely anticipated Switch 2 Direct, giving players a look at the upcoming console.
A deep dive into hardware, features, peripherals, and games was shown, as well as a release date for the Nintendo Switch 2.
One of the new additions to the Switch 2 Joy-Cons is the return of the C Button, and it has some really fun features that aim to connect players, something that Nintendo has been lagging behind until now.
Back in 2001, the GameCube featured a never-before-seen button on its controller, the C Button. In this iteration, it acted as a second analog stick and could be used for various actions rather than camera movement as is typically seen today.
The C Button expanded upon the C arrow buttons that were used on the N64 controller for similar purposes.
After having been abandoned for a more traditional second analog stick in future controllers, the C Button has now made a return with the Nintendo Switch 2, but it is not as you remember it.
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The C Button will now be used as part of the new GameChat feature, allowing players to connect with others while playing their favorite games together or even alone.
It will be used for voice chat, as well as other features such as sharing gameplay from your console, even if you’re not playing the same game as your friend, allowing you to share moments together even if playing a single-player title.
The C Button will be utilized by pulling up a menu for players, allowing them to use these features, including turning your microphone on or off, which will be built into the Switch 2, as well as the ability to use headsets and other microphones. It will also allow for other features mentioned above such as screen sharing.
Players can also purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, which could be great for connecting more with friends and family while playing together or even used to create content, making capturing your gaming experiences for platforms such as social media, YouTube, and Twitch easier than ever.
It is great to see this nod to the past with the Switch 2, even if its purpose has been overhauled. While not reinventing the wheel, the Nintendo Switch 2 looks to take what worked with the first iteration of the system and elevate it further, and so far it looks to have achieved everything Nintendo has set out to do.
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And, players don’t have long to wait before they can access all of these features as the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5th, 2025, with Mario Kart World being one of the titles released alongside the new console.
To check out everything that was announced, click the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live stream below.
