Nintendo officially announced its next-generation gaming console, the Nintendo Switch 2, through a two-minute reveal trailer on January 16, 2025. The new system features notable hardware improvements while maintaining backwards compatibility with existing Switch games.
The most visible changes include a larger display with thinner bezels and redesigned Joy-Con controllers that now attach magnetically rather than using the original’s rail system. Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will support both physical and digital games from the current Switch library, though noted that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible.”
A new Mario Kart title was teased during the announcement. Industry analysts expect strong initial demand, with Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Robin Zhu reporting that Nintendo has prepared its supply chain to ship over 20 million units in the first year, exceeding the original Switch’s 15 million first-year sales.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed potential supply concerns, stating, “As a countermeasure against resale, we believe that the most important thing is to produce a sufficient number to meet customer demand.”
Similar Posts
The company will host hands-on “Nintendo Switch 2 Experience” events in major cities worldwide starting April 2025. Confirmed locations include New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Seoul, with more cities to be announced. A dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, 2025, will provide additional technical details about the system.
While Nintendo hasn’t revealed official specifications, leaked information suggests the console may utilize an Nvidia chip built on Samsung’s 8nm process. According to leaked images, the motherboard appears to have slots supporting up to 12GB of RAM, and reports indicate a GPU clock speed of 560MHz in portable mode.
Ex-Nintendo PR managers have indicated that the company has been “really mad — to the most severe level” about recent hardware leaks, highlighting Nintendo’s traditional emphasis on maintaining surprise around new product launches.
Nintendo plans hands-on preview events starting April 4, 2025, in New York and Paris, followed by additional cities through June. The final release date and pricing remain unannounced.
For those interested in experiencing the Switch 2 firsthand, Nintendo will offer free event registration through a random selection process, with registration open from January 17 through January 26, 2025.
The announcement comes as Nintendo enters an increasingly competitive portable gaming market, with devices like Valve’s Steam Deck having established new expectations for handheld gaming performance since the original Switch’s 2017 debut.