Nintendo Announces Nintendo Switch 2

By RILEY EATON
Special to North Palm Beach Life

In 2023, the online gaming community was alight with rumors of a successor to Nintendo's smash-hit console, the Nintendo Switch. Between Nintendo's purchase of several product patents and Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa using crafty phrasing to neither confirm or deny rumors for the sake of investors, many people had a strong sense that the "Nintendo Switch 2" rumors were true. Now, over a year later since initial speculations, a clear answer has arrived: the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming!

Nintendo of America dropped a trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 on their official YouTube channel on January 16th, 2025. Racking up over 11 million views, the trailer features an animation of the original Nintendo Switch transforming into the Nintendo Switch 2. 

The Switch 2 has the overall form of the classic Switch—a screen and two joycons (controllers)—but the Switch 2 is physically larger than its predecessor, boasts a more reliable and versatile kickstand, and its joycons directly plug into the sides of the Switch with USB-style ports and inputs rather than attaching to the Switch through a slide-in rail system. 

The Switch 2 also boast a more mature aesthetic: an all charcoal gray system with pops of red and blue underneath the joycons' joysticks, the joycons' connection sides, and the Switch's siding that is exposed when the joycons are detached from the console. 

Currently, not much is known about the Nintendo Switch 2's specifications like graphics, processing power, and storage capacity, but here is what is known so far about its capabilities and future dates for new information, as sourced from the official Nintendo website and the Nintendo Switch 2 trailer:

⦁ The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch this year. 

⦁ The Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of playing physical and digital games that are exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, and physical and digital games from the original Nintendo Switch!

⦁ More details about the Nintendo Switch 2 will air on a livestream on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025. The livestream is titled "Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025" 

⦁ From April 4th, 2025 through June 1st, 2025, Nintendo will host Nintendo Switch 2 experience events in select cities in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia at select dates. These experience events allow consumers to test and play the Switch 2 for themselves. 

⦁ Registration for Nintendo Switch 2 experience events begins at 12:00 PM PT on January 17th, 2025.

The Nintendo Switch 2's backwards compatibility with physical and digital Switch games is an exciting highlight of the announcement. Original Switch game cartridges were likely going to carry over into a Nintendo Switch 2, but confirmation of digital game carry-over is great news for Switch users who built their video game library on digital downloads.

On the flip side, the overall lack of information on the Switch 2 may raise concerns for consumers over the potential price of the product at launch. 

According to Gabe Gurwin of Digital Trends, the first Nintendo Switch launched in 2017 and sold for about three-hundred USD, which isn't the worst, though one must take into account that games and accessories raise that total. With current inflation making everyday essentials pricey, a new piece of technology like the Nintendo Switch 2 leaves room for unpleasant speculation on its price. The public currently does not know what the Nintendo Switch 2 will sell for, but perhaps it will be more expensive than the original Nintendo Switch since the Switch 2 is physically bigger than the predecessor console, and it may or may not have better graphics and higher processing power than the first Switch. Bigger sizes and better technical specs on products usually equates to higher prices. 

However, it's just a theory. There may be no need for concern—Nintendo could surprise consumers and reveal the Nintendo Switch 2 price is near the same as the original Switch's price. 

Regardless, there is always the option of contentment — if you don't have the budget for what the Switch 2 will sell for, or your current Switch works just fine — then don't let FOMO get you down. There's nothing wrong with holding out or refusing an upgrade. Despite my excitement, even I have no plans to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch--my original Switch still works and I still enjoy using it, so I see no need to upgrade for now. And if you want the new Nintendo Switch 2 just because you want it, and you can afford to do so, I'm not judging you either!

Whether you're excited, curious, or unsure of the Nintendo Switch 2, one thing is for certain: it will be an eventful year of news and releases for Nintendo fans and gaming geeks.

Catch more by Riley Eaton at:
http://rileyeatonworks.com/ 
and Instagram: 
​@rileyeatonworks

References
"Nintendo Switch 2—First-look trailer." YouTube, uploaded by Nintendo of America, 16 January 2025, 
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpcsQQvgAQ
Accessed 16 January 2025.

Nintendo. "Nintendo Switch 2 to be released in 2025." Nintendo, 16 January 2025,
https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/nintendo-switch-2-to-be-released-in-2025/
Accessed 16 January 2025.

Gurwin, Gabe. "The launch price of every major game console, from NES to Nintendo Switch." Digital Trends, 13 May 2022,
https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/every-game-console-price-from-nes-to-switch/
Accessed 16 January 2025.