Nintendo has officially unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, set to launch on June 5, 2025.

The successor to the ridiculously successful Nintendo Switch promises a host of new features, including enhanced hardware, reimagined controllers, and new ways to connect with friends and family.

Hardware

I watched the global livestream with members of a very active and passionate South African WhatsApp Group ‘Strictly Switch’ and gorged on the almost one hour presentation that covered everything from hardware to new games to accessories and features.

The console features a larger, 7.9-inch full HD LCD screen that enhances colour vibrancy and clarity while maintaining the familiar hybrid design. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically and introduce mouse-like functionality, allowing for precision control in compatible games.

A few members of the group lamented the lack of an OLED screen, however it appears that it’s either a cost-containment decision or a strategic one so that Nintendo could introduce OLED as a mid-cycle upgrade like what they did with the original Nintendo Switch. The new dock improves resolution to 4k, bringing the hybrid console in line with its peers.

Processing power has increased, translating to faster load times, higher resolutions, and smoother gameplay across both new titles and some existing Nintendo Switch games, assuring consumers that they can continue playing Switch 1 games.

The internal storage has increased from 32 to 256 GB, with support for microSD Express cards for expanded storage. This was a bit of a bummer as it makes my existing SD card obsolete, a familiar casualty of progress and one all too familiar with my last console upgrades, Xbox Series X and PS5 requiring SSD Drives.

Game Sharing

GameShare is a feature that allows players to share and play selected games with others who don’t own that game.

Nintendo

I’ve experienced this on other consoles with co-op games like ‘A Way Out’ so it’s cool Nintendo is now offering something similar and I hope the game selection is generous.

Price

Launching at more than double the price of the original Switch in 2017 (R12 499 in South Africa or R13 499 with Mario Kart Tour), combined with more expensive games (R1 999 for Mario Kart Tour) makes it a tough pill to swallow.

While in line with PS5 and Xbox Series X pricing, Nintendo software (especially Triple-A games) hardly drop in price so it will be interesting to see how this pricing strategy affects adoption. Fans like myself have already started saving and I’m willing to sacrifice my monthly ice-cream budget if it means I get to play Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with a better framerate and enhanced visuals.

I don’t think I’ll sacrifice my cappuccino budget for the Nintendo Switch 2 camera just yet. I wish there was a pack-in game to soften the cost. The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour game could have fulfilled that but it’s oddly marketed as a paid game, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Will share more about the Nintendo Switch 2 as we get closer to launch. Click here to watch the webcast