After many months, if not years, of leaks and hypothesis, it’s lastly official: Nintendo has introduced its subsequent console, and it’s referred to as Nintendo Swap 2. Because the title implies, it’s a really comparable design to the Swap — a hybrid handheld console with removable controllers that may be related to a TV through a dock.
Whereas it might appear an apparent transfer, this iterative handheld is an uncommon technique for Nintendo, which has usually chosen to innovate with its new {hardware}, discovering new management techniques and new types of play. However, with 146 million models bought after almost eight years in the marketplace, the Swap is Nintendo’s second most profitable system ever (after the DS), and the third-best-selling console of all time. So maybe it’s not shocking that Nintendo determined, for as soon as, that its earlier console design wasn’t damaged and didn’t want fixing. Additionally, Nintendo Swap 2 launches right into a modified market the place gamers have come to anticipate that they may be capable of carry their sport libraries ahead from one machine to a different, which precluded a radical change.
Nevertheless, after Nintendo’s fairly minimal announcement video, many questions stay. Nintendo centered on the brand new {hardware} and solely confirmed one new sport, a brand new Mario Kart. It additionally avoided asserting a agency launch date or value for the Swap 2. And never all the rumored options of the brand new system have been addressed by Nintendo’s video. Right here’s every thing we all know — and every thing we expect we all know — about Nintendo’s subsequent console.
What’s the newest Swap 2 information?
Nintendo has stated it is going to take “all potential measures” to forestall scalpers and resellers from creating shortages of Swap 2 {hardware} at launch. Chatting with Japanese press on Feb. 4 following the discharge of Nintendo’s most up-to-date monetary outcomes, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was requested how the corporate deliberate to make sure a clean launch, making an allowance for the impression scalpers had on the launch of the Swap, in addition to that of the PlayStation 5. “We are going to take all potential measures based mostly on the expertise we have now gathered so far (concerning scalpers and the like). We’re making preparations,” Furukawa instructed Nikkei (translated by VGC). Nintendo reportedly delayed the launch of the Swap 2 into 2025 partially to fabricate sufficient models to satisfy demand. Furukawa additionally stated that Nintendo expects to proceed to assist the Swap after the launch of the Swap 2, so long as there’s demand.
What’s Swap 2’s launch date?
In its announcement video, Nintendo confirmed it might launch the Swap 2 in 2025, however avoided giving a extra exact launch date than that. At this stage, all we all know for positive is that we’ll be enjoying Swap 2 earlier than the yr is up. Nevertheless, there have been robust indications that the wait gained’t be too lengthy.
Final yr, Nikkei reported that Nintendo was focusing on March 2025 in an effort to keep away from {hardware} shortages and guarantee a powerful lineup of video games — however famous {that a} slip past March was potential. The previous is clearly not taking place, however a launch throughout the subsequent spring or summer time months appears believable. Nintendo unveiled the Swap in October 2016, debuted it to press and gamers in January 2017, and launched it in March 2017. If the corporate follows the identical timeline this time round — which, given the early April timing of the Swap 2 Nintendo Direct and the Swap 2 Expertise occasions rolling out all spring lengthy, it appears to be — we’re probably taking a look at a June 2025 launch.
What’s Swap 2’s value?
Other than the video games lineup, that is the most important unanswered query we have now concerning the Swap 2. Nintendo revealed nothing about pricing in its announcement video. However the chances are high that it will likely be costlier than the Swap.
The Swap launched at $299 in 2017, and its official sticker value hasn’t dropped a single cent since. That is in keeping with the altering tendencies in pricing. Resulting from chip shortages, inflation, and the slowing tempo of advances in tech, this technology of consoles has not come down in value the best way earlier generations did.
On this atmosphere, Nintendo must work out find out how to package deal extra superior tech whereas maintaining the value cheap. The Swap 2 is unlikely to be priced any decrease than $349, the present value of an OLED Swap mannequin. $399 looks as if a protected guess — the identical value as the bottom Steam Deck. Any greater than this and Nintendo will face uncomfortable comparisons to the brand new wave of PC handhelds (a Steam Deck OLED is $549; an Asus ROG Ally is $499) and danger pricing itself out of its conventional household market.
There may be additionally the query of whether or not the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on China in early February may impression the value of the Swap 2. On this rating, it appears we is likely to be in luck. Nintendo started manufacturing the Swap in Vietnam throughout the final Trump administration commerce battle with China, in 2019, and has plans to ramp up manufacturing at a brand new manufacturing facility there. Nintendo may keep away from the tariffs by utilizing its Vietnamese manufacturing amenities to produce Swap 2 models to the U.S.
What video games will Swap 2 have?
Nintendo selected to not verify any video games alongside the brand new console in its announcement video, though it did present a glimpse of what seems to be a brand new Mario Kart. So we’re nonetheless formally at nighttime on the Swap 2’s launch titles and its bigger lineup. Nevertheless, by means of a mix of leaks and knowledgeable hypothesis, we will make some good guesses.
Regardless of intensive leaks concerning the console itself, Nintendo has one way or the other managed to keep away from any of its personal video games leaking. However realizing what we do about inner improvement at Nintendo, we will make just a few knowledgeable guesses:
- Mario Kart 9: This will not be what it’s referred to as, however Nintendo confirmed a glimpse of what seems to be a brand new Mario Kart within the video. It seems acquainted, however the setting proven is new to the collection — and maybe seems like an open world? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the Swap’s best-selling sport, with an astonishing 64 million copies bought, so a brand new Mario Kart would be the good approach to kick the Swap 2 period off with a bang.
- A brand new 3D Tremendous Mario sport: There hasn’t been an entry on this collection since 2017’s Tremendous Mario Odyssey, so the time appears ripe for a follow-up within the Swap 2’s launch yr.
- Metroid Prime 4: Past: One in all Nintendo’s remaining main in-house productions for the Swap, slated for a 2025 launch, seems like an ideal candidate for a cross-generation launch, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which launched on Wii U in addition to Swap.
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A: The most recent Pokémon title additionally seems like a probable cross-gen title.
As well as, various third-party titles have been rumored by leaker Nate the Hate and different sources. These are all current hits on different platforms, or already-announced multiplatform titles, so whereas they’re all unconfirmed, it wouldn’t be shocking in the event that they got here to Swap 2 early in its life.
- Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth
- Murderer’s Creed Mirage and Shadows
- Metallic Gear Strong Delta
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Halo: The Grasp Chief Assortment
- Pink Useless Redemption 2
Will Swap 2 be backward-compatible?
Sure, the Swap 2 will likely be backward-compatible! Earlier than it even formally introduced the Swap 2, Nintendo confirmed that Swap software program “will even be playable on the successor to Nintendo Swap.” It added that Nintendo Swap On-line — the web multiplayer service that additionally contains a big catalog of retro video games — will likely be obtainable on the Swap 2, too. With many customers hoping — or outright anticipating — to hold ahead their sport libraries to Nintendo’s subsequent console, as has turn into the norm with the most recent generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the information comes as a giant reduction.
Within the video, Nintendo underlined that the Swap 2 will play its personal unique video games and each bodily and digital Nintendo Swap video games, however it did warn that “sure Nintendo Swap video games will not be supported on or absolutely suitable with Nintendo Swap 2.” It stated it might share particulars on its web site at a later date.
Whereas Nintendo has but to specify precisely how backward compatibility will work, it did say that Nintendo Accounts will carry over to the brand new console, and that gamers would have entry to Nintendo Swap software program they at present personal.
Nintendo didn’t point out {hardware} backward compatibility. Nevertheless, earlier stories, sourced from peripheral producers, recommend that the Swap 2 will likely be backward-compatible with some Swap equipment, together with the Professional Controller and Pleasure-Cons.
What new options does Swap 2 have?
As beforehand reported and now confirmed by Nintendo’s video, the Swap 2 options removable Pleasure-Con controllers just like the Swap. It has been reported that the Pleasure-Cons connect magnetically; the video didn’t precisely verify this, however it did recommend it. It has been reported that the Pleasure-Cons even have extra dependable Corridor-effect sticks, however this isn’t confirmed by the video.
There’s a brand new sq. button on the proper Pleasure-Con, however we don’t know the usage of this but. The Pleasure-Cons additionally function a small optical sensor on their internal edge. Followers have speculated it will enable for mouse-like controls, and the video did appear to recommend this with a sequence exhibiting the Pleasure-Cons sliding round on their aspect in extra foot-like attachments.
The console incorporates a second USB-C port on its prime, just like the one on its decrease edge for charging and connecting to its dock. It will enable it to be charged whereas it’s being utilized in tabletop mode, propped up on its new, U-shaped stand. However it may doubtlessly be used to attach new equipment, like a digital camera or perhaps a second display.
Swap 2 is larger than its predecessor; Nintendo didn’t give dimensions, however an 8-inch display has been reported, and that’s according to the video. (The unique Swap’s display is 6.2 inches and the Swap OLED mannequin’s is 7 inches.)
How highly effective will Swap 2 be? What are its tech specs?
Nintendo has but to announce any tech specs for the Swap 2. Based mostly on reporting and leaks, it seems to be a succesful machine — someplace between a “last-gen” PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and the present Xbox Sequence S. The system’s graphics processing unit is reportedly paired with customized, AI-powered Nvidia upscaling that ought to carry it surprisingly near the efficiency of current-gen consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X. Briefly, it ought to be capable of run many current-generation AAA video games if they’re rigorously ported over.
Leaks seen by The Verge and shared on-line recommend that the Swap 2 could also be extra highly effective when docked. The dock seems to have fan vents and the next energy ranking than the undocked console, whereas the graphics processor can allegedly run at almost twice the clock pace when docked. Together with the upscaler, this would possibly make 4K visuals when hooked as much as a TV potential.
In accordance with Eurogamer’s and VGC’s reporting on the behind-closed-doors Gamescom demos in August 2024, Nintendo confirmed {hardware} focusing on the specs of the console working The Matrix Awakens’ Unreal Engine 5 tech demo with ray tracing enabled and “visuals corresponding to Sony’s and Microsoft’s current-gen consoles.” Reporting by Reuters and Digital Foundry suggests the console will use a customized Nvidia chip that will likely be able to each ray tracing and DLSS.
Customs and delivery information analyzed by followers appears to point that the Swap 2 will function appreciable upgrades in each RAM (from 4 GB to 12 GB) and storage (from 32 GB to 256 GB).
The Swap 2 will function one tech downgrade, nevertheless: Reportedly, the console will function an LCD display, not like the OLED display seen within the present top-of-the-range Swap mannequin, as a cost-cutting measure.
Are you able to pre-order Swap 2?
No, you possibly can’t pre-order the Swap 2 but! However chances are you’ll properly be capable of in April. Pre-orders for the unique Swap opened when Nintendo made a full presentation of the console and its video games to the press and public in January 2017 — simply two months earlier than launch. If it’s following the identical playbook, pre-orders could open alongside the Nintendo Direct on April 2.
When will Nintendo reveal extra about Swap 2?
Nintendo has scheduled a Nintendo Direct all concerning the Swap 2 for April 2. That is after we’ll most likely be taught every thing we need to know concerning the machine: launch video games, value, launch date, and extra about its options.
Nintendo will even maintain Nintendo Swap 2 Expertise occasions all over the world all through April, the place members of the general public will be capable of go hands-on with the machine. These occasions will happen cities round North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Polygon will proceed to replace this story as new particulars develop.
