On Wednesday, Nintendo will provide the first detailed information about the highly anticipated successor to its best-selling video game console, the Switch 2, as the gaming industry gears up for one of the most successful system launches ever.
Key facts
In January, Nintendo gave a brief glimpse of the Switch 2 through a teaser video, which showed off the console’s design. It appears to be a bigger version of the Nintendo Switch, following multiple leaks about the device. The teaser also revealed what seems like a new entry in Nintendo’s popular Mario Kart racing game franchise, as well as a basic look at the console’s new Joy-Con controllers and the dock used to connect it to a TV.
Since the teaser, the company has remained tight-lipped about the new console, with its recent announcements mainly focused on games coming to the original Switch later this year.
When will the Switch 2 event happen?
Nintendo, the creator of Mario, will host a “Nintendo Direct” main event on Wednesday at 9 AM ET to discuss the Nintendo Switch. The event will be live-streamed on the company’s YouTube page and other social media handles.
What will be shown during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct launch?
On its website, the company says that the main presentation will offer a “close look at the Nintendo Switch 2,” though it won’t provide specific details about games or special features. Based on Nintendo’s past Direct keynotes and console launches, the presentation is likely to feature new game trailers and demos for games coming to the Switch 2 this year. The teaser event already gave us a glimpse of a new Mario Kart game, which is widely expected to be the successor to Mario Kart 8, which first launched on the Nintendo Wii U in 2014 and then migrated to the Switch in 2017. Another highly anticipated game expected to be shown for the Switch 2 is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond—the first new entry in the sci-fi shooter series since 2007. Nintendo recently showed a trailer for the new Metroid game, which is expected to launch on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
What do we know about other popular Nintendo games?
Super Mario Odyssey, the most recent 3D platformer to feature Nintendo’s iconic mascot, was launched right after the Switch’s debut in 2017. This has led many to believe that the Switch 2 launch might coincide with a new entry in Nintendo’s flagship franchise. If a new Mario game is announced, it’s unclear whether it will be a direct sequel to Odyssey or something entirely new—this is a direction Nintendo typically takes with new consoles. Another of Nintendo’s major franchises, The Legend of Zelda, saw a major new release in 2023 with the critically acclaimed Tears of the Kingdom. So, while it’s unlikely that a new Zelda entry will be announced on Wednesday, as Nintendo has done in the past, they may present a remastered or upgraded version of the game with improved visuals for the more powerful Switch 2.
What do we know about Nvidia’s involvement with the Switch 2?
The original Switch was powered by Nvidia’s Tegra X1 mobile chip. Reportedly, the Switch 2 will also be powered by a new Nvidia mobile chip. This new chip is likely to include Nvidia’s latest AI-based tools, such as Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). Additionally, reports suggest that the console will have 12GB of memory, a significant upgrade from the original Switch’s 4GB, and a larger screen.
