Nintendo Switch 2: Everything you need to know about the new console

Nintendo has revealed the first details of its next games console, the Switch 2.

In an hour-long presentation, the Japanese video game company showed excited fans the first glimpses of games, its launch date, and the mystery behind the C button.

Available to purchase from 5 June this year, the Switch 2 is the long-awaited successor to Nintendo’s beloved Switch console. The Switch was launched back in 2017 as a rival to Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One.

Since then, it has had to compete with the ninth generation of consoles from both companies, the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S.

While it may have never had the processing power of its rivals, the Switch found a huge fanbase for its fun games and innovative docking system, acting as a home and portable console in one.

The Switch 2 brings Nintendo further in line with its rivals. On graphics, the Switch 2 will double its predecessor’s pixels with an LCD 1080p screen that can support up to 120fps. Its memory will be a whopping eight times that of before with 256GB of internal storage.

Excitingly, the dock for the console will also be capable of supporting 4K resolution on selected games with HDR support for its TV mode. It is also now installed with a fan to keep things cool.

Ahead of this launch, there’s been a lot of talk about the mysterious C button on the Switch 2’s Joy-Con controller. The launch has revealed that this button will be used for chatting to fellow gamers mid-play. The console will come with a camera, as well as an online GameChat function that can all be accessed by this C button.

C might stand for “chat” then. In truth, it’s not the most exciting revelation that people could have been hoping for.

A more intriguing new feature though is GameShare, which selected games will allow players to share a single game with up to three other users. Also a relief is the confirmation that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, further evidenced by the reveal of a dedicated Switch 2 GameCube controller – with its own C button – for all those ‘Super Smash Bros. Melee’ fanatics.

There's also the exciting option to turn one of the Joy-Con controllers on their side and use it as a mouse. Essential for first-person shooter action games.

Some Switch games are also set to be upgraded for the sequel console. Most notably, the critically and commercially-successful Legend of Zelda titles ‘Breath of the Wild’ and ‘Tears of the Kingdom’.

If you already own the originals of these games, you’ll be able to buy an upgrade pack, though Nintendo haven't confirmed the price of that yet.

Speaking of price, it was notably missing from the broadcast. However, eagle-eyed fans going online to try pre-order the console from Nintendo found the website listing the mainland Europe cost as €470 for the console and €510 with the new Mario Kart title. Pre-orders will go live on 8 April.

Which brings us onto games. The first official launch game will be ‘Mario Kart World’, the ninth title in the series and brings new features such as open world driving and 24-player races.

Other games coming onto the Switch 2 will include ‘Elden Ring’, ‘Hades 2’ and ‘Street Fighter 6’. Also coming will be ‘Madden NFL’, ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ and a ‘Hyrule Warriors’ sequel.