Nintendo Switch 2 finally unveiled

All we have to go on is a single video, not a lot was shared, more to come in a couple of months

There’s no need for concept renders based on leaked 3D CAD models anymore. This is the successor to one of the most popular handheld gaming systems in history in all its official glory. (Image: Nintendo)

After years of speculation and a barrage of recent information leaks, Nintendo has officially revealed the successor to its current, wildly successful hybrid games console. The Nintendo Switch 2 retains the same overall design and form factor, the same kind of detachable controllers and its signature handheld/docked operating modes, but appears to be bigger than before (we’ll have to wait in order to know precisely by how much) and closer to black than grey in color. It sports a second, new USB-C port next to the 3.5 mm headphone jack, as well as a redesigned kickstand and a more streamlined dock adorning the new system’s logo.

The first-look trailer below seems to confirm a few details that made the rounds on the Web over the last few months: the Joy-Con thumb sticks look like they are built differently, they are most probably magnetically attached and there’s definitely that mysterious, much-discussed new button on the right Joy-Con (we still have no idea what it does though). As pretty much expected, the Switch 2 is compatible with both physical and digital Switch games, although the press release insists that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2”. Another thing we’ll know more about at a later date.

It’s fair to say that, as far as new gaming systems go, this reveal was extremely light on details. All we have to go on is that “2025” at the end of the video — indicating that Switch 2 will indeed launch this year — as well as a few frames of a new Mario Kart game that may or may not be a launch title. No release date, no price, no specs and no games would make this the absolute bare minimum for a console announcement, which might be enough for loyal Nintendo fans but probably not for the rest of us. All this video did, essentially, was confirm that the Switch 2 looks like its predecessor and that it’s coming in 2025 — both of which…