Nintendo is expected to unveil its feverishly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console today via an online teaser, according to multiple industry sources. Switch is one of the best-selling consoles of all time, earning itself a Bronze Medal with an estimated 146 million units sold worldwide since 2017.
As such, there’s pressure on Nintendo to deliver a worthy successor.
So far, the secretive Japanese gaming firm has confirmed that we will have clapped eyes on its next console by the end of its current financial year, which runs until March 31, 2025.
Reliable tipster @OnLeaks has shared a high-resolution render of the Nintendo Switch 2, based on the latest whispers from inside the secretive Japanese gaming firm
President Shuntaro Furukawa has also revealed that whatever is coming next will maintain backwards compatibility with existing Switch games and the Nintendo Switch Online service, ensuring players can keep accessing their current game libraries.
But that’s all we know for definite.
Several industry insiders, including reliable X tipster Nate the Hate, The Verge’s Tom Warren, and gaming outlets VGC and Eurogamer, have all pinpointed today (January 16) as the date when Nintendo fans will be treated to an early look at the successor to the Switch.
According to these tipsters, the Japanese gaming giant will reportedly focus solely on showcasing the hardware in this initial reveal, with a separate announcement at a later date to spotlight the games lineup.
However, Nintendo typically announces the date and time of its online presentations, known as Nintendo Direct, at least 24-hours before it airs on YouTube, X, and other platforms. If we’re going to catch a glimpse of the Nintendo Switch 2 in a full-length Direct presentation …the 24-hour has been and gone.
It’s possible that Nintendo will publish the video on January 16 without the usual 24-hour build-up… or we could get a short teaser trailer today, with a full-length Direct presentation confirmed for a later date.
“I’ve heard that the reveal itself is going to focus almost exclusively on the console itself. There is not going to be any presence of games”, said Nate the Hate on his podcast. The second presentation, showcasing the Nintendo Switch 2 games that will be available at launch, is expected in late February or early March.
Multiple industry sources suggest the console will launch between May and June 2025.
Recent reports from The Nikkei indicate the delayed launch window was specifically chosen to ensure sufficient supply and combat scalping issues that have affected other recent console launches.
La Nintendo Switch 2 s’invite au #CES2025 avec plusieurs accessoiristes qui viennent exhiber une maquette de la console et de ses accessoires.
Genki, avec qui j’ai pu discuter, affirme posséder une vraie Switch 2. Article et vidéo demain sur @Numerama. pic.twitter.com/9HS7Iu5zn0
— Nicolas Lellouche (@LelloucheNico) January 8, 2025
Nintendo aims to avoid the supply bottlenecks that plagued the debut of the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launch in 2020.
The Switch 2 is expected to feature significant hardware upgrades, including a larger 8-inch LCD screen, compared to the 6.2-inch display on the standard Switch. The console will maintain backwards compatibility with existing Switch games and the Nintendo Switch Online service, as confirmed by President Shuntaro Furukawa.
A notable addition is the new ‘C’ button, which sources suggest will be used for social functions including voice chat. The system will reportedly support group chats of up to 12 Nintendo Switch Online subscribers — a dramatic departure from the way that Nintendo handled voice chat on the first-generation Switch that could pave the way for third-party titles like Call of Duty, Destiny, GTA Online, Red Dead Online, Fornite and other online multiplayer games that rely heavily on cooperation and voice chat.
Nintendo is said to have worked closely with Nvidia on the console’s chipset, aiming to deliver graphics comparable to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The new hardware will maintain a similar form-factor to the original Switch, continuing its hybrid console approach.
Leaked information suggests the Joy-Con controllers will attach magnetically to the console’s sides during handheld gameplay.
Metroid Prime 4 was announced back in 2017, following the launch of the original Nintendo Switch, but development was restarted in January 2019 under Retro Studios, the developer of the previous Metroid Prime games. It’s now widely-rumoured to launch on both the Switch and its successor NINTENDO PRESS OFFICE
According to a leak from French retailer Micromania’s internal database, the Switch 2 is expected to retail for €399 in Europe. This would equate to approximately £336 at current exchange rates.
However, pricing conversions may not be direct, as Micromania currently sells the standard Switch for €299, whilst it retails for £259 in the UK.
The leaked database also suggests games will see a price increase, with new titles costing between €69 and €79. This represents a potential price hike of 14% compared to current Switch games.
Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about official pricing, with a spokesperson telling AFP on Thursday there was “nothing we can share” regarding any announcements.
The Switch 2’s launch lineup reportedly includes Mario Kart 9 and a new 3D Super Mario adventure, according to recent leaks. Third-party titles expected for the system include Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Metal Gear Solid Delta. Metroid Prime 4, originally announced in 2017, has also been spotted among the launch window titles.