Almost a decade has passed since Nintendo first introduced the Switch, a revolutionary video game console that blurred the line between a traditional home console and a handheld gaming experience. Nintendo has long been the go-to brand for handheld gaming, thanks to its Game Boy, DS, and 3DS consoles, and the Switch felt like the next logical step for the company. It’s a direction that Nintendo is iterating on for the Switch 2, offering a device that is very similar in design to the Switch but upgrading it with significant hardware improvements.
It’s not hard to see why, as with over 150 million units sold so far, the Switch is the third-best-selling video game console of all time. Adopting an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality for the Switch 2, the new device will still function as a hybrid handheld console with detachable controllers. If you’re considering getting one and want to do some research, here’s everything you need to know about the Switch 2 before its arrival in June.
Switch 2 release date
The good news is that you won’t have to wait too long, as the Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide on June 5, including here in South Africa.
How much will the Switch 2 cost?
Now for the not-so-nice news: this isn’t going to be cheap. A base model Switch 2 has an RRP of R12,499, while the bundle deal that includes a download key for Mario Kart World is priced at R13,499. Several accessories and games will also be available. Here’s a quick look at what’s arriving on launch day:
- Nintendo Switch 2 console – R12,499
- Nintendo Switch 2 console and Mario Kart World – R13.499
- Switch 2 Pro controller – R2299
- Joy-Con 2 controllers – R2299
- Joy-Con 2 controller (Right) – R1199
- Joy-Con 2 controller (Left) – R1199
- Joy-Con 2 charging grip – R899
- Switch 2 carrying case and screen protector – R799
- Joy-Con 2 steering wheel – R599
- Joy-Con 2 strap – R399
- Mario Kart World – R1999
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Switch 2 Edition – R1799
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition – R1799
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition – R1799
Out of interest, the current gen Switch ranges between R4,999 for the Lite version, and R 9,499 for the OLED model, with the base console sitting in-between at R7,999.
Switch 2 hardware upgrades
In terms of pure hardware, the Switch 2 features several significant upgrades when compared to its predecessor. The most obvious one here is the larger 7.9-inch LCD screen–the original Switch has a 6.2-inch screen while the OLED model has a 7-inch display–and a bigger surface area overall. The screen also supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz and HDR10 support. Fortunately, the Switch 2 retains the same thickness as the Switch, giving it a surprisingly svelte profile and a low weight.
The other big upgrade here is the internal storage capacity, as this has been bumped up from 32GB (original Switch) and 64GB (OLED Model Switch) to 256GB of flash storage. The console also supports up to 2TB microSD Express cards–which offer much better read and write speeds–a second USB-C port located at the top, and a built-in U-shaped stand that is freely adjustable.
Switch 2 power and battery
Internally, the Switch 2 is powered by a custom processor made by Nvidia, and while exact specs haven’t been revealed, games do look noticeably sharper on the console when compared to the current Switch. Nintendo says that when docked, the Switch 2 is capable of up to 4K 60fps performance with its games, and in handheld mode you can expect a resolution of 1080p and up to 120 frames per second.
So what’s the battery life like? Not too shabby, with Nintendo claiming between two and six-and-a-half hours from a full charge. This is, however, a few hours less than updated Switch models that can can last between four and nine hours on a single charge.
Switch 2 Joy-Cons
While the Switch 2 Joy-Cons look familiar to the detachable controllers of the Switch, the big difference here is that they attach to the console via magnets. They’re also bigger and more ergonomic than the original Joy-Cons, and they can be used like a PC mouse when turned on their side. This could be great for fans of strategy games–Civilization 7 for the Switch has support for the mouse controls–and some of the games that’ll utilise this feature include Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Super Mario Party Jamboree.
What does the C Button do on the Switch 2?
Nintendo is looking to make the Switch 2 capable of offering better social interactions, and that’s where the C button on the Joy-Cons come into play. By pressing this, up to four people can link up via voice chat and play together, no matter which game they’re playing, although an active Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required from all parties. The voice chat feature uses internal microphones on the Switch 2, and Nintendo says that there is noise-canceling software as well. You can take the interactions to another level with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera (purchasable separately at R1,499) that will broadcast your face in a chat lobby, and third-party cameras will also be supported.
Switch 2 games
Thanks to backwards compatibility, the Switch 2 doesn’t need to arrive with an extensive collection of launch games. That doesn’t mean it’ll be showing up empty-handed, though, as Mario Kart World is the flagship launch title of the console and it looks to be a major sequel in the massively popular Mario Kart series. Beyond Mario’s new karting adventure, Nintendo will release more first-party exclusives throughout the year, including Donkey Kong Bananza in July and games like Kirby Air Riders and Drag X Drive later in 2025.
There’ll also be Switch 2 upgrades for games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Pokemon Legends Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, just in case you already own them. On the third-party front, there’s a lot to look forward to as well, as Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Street Fighter 6, Star Wars Outlaws, and NBA 2K are just some of the many games headed to the Switch 2 throughout the year. Dark Souls studio From Software is also working on a Switch 2 exclusive in the form of The Duskbloods, a souls-like PvPvE game set to release later in 2026.
GameShare
With the Switch 2 generation, all digital games purchased for that console and the Switch will be classified as Virtual Game Cards. Digital editions can be loaded, ejected, and shared with other Switch consoles using the GameShare feature, so if you own several of them, you will be able to move Virtual Game Cards between accounts on up to two systems, just as if you were using a physical cartridge. What this means is that accounts in the same Nintendo family group will be able to “lend” games to each other, so, in theory, this could allow you to share your games with your friends when you’re not playing them.
It is worth noting that only one game at a time can be lent out to and from a particular person, and they’ll have two weeks to play before the digital game is returned to its original owner. While this feature will only be available for a select number of games–like Super Mario Odyssey and several Switch 2 games–it’s still a nice function that’s the Nintendo equivalent of sharing your Netflix password.
Is the Switch 2 backwards compatible?
If you’ve built up a sizable library of games on your Switch, then you can bring them with you to the Switch 2. Backwards compatibility applies to both physical and digital editions of games, but Nintendo has confirmed that “certain” games won’t be compatible with the Switch 2, and a few others are being worked on right now due to them having performance issues with the hardware. For now, the list of affected games remains small, and includes titles like Fall Guys, Alan Wake Remastered, and Rocket League.
Do I need a Switch 2?
That’s the R12,499 question, isn’t it? In the eight years since the original Switch launched, the gaming landscape has changed dramatically, as both Microsoft and Sony launched their next-gen consoles in late 2020. At the same time, we’ve seen Valve take on Nintendo with its own powerful handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck, and several other challengers have stepped into the ring like Asus, Lenovo, and MSI. Throw in the continued rise of mobile gaming, and powerful smartphones equipped with controller cradles like the Backbone One, and Nintendo is facing some stiff competition before it even launches the Switch 2.
The Switch 2 price is also going to be a hard sell, but the thing is, you’re only going to find Nintendo games on Nintendo hardware. While Microsoft has pivoted toward multi-platform releases and Sony has steadily dropped more games on PC, Nintendo remains content to make the words “console exclusive” still mean something in 2025. Granted, your mileage may vary with each exclusive game released, but most of the time there’s a unique charm and magic to Nintendo games that its competitors struggle to replicate. The current lineup looks great already, and with some much-needed extra horsepower under the hood, it’s going to be exciting to see what Nintendo does with its Switch successor going forward.
Third-party support will, of course, play a major part, but with the bump in graphical power, it’s highly likely that we’ll see bigger games from massive publishers alongside the hundreds of indie developers who helped turn the Switch into a dream machine for quirky and imaginative video games. On that note, if you must have a Nintendo console in your life, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying one of the Switch models currently available.
You’ve got three flavors to choose from–the original Switch, handheld-only Switch Lite, and superb Switch OLED–and there are still many games coming to this last-gen device. Combined with the eight years of exclusives released for it, and the current Switch has a hell of a library to dig into, one that can easily keep you occupied until you decide to switch things up and upgrade.