The Nintendo Switch came out in March 2017. It has done very well, selling over 122 million units. That makes it Nintendo’s third best selling game system ever!
Now almost 7 years old, people are wondering if a new Nintendo Switch is coming soon. New game systems usually come out every 5-7 years, so it would make sense for a “Nintendo Switch 2” to be announced soon.
The current Switch has been so popular, selling way more than Nintendo’s last system, the Wii U. The Switch can be played on a TV or as a handheld system. This unique design is loved by gamers. But the technology inside is old now, from 2017. So an upgraded Switch 2 could be more powerful.
According to news reports, Nintendo is aiming to release a Switch 2 in early 2025. Game makers are supposedly working on games coming out at the same time as new Nintendo hardware next year. So while not officially announced yet, it looks like a Switch follow-up is imminent, likely in the first few months of 2025.
Nintendo hasn’t shared details yet about what the Switch 2 might offer. We don’t know about its power, screen, battery life, whether it will play current Switch games, or what games will launch with it. The new system may look similar to today’s Switch but with better internal parts, controllers, and display. Let’s wait and see, but it’s exciting news for Nintendo fans!
Release Date and Pricing
Trusted video game news sites and insiders say Nintendo has pushed back when the Switch 2 comes out. It was expected by the end of 2024. Now the plan is for it to be released in the first 3 months of 2025.
The reason for the short delay is to give game developers more time to make launch games that really show off what the new Switch can do.
The original plan was for the Switch 2 to come out in the fall of 2024, in time for big holiday sales. But March 2025 is still in the same business year for Nintendo. By avoiding the busy holiday season dominated by Call of Duty and FIFA blockbusters, the Switch 2 could get more attention as the biggest Q1/Spring launch.
We don’t know the exact pricing yet, but it will depend on parts costs, supply issues, new features like a bigger OLED screen, and Nintendo’s pricing strategy. The original Switch was $299, the handheld-only Switch Lite is $199. The Switch 2 will likely be $299 to $399 since it’s a hybrid with improved internal parts.
Launching in Spring 2025 means missing out on massive holiday sales, but gives Nintendo more time to refine and develop games. It also avoids competing directly with so many huge fall/winter titles that target Xbox and PlayStation. With lower competition in Q1 and lots of built up user excitement, the Switch 2 could still thrive if its launch is managed properly.
More and more reports point to an early 2025 release for the Switch 2. Unless there are surprise supply problems or delays, it does seem like Nintendo is getting partners and game creators ready for a Q1 2025 launch.
Design and Hardware Specs
The Switch 2 will probably keep the same hybrid portable and TV-connected design that made the current Switch so popular. Nintendo won’t want to lose the ability to play Switch games in different ways that gamers love.
Updates are still happening though. It will likely have an upgraded Nvidia processor enabling better graphics up to 4K resolution on TVs. The handheld screen may go up to 8 inches diagonally from 6-7 inches today. It will stay LCD instead of more expensive OLED though.
More powerful graphics and screen size means needing a bigger battery and improved cooling system. The Joy-Con controllers are expected to get small changes like better analog sticks and trigger buttons with sensitivity.
If Nintendo can deliver those leaps in visuals and performance without harming battery life or portability, while still letting you play the same games on your TV or handheld, fans should be thrilled.
Backwards Compatibility
Nintendo often lets their new consoles play old games too. But the custom Switch processor makes things less certain. Reports suggest Nintendo wants the Switch 2 to keep working with Switch game cards and downloads to make upgrading easy.
Wide backwards compatibility comes down to whether the Switch 2 changes a lot about current hardware design versus using more standardized mobile parts.
Games Lineup
Another 3D Mario game is guaranteed in the future, like the awesome Super Mario Odyssey. Mario Kart 9 also seems likely at launch to showcase faster 60fps racing. And long in development Metroid Prime 4 could finally be unveiled.
Better graphics power should bring ambitious third party games like Japanese RPGs, sports titles like FIFA and NBA 2K, and action adventures.
Nintendo console launches also often include updated classics. Breath of the Wild feels primed for a deluxe “Complete Edition” packed with extra content and optimized performance.
Competition and Market Positioning
While PlayStation and Xbox focus on home consoles, Nintendo looks to continue doing its own thing with the Switch 2 as a hybrid portable and TV-connected system. Being able to easily switch between handheld and big screen gameplay keeps setting Nintendo apart.
But by using updated Nvidia graphics and processors, plus new technologies like 4K upscaling and Nvidia DLSS, the Switch 2 could come much closer to what the PS5 and Xbox Series X can do. This might let Nintendo players enjoy some of the same impressive third party games available on Sony and Microsoft consoles.
Sony and Microsoft are stuck with living room gaming only. Nintendo rules mobile play. An even more powerful and versatile Switch 2 covering both areas means trouble for rivals lacking Nintendo’s flexibility. Gamers who want mobile Nintendo exclusives and the option to play some big mainstream games on their TV need one gadget – the incoming Switch 2.
Launching in 2025 is smart too since the PS5 and Xbox Series X are already three years old. That gives Nintendo time to develop hardware outpacing the aging competition. Unless a PS5 Pro arrives sooner, the Switch 2 seems well-positioned.
The Future Awaits
If reports are accurate, Nintendo is cooking up more than a minor mid-cycle Switch upgrade like the OLED model. The Switch 2 could carry the DNA of the original groundbreaking Switch into the future with meaningful next-gen enhancements for TV and mobile play.
More power, better screens, and capabilities like 4K and Nvidia DLSS support aim to expand what the Switch 2 can do at home or on-the-go. Nintendo likely has some surprise innovations up its sleeve too, perhaps haptic feedback Joy-Cons? You never know with them.
Until Nintendo reveals more details probably later this year about exact launch timing, specs, design, and games, uncertainty remains regarding what their new console will offer. But rumors suggest a seriously upgraded Switch 2 to thrill all types of gamers whenever it arrives with improved mobile and TV gameplay.