NintenCHADS WIN again! Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Info

The Nintendo Switch 2 direct was today, and while it was admittedly not as strong of a presentation as the January 12th 2017 Nintendo Switch Presentation, Nintendo g*mers can finally enjoy the benefits of the last console generation. What a miracle!

Worthwhile Announcements

The Console

Honestly, for a direct that is supposed to be about the new console, they strangely didn't differentiate it much from the Nintendo Switch. We didn't get a direct showcase of the UI, but from the bits we did see, it looks virtually identical. That doesn't mean there isn't anything new, though. There's also a console tutorial that you have to pay for.

• The Mythical "C" button

"C" is for connect! GameShare is a "new" feature for the Nintendo Switch 2, which allows for on-console voice chat. We're 3 generations away from this being innovative, but it's better late than never.

It's pretty much a Groomercord call on your console, which utilizes a built-in mic. You can even do video calls with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera (sold separately), mimicking the eerie loneliness of a Zoom call, right on your Nintendo Switch!

They spent an absurd amount of time on this reveal.

• Graphics

The console can play 4K HDR games while docked, with some games even managing 1080p 120 FPS. While keeping the LCD screen instead of OLED, Nintendo boasts a larger pixel count on its built in screen, insuring a clearer picture while playing.

This paves the way for Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, which allow for graphical upgrades for Nintendo Switch titles (more on this later.) It also is going to have faster loadtimes than the Switch on any game, and comes with 256 gigs of data on the console (which is substantial compared to the Switch's 32.)

• Download Play is back

In a surprising turn of events, certain multiplayer games can be enjoyed by multiple people on separate consoles with only one cartridge. The extent of this feature is unknown, but is a very welcome and consumer-friendly move by Nintendo.

• Mouse Mode is REAL

By holding your Joycon 2 on a surface and dragging , you can mimic the functionality of a real mouse. It's planned to be implemented in several games, including Metroid Prime 4: Echoes.

• GameCube Games for NSO

A whopping THREE GameCube games have been announced for the Nintendo Switch Online: Expansion Pack.

• The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

• SoulCalibur II

• F-Zero GX

• Release Date

June 5th, 2025 is the worldwide release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. The price has not been confirmed, but expect it to be in the $400 range. No preorders have been announced yet.

First Party Titles

This direct showcased several strong titles coming exclusively to the Switch 2. While there seemed to be a larger focus on Third Party titles in this presentation, what we have gotten are actually pretty good.

• Mario Kart World

A Mario Kart launch title for the Switch 2 was inevitable, and this title seems to be a reboot of the series after 8 Deluxe. The gimmick of this game is that you are able to freely roam around tracks with 24 players, featuring the largest roster of any Mario Kart game. They're just adding anyone to this game, including obscure enemies like the Dolphins from Super Mario World. In addition to the roster, like Mario Kart Tour, there's costume customization.

Taking after SEGA Racing Transformed, your kart is able to change depending on the environment of the track. You can grind on railings, walljump, and even glide on water? There's even a knockout mode, which is DEFINITELY not stolen from Mario Kart Wii mods.

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Who's ready for another Hyrule Warriors game? Hopefully this time, it can run on the system it was made for!

Like Age of Calamity this game serves as a canon-adjacent campaign that explains events that were alluded to in Breath of the Wild. Not much else was shown, but it's a Warriors game. What else do you want to know? It's releasing in the winter this year.

• Kirby Air Riders

It's a sequel to Kirby Air Ride, a cult classic GameCube Kirby game, directed by Masahiro Sakurai, marking a long-awaited return to the franchise after a 20+ year hiatus. Nothing else was shown, but it releases in 2026.

• Donkey Kong Bananza

A 3D Action-Platformer Donkey Kong game, and the first new mainline Donkey Kong game in a decade. Donkey Kong receives his Mario Movie redesign in this game, confirming that the movie designs will be used from now-on. The game seems to take place in an underground setting, which allows DK to destroy the environment, kind of like Wario World on the GameCube. It releases on July 17th, 2025.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Titles

Nintendo was kind enough to allow us to PAY FOR upgraded Nintendo Switch games. This is not a free upgrade, but it's "discounted" if you own the original game. The upgrades range from graphical enhancements to new campaigns that utilize the Switch 2's higher graphical fidelity. How generous!

These games include:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land

• Super Mario Party: Jamboree

• Metroid Prime 4: Echoes

• Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Third Party Titles

There was a lot of titles revealed to be ported to the console, so for the interest of time I'm only including things I find important enough to mention.

• The Duskbloods

A Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive vampire themed FromSoft game. It had a lot of screentime, so I'm sure it's important. It's releasing in 2026.

• Deltarune Chapter 3 + 4

The long awaited sequels for Deltarune are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, and will be released on launch day. Did not expect this announcement today, but it was welcome.

• Elden Ring

• Final Fantasy VII Remake

Gaystation players on suicide watch

• Street Fighter VI

They're also releasing amiibo for the game, which confirms that amiibo are sticking around for a third generation. Nintendo-branded Funko Pops are here to stay!

• Split Fiction

• Cyberpunk 2077

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year. That's it, that's all we know.

• Hogwarts Legacy

s on suicide watch (this game is the leftist Assassin's Creed Shadows)

• Hitman: Word of Assassination

Releasing on launch day, IO interactive also revealed a new Goldeneye 007 game, so that's cool.

Overall, the new console looks promising. In my opinion, it's not a "drop everything and buy it at launch," sort of deal, but I can see myself picking it up later down the line. With backwards compatibility and strong exclusives, it's going to be a seamless transition to the next generation of Nintendo. Are you guys going to pick this up?