Nintendo will reveal all about the Switch 2 during an hour-long livestream devoted to the new console this afternoon.
Barring GTA 6, the upcoming device is the biggest release in the gaming calendar. Launched in 2017, the original Switch has shifted more than 150 million units, making it the second biggest console of all time behind Sony’s seminal PlayStation 2. Its successor, another handheld device that doubles up as a home console, is expected to have the biggest launch ever for a gaming machine.
At this afternoon’s Direct presentation, Nintendo should unveil the Switch 2’s key features, upgrades and launch games. Essentially everything we didn’t get during that tantalisingly short teaser that gave us our first look at the device in January. Best of all, Nintendo may even put it up for pre-order (or at least tell us when we can buy it), allowing you to reserve it ahead of release.
Keep it locked to our live blog as we cover all the latest Switch 2 news, updates, leaks and rumours throughout the day, culminating in a our live commentary on the Direct itself and the online reaction to the new system. This is the only Nintendo Switch 2 Direct feed you need.
Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Live
- How to watch
The release
15:03Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5.
In the ensuing months, you’ll get a new Mario, Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda and Kirby game.
Watch this space.
Donkey Kong Bonanza
15:02Donkey Kong Bonanza - stick the 17th of July in your diary.
“More details will be shared in the future” - can’t wait.
Donkey Kong!
15:00And for the finale, a new Donkey Kong game is revealed
Final Fantasy 7 is coming
14:56A slightly less surprising one, a Final Fantasy 7 remake is coming to the Switch 2.
CyberPunk 2077
14:55One we didn’t expect - Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to Switch 2.
It’ll be interesting to see how the gameplay is.
GameCube games to be available
14:51Nintendo Switch 2 online will now include GameCube games.
Oh, the nostalgia!
A new Hyrule Warriors game
14:48We’re not quite done with the Legend of Zelda series yet.
We take a break from Nintendo partner games to go back to its roots - and this is bound to excite fans.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is announced and we’re going to get a game from the point of view of Zelda!
Watch this space.
00-heaven
14:44We’re now being shown a plethora of game trailers.
Hitman is being brought to the console, but more excitingly a new James Bond game is in the works.
With similar sounding iconic music to the N64’s Goldeneye game, it’s bound to be a hit.
Spongebob and Tony Hawk crossover
14:42 , Sean MartinWe’re now being shown a Tony Hawk Skater promo for the new console.
Weirdly enough, it seems to feature SpongeBob SquarePants reference.
Kirby, you're up
14:37Another Nintendo icon as an “exclusive” Kirby game comes to light.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land next, which will include a new feature called Star-Crossed World.
Legend of Zelda
14:36There will also be Nintendo Switch 2 Edition versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom ,
This will innclude HDR support and a Nintendo Switch app functionality.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
14:34Next up is another game announcement.
Sticking with the Godfather of Nintendo, another Super Mario game.
This time it’s the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Jamboree.
A voice over tells us of a plethora of upgrades including voice recognition, cameras which allows you to put your face in the game in Mario Party Mode.
With this, there will have to be a bit of physical excursion - including having to punch the boxes to release coins.
We have a release date of July 22 for this.
Bigger and screen
14:26 , Sean MartinThe Nintendo Switch 2 will be bigger than it’s predecessor.
With a screen size of 7.9 inches, it’s a sizeable upgrade from the Switch’s 6.2 inch screen which it retains the same width.
The screen will support up to 120 frames per second, and has twice as many pixels as the Nintendo Switch.
More on the C button
14:22Kawamato says the purpose of the C button is to open chat rooms to make it seem as if “you’re all playing together in the same place”.
Also available is a Nintendo Switch Camera, which will be released on the same day as the console.
C for chat?
14:18With the C button, you can pull up chat rooms.
Now we know!
Talk away
14:14The system will include a microphone which can “pick up your speaking voice clearly” even when there is lots of noise around.
It can be used in handheld mode too, allowing you to chat to friends and family as you play.
The much anticipated 'C' button
14:12Next, we move onto the hardware.
A two piece controller with the right control now including the ‘C’ button - shifting slightly from Nintendo’s classic A & B buttons.
Mario Kart World
14:09The game will launch as the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2.
Mario Kart World
14:08Kouichi Kawamato, producer, Takuhiro Dohta, director, and Tetsuya Sasaki, hardware design lead, kick of proceedings by telling us that the trailer we just watched was for Mario Kart World, who reveal it will be “exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2”.
A new trailer begins which informs us of the gameplay, where atmospheric conditions will have an impact on gameplay.
Each race will have a total of 24 drivers - “the most in the history of the competition”.
Gamers will have the ability to “go off route” and head for “scenic drives with friends”.
Here we go
14:02And we’re underway.
Nintendo kicks off the stream with a funky animation, before a trailer for Mario Kart kicks in.
Is this our first revelation?
Announcement is imminent
13:58What will we be looking for in today’s announcement?
Firstly we’ll be looking at the specs of the console - bigger, better stronger?
We’ll also be keeping an eye out for release date, features, new games.
Watch this space.
Switch 2 rumoured release date
12:29 , Saqib ShahThe latest leaks suggest the Switch 2 will be available to pre-order very soon ahead of a summer release date.
When exactly? Well, North American retailer Best Buy Canada briefly published a blog post indicating pre-orders would open on April 2, immediately after today’s Nintendo Direct presentation.
However, Insider Gaming cited internal documents from a unnamed US store that suggests it is preparing pre-orders for April 9, giving shoppers a week to mull over the Direct before pulling the trigger.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is widely expected to launch in early June 2025, maybe even during the first week of the month. This timing aligns with the hands-on demo events scheduled globally from April through June.
Switch 2 rumoured games part 2: Call of Duty, Elden Ring and Final Fantasy?
11:45Nintendo’s in-house exclusives are the lifeblood of its consoles. But, leaks suggest the Switch 2 could be big on third-party games, too.
If it packs a serious hardware upgrade that rivals the Xbox Series S in handheld mode and the PS4 Pro when docked, it should be feasibly be able to run many of the same titles as those consoles.
By seriously expanding beyond the family-friendly fare it is associated with, Nintendo could court a new legion of players raised on a diet of gritty first-person shooters and dark fantasy RPGs.
Notably, prolific leakers such as extas1s and anonymous insiders from FamiBoards (a popular forum where gaming enthusiasts share all sorts of behind-the-scenes info) have outed a boatload of ports and upcoming AAA titles.
Then, there’s the 10-year deal Nintendo signed with Microsoft for Call of Duty games as part of the latter’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition. The big question now is will we get a port of Black Ops 6, or will the next CoD launch simultaneously on the Switch 2?
With Microsoft’s multi-platform approach, even more surprises could be in store. If these rumours hold up, the Switch 2’s library could quickly rival any major console, with every hotly anticipated title players could want.
Here are all the rumoured third-party games destined for the Switch 2. As usual, it’s best to take these predictions with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation from Nintendo.
Rumoured third-party games
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Halo The Master Chief collection
- Diablo 4
- A Call of Duty game
- Fallout 4
- Starfield
- Tekken 8
- Elden Ring
- Assassin's Creed Shadows
- Metal Gear Solid Delta
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Final Fantasy Remake
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Switch 2 rumoured games part 1: What Nintendo has in store
11:36 , Saqib ShahAfter that nostalgic interlude, it’s time to head back to the main event.
The following Nintendo games are almost guaranteed to show up on the Switch 2 at some point.
Rumoured Nintendo games
A new Super Mario game
A new game starring Nintendo’s mascot is a no-brainer for the Switch 2. The Super Mario series has been a Nintendo staple since 1985, with each new console generation delivering a bigger adventure, including the acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey on the original Switch. Let’s see how Nintendo tops that.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild enhanced
Behind closed doors, Nintendo reportedly showcased the new console running an enhanced version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to developers. Could it be one of those Switch 2 Enhanced games we keep hearing about? We’re about to find out.
An ode to the original Switch
11:23 , Saqib ShahEveryone has a Switch story - that moment when you realised Nintendo had gifted us something special. Maybe the handheld kept you awake on the Tube while the somnambulant masses snoozed their way to work. Perhaps it fueled countless co-op binges — whether a hyperactive doubles match in Mario Tennis Aces or a desperate scramble with friends to outrun a stampede of blue bison in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
My Switch story unfurled during a long-haul flight from New Zealand to the UK. It was 2018, and after a four year stint down under, my partner (a red-headed Kiwi) and I were heading back to the UK. Shortly after takeoff, we were darting across Rainbow Road in Mario Kart as we soared over the Tasman Sea, the Switch positioned neatly on a tray table. After a brief stopover in Dubai — multiple time zones now bleeding into one, leaving us in a dreamlike state — I switched (ahem) to Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the final leg of our epic journey. I hate flying and never manage to sleep, so getting lost in Hyrule’s rolling fields was a much-needed distraction.
These days, my Switch sits gathering dust behind my TV, overshadowed by game streaming services like GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass; the novelty of playing PC and Xbox games on my Mac impossible to resist.
But as a Nintendo lifer — someone whose fondest memories include whiling away afternoons with a Game Boy on my grandmother’s balcony in Karachi, Pakistan, during countless languid summers — I always feel like I’m one big release away from diving back in. The Switch 2 might just be the perfect excuse to rekindle my love for all things Nintendo.
Switch 2 confirmed games
11:11We’re doing a Nintendo and breaking this section on Switch 2 games into a three-parter, starting with the titles that have officially been announced for the new console, followed by rumoured first-party and third-party releases.
Without further ado, here are the games that have been confirmed for the Switch 2 so far:
Confirmed games
Mario Kart 9
Nintendo’s only confirmed game, a new Mario Kart, was briefly shown during the Switch 2 announcement trailer. Digging up clues from that fleeting preview, fans reckon it might feature 24-player races, retro karts and character designs, and brand-new power-ups.
My Time at Evershine
The latest entry in the cosy RPG series, including My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock, is coming to the Switch 2, according to its developer Pathea Games. Notably, it was the first title to be announced for Nintendo’s upcoming console. The game has surged past its Kickstarter crowdfunding goal to raise more than $2.9 million (£2.3m) for its development.
Bestiario
This turn-based RPG, which feels like it’s time-travelled straight from the PS1 era, is set to launch on current-gen consoles, the original Switch, and (excitingly) the Switch 2, according to its Kickstarter page.
Yooka Replaylee
Fans of Banjo-Kazooie will be happy to learn that this remastered version of its spiritual successor is listed as coming to “Nintendo.” That could suggest it’s heading to the Switch 2 alongside the original Switch.
Upcoming Nintendo games in development
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
A game more than seven years in the making, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond . is the last major release for the current Switch.
Naturally, that means it will run on the backwards-compatible Switch 2 - maybe with an enhanced version.
The sequel’s explosive first-person shooter action and labyrinthine levels, full of tight spaces to roll through, sound like a perfect match for the rumoured computer mouse functionality on the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. This should make it an ideal demo for the console’s new features.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Another sure-fire blockbuster that would light up the Switch 2, the upcoming game is set in Lumiose City and features Mega Evolutions.
What are Switch 2 Enhanced games?
10:30Following the previous Direct livestream, Nintendo revealed the existence of “Switch 2 Edition” games on its webpage, which details the new Virtual Card game-sharing system launching next month.
In case you missed it, Virtual Cards will essentially mean that digital games purchased from the Nintendo eShop will work similarly to physical games — allowing you to lend them to family members with their own Switch or Switch 2 consoles, much like how Steam lets you share PC titles.
But buried in the fine print was some intriguing new info: “Compatible systems must be linked to a Nintendo Account to use virtual game cards. Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games can only be loaded on a Nintendo Switch 2 system.”
To be clear, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with older titles, but the exact details remain unclear.
One possibility is that Nintendo could take a page from PlayStation and Microsoft, offering upgraded versions of older games — similar to how PlayStation 4 titles received “PS5 Enhanced” versions. Or, how Xbox’s Smart Delivery system provides the version optimised for the console you're using, whether it’s Xbox One or Series X/S.
If Nintendo follows PlayStation’s model, some of these upgrades might be offered for free, while others could come with an additional cost. Alternatively, Nintendo could introduce separate, enhanced versions of games designed specifically for the Switch 2, potentially sold as standalone titles.
About the Switch 2's mysterious "C" button
10:09The recent avalanche of Switch 2 leaks may have outed every little detail about the console’s design but one big mystery remains: What exactly is the deal with that brand new button on the console’s right Joy-Con?
Speculation was rife among fans, with guesses including a potential social feature, an improved screen capture function, or some sort of new camera perk (after all, the button did contain the letter “C”).
The most credible theory yet? Over on Discord, the admins of a Switch messaging board claimed the new button is for a chat feature dubbed “Campus”.
Thanks to the upgrade, Switch 2 users will be able to voice chat with each other, including in groups of up to 12 Nintendo Switch Online members. It will also allow players to share their screen with others, which could be great for showing off your Mario Kart skills in real time.
It is unclear if the entire function will be tied to Nintendo’s subscription service. Locking it behind a paywall probably wouldn’t go down well with players.
Nevertheless, it sounds like a massive upgrade over the Switch’s current voice chat function.
Unlike the system-wide voice chat available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the Switch comes with different options based on the game you are playing. For Nintendo’s in-house exclusives, like Mario Kart, you need to download a separate mobile app to talk to other players. Whereas games like Fortnite and Overwatch come with built-in voice chat directly through the console.
If, as rumours suggest, Nintendo truly is creating a more powerful device capable of playing the latest third-party games, including competitive multiplayer titles like Call of Duty, then a seamless voice chat feature will be essential.
How did the Discord admin members unravel the secrets of the new button? They apparently data-mined the Switch operating system and the leaked software development kit (a set of tools and resources provided by manufacturers to game developers).
Data mining involves analysing game files to uncover hidden or unreleased content, such as upcoming features or updates.
Rumours aside, Nintendo has been teasing the button on its newly-launched “Nintendo Today!” mobile app in the lead-up to the latest Direct, which has us convinced that it will play a major role in this afternoon’s presentation.
Nintendo Treehouse events to follow today's Direct
09:57 , Saqib ShahNintendo is officially rolling out the red carpet for the Switch 2 as it kicks off a promotional blitz to rival a Hollywood press tour.
On the heels of this afternoon’s Direct, Nintendo will share two Treehouse Live presentations on April 3 and April 4.
Join us on April 3rd and April 4th at 7 a.m. PT each day for a Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 presentation featuring hands-on gameplay of #NintendoSwitch2 games! pic.twitter.com/gsi0MqyZyZ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 1, 2025
Nintendo is keeping us on our toes, teasing that these broadcasts will feature "hands-on gameplay" of some upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games.
The first presentation will air between 3pm-7pm in the UK, while the second will run from 3pm-6pm.
We had our boffs do the complex maths, and that works out to seven hours of Switch 2 footage spread over two days.
But, that’s not all. On April 4, Nintendo will begin hosting a series of Switch 2 demo events for the public up until early June - giving us a good idea of when the console could land.
Yes, there is a London leg (on April 11-13), but the registration period for tickets officially ended back in late January.
Still, we should learn plenty of juicy info from these events and, as usual, we’ll be on hand to cover all the good stuff so you don’t miss out.
Nintendo Switch 2: the official stuff
09:39 , Saqib ShahAfter years of speculation, Nintendo unveiled its long-rumoured new console in January alongside a brand new Mario Kart game.
The hybrid device looks to be a larger version of the original Switch. It features a bigger display, an extra USB-C port on the top, and a pair of Joy-Con controllers that snap onto the sides.
The back of its tablet-like touchscreen features a slimmer stand, allowing for more tilt when placed on a table or desk. The larger dock, meanwhile, still enables you to connect the console to a TV for big-screen gaming when not in handheld mode.
Clearly, the focus is on continuity, with Nintendo deciding not to rock the boat too much after the blockbuster success of the original Switch. The last thing it wants is to end up with another disaster on its hands, like the Wii U.
The design is relatively muted for a Nintendo device: the upcoming console is almost all-black apart from the blue and orange colour accents on the sides and thumbsticks of the Joy-Cons.
Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2 in a brief promotional video, including a glimpse at a new Mario Kart game. Worryingly, it did not commit to a concrete release date — just 2025.
The company previously confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, allowing it to run Switch games and support Switch Online. The latter is a subscription service that lets you play compatible games online and access a library of classic titles.
That still leaves many questions. Thankfully, a wave of leaks offers some answers, including key specs and a more concrete launch date.
How to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
09:28There’s not long to go till the main event: Nintendo will kick off the Switch 2 Direct presentation at 2pm UK time today (Wednesday, April 2).
You can tune in to the livestream as it unfolds above, with the video beamed straight from the official Nintendo YouTube channel.
