A Nintendo Switch 2 console and dock next to a TV running what appears to be a new Mario Kart game

Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced, Direct Coming in April

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Published: January 16, 2025 8:15 AM

Nintendo has finally officially announced the Switch 2, putting an end to months and months of speculation. What's more, a Direct presentation is coming with more information in April.

In a new trailer uploaded to the official Nintendo account, Nintendo shows off the console, which does indeed appear to feature many of the rumored improvements, including magnetic Joy-Cons, a bigger screen, and a redesigned dock.

Nintendo also says you'll be able to play both Switch 2 games and original Switch titles on the new machine, although "certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2".

A frontal view of the Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode
Here's the Switch 2 in all its glory.

The Switch 2's Joy-Cons will, it seems, lose the bold color scheme of the originals; instead, the default Joy-Con controllers will be all-black, although their analog stick housings will sport the Switch's traditional blue and red.

Additionally, the inside of the Joy-Cons, where the SL and SR buttons are located, will be blue and red, as will the magnetic housing on the console itself.

A new kickstand will also be present on the Switch 2, and it looks a lot sturdier than the original Switch's equivalent. Our very own Stretch has done the math, and he reckons the kickstand tilts by about 150 degrees.

It looks like the Switch 2 won't be making too many changes in terms of ports, either; the USB-C socket will once again be located on the bottom for charging and attaching to the dock, and you'll also have access to a headphone jack.

We knew a Switch 2 announcement was coming sometime before April, and rumors had suggested that the announcement would come today, so it's nice to have the console out in the open at last.

Of course, right now, Nintendo is keeping its cards close to its chest regarding hardware specs, so we don't know how much more powerful the Switch 2 is than the original Switch.

It does, however, look like some kind of new Mario Kart game will accompany the launch of the console; the trailer shows what seems to be a new entry in the phenomenally popular racing series, although I suppose it could also be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with yet more new courses.

In any case, Nintendo will be revealing more about the Switch 2 during a new Direct presentation on April 2nd. Stay tuned for more on that.

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Joe has been writing for TechRaptor for several years, and in those years has learned a lot about the gaming industry and its foibles. He’s originally an… More about Joseph