Now that the Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct is behind us, we know just about everything there is to know about the successor to the popular handheld console hybrid. Overall, it’s a major improvement over the previous generation, but some glaring question marks remain.
Going over the specs first, the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a 7.9-inch 1080p screen going up to 120Hz and with HDR suport. For those who are used to the Switch OLED though, the slight blemish here is that the company has gone back to LCD. Despite the upsize in surface area, it has the just about same thickness as the predecessor.
With the dock in the picture, the Nintendo Switch 2 can output up to 4K with compatible games, with a built-in fan to keep things cool while doing so. But going back to the device itself, the Switch 2 also gets two USB-C ports, and now sports 256GB of storage. It still supports external storage, but if you want it to run games directly from there, you’ll need to use microSD Express cards. Regular ones can only be used for loading videos and screenshots from the original Switch.
Battery life is where things take a bit of a hit. Depending on the game, the Nintendo Switch 2 can run between 2.5 hours to 6. The original, as in the first iteration of the first Switch, was rated between 2.5 and 6.5 hours. But for what it’s worth, it does get WiFi 6.
Also announced is that some games for the current Switch will be getting Nintendo Switch 2 editions, confirming a prior rumour of this nature. Some examples were explicitly mentioned, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
These upgraded versions will have improved frame rates, faster load times, as well as a range of features that work in tandem with a companion smartphone app. The company did not share a cost attached to this, but they either come as an upgrade pack purchase, or part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
On that note though, it’s clear that Nintendo is making a harder push for its subscription service, as the Switch 2 Joy-Cons now have a C button, which stands for game chat. This marks the first time the brand’s system has sported voice chat, but likely a welcome upgrade for some. To entice gamers to joining the subscription services though, some of these social features will be made free until 31 March 2026.
With all that out of the way though, let’s address the elephant in the room – the US$449.99 (~RM2,009) asking price of the Nintendo Switch 2. This sort of falls in line with prior predictions, but it’s unclear if these prices will remain the same when they make their way to our shores. As we’ve mentioned before, we technically have two distributors in the country bringing in Nintendo Switch-related products. But it’s worth remembering that local prices for the first Switch was higher in Malaysia (and Singapore) than Japan and the US. At any rate, this launches on 5 June.
(Source: Nintendo / YouTube [1], [2], [3])
