If you’re one of the many eager to find out everything you can about the Nintendo Switch 2, you’re in the right place. We’ve covered all corners of the internet in our hunt for the latest news, rumors, and leaks, surrounding the follow-up console for this guide, with regular updates whenever we hear something new.
With the latest details, release date speculation, and some of our slightly unhinged maths, we’re here to cover every possible thing, whether it’s the Nintendo Switch 2 release date, various hardware possibilities, or what sort of other things may change it into something unique. If you can’t wait for something new, check out our list of the best portable gaming consoles for some awesome Switch alternatives.
Here’s everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation
In May 2024, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa announced on X (Twitter) that the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal is coming before the end of the 2024/2025 fiscal year. That means we’re going to see it before the end of March 2025. While still not offering a concrete release date, we assume this announcement from Furukawa means we’ll have a Switch 2 in our hands by the summer of next year, if not a little later.
While 2024 began with plenty of speculation pointing to a same-year release date for the Switch 2, by April more reports were emerging of internal delays at Nintendo, pushing the console back into 2025. Furukawa’s announcement seemingly corroborated these stories, and while it’s possible we get a reveal in October or November of this year, it still might not arrive in time for the holidays.
For context, Nintendo revealed the original Nintendo Switch in October 2016 before releasing the console in March 2017. That’s about six months between the reveal of the console and its arriving in stores. With that in mind, we think it’s fair to speculate a similar approach from Nintendo this time around. We know from Furukawa’s post not to expect anything in the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, but it’s possible Nintendo could finally introduce us to the much-anticipated follow-up before the end of 2024. Either way, we’re keeping an eye out for any official information from Nintendo.
Nintendo Switch 2 launch title speculation
New Nintendo consoles often arrive with a slew of games featuring the brand’s heavy hitters. We’re talking about Mario, Zelda, Metroid, that sort of stuff. We’re expecting more of the same when the follow-up to the Switch arrives, though it’s anyone’s guess exactly what launch titles we might see when it eventually releases.
Every Nintendo home console so far has arrived alongside a Mario or Zelda game. The NES launched with Super Mario Bros, the SNES with Super Mario World, and then the N64 had Super Mario 64. The GameCube was a little different and arrived with Luigi’s Mansion, then we got Zelda: Twilight Princess on Wii, before getting New Super Mario Bros. U on the Wii U. Finally, the Nintendo Switch launched with Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey.
Now, it would seem like a good guess that we may get a new Mario or Zelda, but we’ve only just seen the release of Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, so it may be a little soon for another game in either of those series. At Pocket Tactics, we’re hoping for a new Pokémon game or maybe even Metroid Prime 4.
Are there any Nintendo Switch 2 leaks?
The first few Nintendo Switch 2 release date and hardware leaks started to emerge in 2023, but many were proven wrong by not materializing in 2024. Still, we’ve listed some rumors from the last 18 months or so below, as they’re either from reputable sources or were widely reported, so you can find out all the latest yourself.
Here are all of the Nintendo Switch 2 rumors we’ve seen so far:
- Possible native 4K
- 4K upscaling capabilities patented by Nintendo
- 8-inch LCD screen
- Good stock availability on launch
- Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said that Nintendo plans to have plenty of stock available for any future console releases
- Demos at Gamescom 2023
- Eurogamer reported that Nintendo showed off some Nintendo Switch 2 demos behind closed doors at Gamescom 2023. An improved version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was apparently shown
- Dual-screen gaming device patent
- Nintendo has recently patented a dual-screen device with a detachable screen. A patent doesn’t guarantee a new product, but we absolutely love the way this looks
- Continued Switch support
- Nintendo confirmed in its financial results briefing that it “will continue to release new titles and content for Nintendo Switch without being bound by the traditional concept of the platform lifecycle.”
- Ray tracing
- Wccftech has reported that during the latest episode of Nate the Hate’s podcast, an insider mentioned the Nintendo Switch 2 may have ray tracing thanks to NVIDIA’s Ray Reconstruction tech
- First-party games going out of print
- Nintendeal on Twitter started Tweeting out information on first-party Nintendo games being out of print and a Resetera thread highlighted even more games. This could be for an upcoming Switch Selects line or to be replaced with a Nintendo Switch 2 SKU
- Nvidia’s Tegra X1 chip
- According to a Reuters report, the Nintendo Switch 2 will house a custom Nvidia chip. Rumors also suggest devs can enhance their OG Switch games to take advantage of the added processing power
- Backward compatibility
- Centro Leaks shared a translated rumor from Universo Nintendo that suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backward-compatible
- Q1 2025 release date
- In February 2024, game journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe suggested a Q1 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 release date, with multiple outlets reporting on and corroborating the story.
- Switch 2 dev kit upgrade
- In March 2024, X leaker Nash Weedle reported that Switch 2 dev kits are getting upgrades from Nintendo to allow developers to go “one step further.”
- Magnetic Joy-Cons
- Vandal shared the news that the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons use magnets to attach to the console rather than adopting the rail system of the original Switch. The same report also detailed a larger display for the Switch 2 but didn’t include any specific dimensions.
These are all rumors, so take it with a grain of salt. There are also rumors the console may not be backward compatible, among a bunch of other things. We’ll keep an eye on every development and keep you up to date on all the latest.
Nintendo Switch 2 price prediction
There’s no news on how much the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost, but we can make educated guesses. Nintendo never wants to make over-luxurious technology – it has always been competitively priced. So, because of this, Pocket Tactics expects the Nintendo Switch 2 to cost around $300-$350. It could be more expensive than that, but we assume Nintendo wants to continue to retail at a lower price point than the high-end Sony and Xbox consoles.
The other reason for this is the rumor that it has an LCD panel. For Nintendo to not include an OLED panel like the latest model of the Switch seems odd, and is most likely only for cost-saving reasons. This is conjecture, sure, but makes sense to us.
Nintendo Switch 2 colors speculation
If you’re wondering what colors to expect when the Nintendo Switch 2 release date rolls around, you’re not the only one. Looking back at the launch of the original Switch, we saw Nintendo offer two options, either matching grey Joy-Cons or a red and blue pair. With the OLED, the brand offered either the classic red and blue or a matching pair of white Joy-Cons. Does that give us much to go off? Unfortunately not.
None of the leaks or rumors we’ve seen so far surrounding the Switch 2 relate to the color of the console, so we’re not sure what to expect. If we find out any news details or hear any new rumors, we’ll be sure to update this article with the latest information.
Nintendo Switch 2 battery life speculation
When it comes to speculation surrounding the battery life of the Nintendo Switch follow-up, we really are in the dark. Almost all the leaks we’ve seen so far relate to possible design, performance, and display upgrades, but we’ve heard next to nothing about the battery or battery capacity of Nintendo’s next console.
We’ve seen some unsubstantiated rumors, with tipsters suggesting anything from 3-6 hours of battery life to 9-12, but these sources are questionable at best. We’re hoping for the latter, but that might require some compromises in terms of performance or graphics. As soon as we hear anything that sounds even slightly trustworthy, we’ll update this page with that information.
For more beyond the Nintendo Switch 2, check out our guide to the best Switch games and all the new Switch games to find something to play in the meantime. Or, if you’re more of a mobile gamer, grab some freebies with our guides to Bingo Blitz free credits, Coin Master free spins, and free Monopoly Go dice.