Nintendo Switch 2 | Complete Hub | Release Date, Price, Games

Nintendo Switch 2 launches June 5, 2026 worldwide at a retail price of $449.99 USD. The successor to the original Switch and Switch OLED is Nintendo's first new console since 2017, featuring a larger 7.9-inch display, DLSS-powered 4K output in docked mode, and a redesigned Joy-Con 2 with a new "mouse mode" capability. Pre-orders are open now at Nintendo's official store, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Amazon, and Walmart.

Nintendo first revealed the console on January 16, 2025 via a teaser video. A full Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025 confirmed the hardware specifications, launch lineup, pricing, and the new GameChat social feature. The June 5 global release is simultaneous across North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.

January 2025. First official look at Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and new Joy-Con design.

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Nintendo Switch 2 | Official Reveal Trailer

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Nintendo Switch 2 Direct | Full Presentation April 2025

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Switch 2 Specs | What Is Actually Different

The Switch 2 is a significant hardware upgrade over the original Switch. The handheld screen grows from 6.2 inches to 7.9 inches, and the panel is an LCD with improved brightness. In docked mode, the console uses NVIDIA DLSS upscaling to output at 4K resolution on compatible TVs. In handheld mode it targets 1080p, with 120fps support at 720p in select titles.

The new Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically (replacing the rail slide mechanism) and include a new C button for accessing GameChat. The most notable hardware addition is mouse mode: the Joy-Con 2 underside contains an optical sensor so both controllers can function as a wireless mouse on any flat surface, enabling cursor-driven gameplay and menu navigation in supported titles.

The kickstand is now full-width (spanning the entire console back), a direct response to the original's narrow single-point kickstand. USB-C ports are located on both the top and bottom of the unit for flexible charging positions. The console ships with a larger dock with a wider air vent to handle increased thermal output at 4K.

Switch 2 Price | Console, Bundles, and Accessories

The Nintendo Switch 2 base console retails for $449.99 and includes the console, a dock, two Joy-Con 2 controllers, Joy-Con 2 straps, an HDMI cable, and an AC adapter.

A Mario Kart World bundle ships simultaneously at $499.99, pairing the console with a download code for Mario Kart World. Joy-Con 2 controllers are sold separately as a pair at $79.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is available at $79.99 and supports the full button layout with enhanced rumble.

For owners of Switch 1 games, Nintendo confirmed that most Switch 1 physical game cards are backwards compatible, though a small number of titles require a software compatibility update. Digital library transfers are supported for Nintendo Account holders. Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pack tier remain required for online multiplayer and the online GameChat features.

GameChat | Voice, Video, and Group Play

GameChat is Nintendo's answer to Discord and PlayStation Party Chat. The feature is accessed via the C button on Joy-Con 2 and supports voice chat across any game, along with optional video chat using a separately sold Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory. Groups of up to eight players can join a GameChat session, and the feature integrates with Nintendo Switch Online for cross-game communication.

This is the first time Nintendo has built native voice chat into the console itself rather than routing players to a companion smartphone app, a persistent criticism of the original Switch.

Launch Games | Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza

Two first-party Nintendo titles launch on June 5, 2026 alongside the console. See the full Nintendo Switch 2 launch games list for every confirmed title including third-party releases.

Mario Kart World ($79.99) is the first open-world Mario Kart, featuring 24-player online races across interconnected courses rather than individual track selections. It supports 4K 60fps in docked mode and is the fastest-selling Nintendo launch title since the original Switch. Donkey Kong Bananza is a 2D/3D hybrid platformer returning the franchise to center-stage after a decade absence, featuring Donkey Kong's fist-pounding mechanics that deform the environment in real time.

Pokémon Pokopia, covered in detail in our Pokémon Pokopia review score analysis, scored 93 on OpenCritic and 90 on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated Pokémon game of all time and an early showcase for what Switch 2 hardware enables. The console's first weeks are the strongest first-party Nintendo launch lineup since the Wii.

Pre-Order | Where to Buy Right Now

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 are open across all major retailers. Full pre-order guide with retailer links, bundle options, and accessory pricing.

Nintendo's own store offers a direct pre-order without scalper markups. Stock has been constrained at physical retail, and units already sold out once in early April at some chains. Digital pre-orders guarantee day-one access without shipping delays. Best Buy and GameStop offer in-store pickup options for June 5.

Backwards Compatibility | Which Switch 1 Games Work

Nintendo confirmed that the vast majority of Nintendo Switch 1 game cards are backwards compatible with Switch 2. The console reads Switch 1 cartridges directly. A small number of titles require a software update to function correctly, and Nintendo maintains a compatibility checker on its official website for specific titles.

Digital games purchased on a Nintendo Account carry over to Switch 2. Nintendo Switch Online subscription-based games from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GBA, and Sega Genesis libraries remain accessible. Expansion Pack subscribers retain access to the N64 and Sega library on Switch 2.

For a full breakdown of the Switch 2 first-party titles see our Nintendo hub and the Switch 2 launch games article.