Nintendo Switch 2 tipster claims to know release date, pricing and launch games
Mario Kart 9 and Red Dead Redemption 2 rumored to be launch titles
All signs point to Nintendo announcing the Nintendo Switch 2 before the end of January, but that doesn't mean the rumor mill is stopping anytime soon. Another Switch 2 leak has surfaced from a tipster with a track record for Nintendo intel, potentially revealing the console's release date, price and launch titles.
Nintendo is set to reveal the Switch 2 on January 17 with a launch scheduled for March 3, according to the noted leaker Average Lucia Fanatic, an anonymous tipster who accurately leaked the PS5 Pro and Nintendo Alarmo last year (h/t Vice). If that March 3 date sounds familiar, that's because it's the same day the original Switch launched back in 2017. They also claimed the Nintendo Switch 2's price will be $400 CAD. That works out to about $280 USD, which would likely translate into a $300 price tag in the States, putting it on par with the Switch OLED and the Switch's launch price.
As for the games, the insider’s post mentioned two major launch titles: Mario Kart 9 and Red Dead Redemption 2. They also teased an announcement trailer for a new 3D Mario game could be on the horizon, potentially setting the stage for the console's future library of titles.
As usual, it's best to take this with a grain of salt until otherwise confirmed. But we won't have long to wait to see if it shakes out to be true, what with the Switch 2's announcement purportedly going down next week. And if those do end up being the Switch 2's launch titles, Nintendo's setting itself up for a homerun.
Mario Kart 9 was already somewhat of a given, though a new entry in the long-running series would provide plenty of incentive to upgrade. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may be the best-selling game on the Switch, but as a 10-year-old port of a Wii U title, it's been in desperate need of a successor for a while now. But now with launch titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 entering the conversation, Nintendo's big ambitions for its next-gen system are becoming clear. If a Nintendo console can run such a graphically demanding game, that could mark a major shift in how third-party developers approach Nintendo platforms.
Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long for an official reveal from Nintendo, so we can finally put all this speculation to rest.
More from Tom's Guide
- Nintendo Switch 2 rumor suggests a larger OLED screen — this upgrade could be huge
- Switch 2 is the first console I’ve been excited about for 20 years
- Nintendo finally comments on Switch 2 rumors — says dummy units are not official
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Alyse Stanley is a news editor at Tom’s Guide overseeing weekend coverage and writing about the latest in tech, gaming and entertainment. Prior to joining Tom’s Guide, Alyse worked as an editor for the Washington Post’s sunsetted video game section, Launcher. She previously led Gizmodo’s weekend news desk, where she covered breaking tech news — everything from the latest spec rumors and gadget launches to social media policy and cybersecurity threats. She has also written game reviews and features as a freelance reporter for outlets like Polygon, Unwinnable, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun. She’s a big fan of horror movies, cartoons, and miniature painting.