Nintendo Switch 2 is coming — Nintendo is slated to reveal more information about the highly anticipated handheld console on April 2.
There's been no shortage of rumors leading up to the release. The Switch 2 is entering a very different handheld gaming landscape than the original Switch did, with the rise of the handheld gaming PC. However, Nintendo will indeed release some incredible games to ensure the success of its upcoming platform.
Dave LeClair, Scott Younker and Alyse Stanley took a deep dive into the Switch 2 to help you prepare for the console's upcoming reveal and official launch sometime later, with the rumors you need to know, how the gaming landscape has changed, and games you need to keep an eye on.
Switch 2 launch cheat sheet
- Nintendo will reveal more on the Switch 2 on Wednesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. ET
- Some rumors have speculated that the console will go up for pre-order right after the event
- The console is rumored to launch in June
- Nintendo has said it has plans to release a large quantity of consoles to combat scalpers
- A $399 price has been heavily speculated
Countdown to Switch 2 — The hype begins
Alyse's background includes writing about all things Nintendo for the Washington Post’s sunsetted video game section, Launcher.
Alyse Stanley: Honestly, what I’m most excited about with the Switch 2 Direct is that it’ll finally put the rumor mill to rest for a bit. I love my Switch, but it hasn’t been my go-to gaming handheld in years — something I don’t expect the Switch 2 to change unless Nintendo’s presentation includes some vast shake-ups.
Like many players, I’ve been converted to team Steam Deck in the years since the Switch debuted, and none of the Switch 2 rumors have convinced me yet that it’d be worth returning after getting my hands on the best handheld gaming PCs. But I'm always happy to be proven wrong, and Nintendo's surprised me.
Scott has been gaming since the original NES launched, and hopes to pass on his Nintendo love to the next generation.
Scott Younker: For me, Nintendo has become synonymous with change. So, while Switch 2 doesn’t seem entirely different from the current Switch, I hope that Nintendo brings fun and innovation with Switch 2.
The rumored mouse feature on the Joy-Cons is one feature that I am very curious about. I’ve yet to fall into the handheld gaming PC rabbit hole, so Switch is still my preferred mobile gaming platform, which I take with me on trips or just across the room.
Unlike the Xbox and PlayStation crowd or the PCMR people, I don’t think most people who use the Switch care as much about the device's power. Instead, they want fun experiences or to play with their kids. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing. My son is entering his video gaming age, and I’m excited to play Nintendo’s titles with him.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised, which I think Nintendo can pull off.
Dave has covering gaming for several tech sites over the years and was practically born with a Nintendo controller in hand.
Dave LeClair: For me, it's all about the games. If Nintendo sticks with its track record of launching stellar first-party games, the Switch 2 will surely succeed.
Despite a long history of lackluster third-party support, the Mario, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Smash Bros. and other Nintendo franchises have long carried the company's consoles. I expect that trend to continue with the upcoming Switch 2.
Better battery life wouldn't hurt either.
Switch 2 Rumor Timeline — how we got here
We tracked down every rumor that Tom's Guide has reported on and built a timeline of the history of the Switch 2 from the release of the original Switch in 2017 to the teaser video dropped in January 2025.
It all started in 2017 with the launch of the original Switch, and the rumors have continued to fly since.
Switch 2 vs. other gaming handhelds: It's a different world now
The gaming world has changed a lot since 2017 when the original Switch launched. The handheld gaming space has seen the most shakeup, perhaps.
The Steam Deck, which arrived in 2022 when the 5-year-old Switch was already showing its age, kicked off a wave of handheld gaming PCs. Its Linux-based SteamOS not only copied the Switch's biggest selling point, but made pick-up-and-play portability even more convenient, letting you seamlessly jump between playing games on your desktop PC and on the go.
Switch 2 game rumors — What I can't wait to play
It's time to speculate based on the rumors and games we hope to come to the Switch 2. Nintendo will surely aim to wow us with first-party gems and some third-party surprises.
Which potential releases am I most excited to get our hands on?
What does Switch 2 need to do to succeed?
Nintendo is entering a changed world and the company can't just rest on its laurels if it wants the Switch 2 to be a success.
Scott Younker: Based solely on the rumors we’ve heard so far, and the teaser video from Nintendo, the Switch 2 feels like a nice upgrade that you don’t have to get, similar to the OLED Switch.
I’m still rocking one of the original Switches because it does what it needs to and does it fairly well. I’m certain that the next Pokemon title or mainline Mario game might be enough to sell some consoles, but perhaps not the astronomical numbers that the Wii or Switch pulled off.
Nintendo can’t go too much higher on the price of the Switch 2, especially without making it seem better than the Switch. Right now, the console is in a sweet spot, but the closer it gets in cost to the Steam Deck, the more that console will seem more appealing, thanks to its large library of games.
What separates Nintendo from Valve are the Nintendo made titles that just work on its consoles and an interesting mechanic that makes the console different from others. I don't know if the Switch 2 has that yet, but here's hoping.
Alyse Stanley: Nintendo has its work cut out for it convincing Switch owners that it’s worth upgrading to the Switch 2. Every rumored upgrade we’ve heard so far seems like a “nice to have” rather than a “need to have.”
Then there are the more robust chat features and magnetic Joy-Cons, such obvious quality-of-life additions that I’m less excited and more frustrated Nintendo didn’t include them the first time around. I’m becoming increasingly suspicious that we may see another Wii U fiasco on our hands — a half-baked successor that fails to justify its existence.
If the Switch 2’s price tag approaches that of the Steam Deck, at the bare minimum, it’d need to offer comparable performance to Steam’s PC gaming handheld. Granted, if Nintendo announces some must-have titles, like a new The Legend of Zelda or a mainline Mario game, exclusive for the Switch 2, that could be enough to sell diehard Nintendo fans.
If Nintendo continues to lag behind the best PC gaming handhelds with the Switch 2 without setting itself apart with a shiny new gimmick or feature, I just don’t see much point in leaving my perfectly fine Switch behind just yet. And I think many people, and especially parents of younger players, will agree.
Dave LeClair: Nintendo needs to do what Nintendo does best — pump a steady stream of beloved games from franchises gamers love. Throw in a few surprises and stronger third-party support, and Nintendo has the receipe for success locked and loaded.
Basiclly, Nintendo needs to be Nintendo and the Switch 2 will do just fine.
