After months of rumors and leaks, Nintendo formally debuted the Nintendo Switch 2 in a video broadcast online today, January 16. The console’s debut has been heavily hinted at for days, and we now get our first glimpse at the next generation of Nintendo hardware.
As expected, the Switch 2 does not depart significantly from the formula that made its predecessor one of the most successful consoles in history. Nintendo pioneered the dockable handheld style with the first Switch, and the Japanese corporation plans to remain with it.
Aside from the official video shared by Nintendo, little else is known at this time, but keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch live blog for further coverage (and reaction to) the announcement.
Nintendo Switch 2: What’s changed?
The key takeaways from this video are consistent with the amount of leaks we’ve seen up to this time. There’s a bigger screen, a better kickstand that spans the full back of the gadget, and larger, better Joy-Cons that magnetically attach to the console.
The overall appearance of the console appears more luxurious, with an all-black design accentuated by red and blue on the Joy-Cons.
The leaks also precisely predicted the new square button under the Home button, which is clearly apparent in the video – but its purpose remains unknown. The only game seen in the video is Mario Kart, although Nintendo does mention at the conclusion that the Switch 2 will be able to play both physical and digital games from the original Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo concluded the video by announcing that further information will be revealed on the Nintendo website “at a later date” and that a Nintendo Direct dedicated to the Switch 2 will be held on February 4.
Hopefully that will give us confirmation of the specs inside the machine, as well as pricing and release date information.
