The Nintendo Switch 2: A Refresh After Seven Years

As the world turns, so do the console generations. The Nintendo Switch, which is over seven years old, is due for a refresh. Nintendo Switch 2 rumors have been swirling for years, but now we have some signs of life. The company officially revealed the sequel to its most successful home console ever in a brief trailer on January 16.

Design and Features

The Switch 2 looks functionally very similar to the original system, albeit with a larger display, magnetic Joy-Cons, and a sleeker design. The company also reaffirmed that the upcoming console will be backwards compatible with Switch games.

Game Enhancements and Backwards Compatibility

While the reveal did confirm some rumors and had a few interesting details, it’s all but nailed on that we’ll learn much more about the Switch 2 launch lineup during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which starts at 9AM ET. You’ll definitely want to set your Alarmo for that one.

Dual Release of Metroid Prime 4

If there’s a gimmick or hook involved with the console, we’ll also get a game that takes advantage of that. A dual release of Metroid Prime 4, just like Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess before that, is also a possibility.

Update

That’s everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 today. We’ll update this article with rumors we trust and with information we gather directly from sources. Any changes made to the article after its initial publishing will be listed below.

Update, January 24, 2025, 12:36 PM ET:

This story has been updated to include speculation about price, potential game enhancements, and the taste of cartridges.

Update, February 5, 2025, 9:30AM ET:

This story has been updated to note the time when the April 2 Nintendo Direct starts.

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