There was a ton of new info to take in from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Luckily, we’ve picked out the most important details about the console, including when you can play it and the technology behind it, in this handy article. So, let’s get straight to it. Here are 23 new details about the Switch 2 console and its new GameChat feature.
The Console
1. Let’s start with the big one. We finally now know that the Nintendo Switch 2 will arrive on June 5th, 2025.
2. It will be available to pre-order on April 8th in the UK and Europe, but one day later on the 9th in the US.
3. The Switch 2 is a larger version of the original hybrid console, with the screen measuring 7.9 inches – a considerable increase compared to the Switch’s 6.2 inches.
4. The screen itself is a 1080p LCD monitor, with double the amount of pixels of the original screen. It also supports HDR (High Definition Range) and 120fps for an even smoother gameplay experience.
5. 4K resolution will be available on Switch 2 when docked and a suitable TV is connected via HDMI. The new dock also has a built-in fan this time around.
6. The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, a mammoth eight times the amount of space the original came with.
7. If you simply have too many games and need even more room, MicroSD Express cards are the only type that can be inserted for extra storage. Frustratingly, original Switch microSDs won’t work.
8. The Switch 2 will also be using a new type of game card. They’re red as opposed to their predecessor’s grey, and have a faster reading speed.
9. The audio capabilities of the Switch 2 appear significantly improved, with better quality speakers allowing for increased range, as well as 3D audio available when using headphones. Great, now we’ll be able to hear that blue shell coming for us directly from behind.
10. There’s also a built-in microphone on the top of the console that comes into its own when using the Switch 2’s brand-new GameChat feature (more on that later).
11. It also possesses two USB C ports. One on the bottom, just like the original Switch, and one on top to make charging easier when in tabletop mode, or if you want to take advantage of the new Nintendo Switch Camera 2 accessory.
12. The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera will be available on the same day as the console. It will cost $49.99/£49.99 and can be used to put your face into games, such as Mario Party Jamboree, or as an overlay when playing with friends.
13. The Switch 2 joy-con connects magnetically to the console via the bigger, metallic SL and SR buttons, and also has larger analog sticks.
14. Each joy-con can also be used as a mouse too. Some examples of games that have were shown to use this functionality are Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Civilization 7.
15. A new Pro Controller will also be available for the Switch 2. It comes with programmable GL and GR buttons on the grips and will be available for $79.99/£74.99.
16. Other official accessories revealed at this time include Mario Kart steering wheels, a Switch 2 carry case, and an “all in one” carry case that can store and carry all equipment needed to play in TV mode. This includes the Nintendo Switch 2 system, Nintendo Switch 2 dock, Joy-Con 2 controllers, various cables, and up to six game cards.
17. Amiibo also make their return and are confirmed to be compatible with the Switch 2. Three new Street Fighter Amiibo – Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly – are due at the console’s launch.
18. The standard Nintendo Switch 2 console costs $449.99/£395.99 and comes with the following in its box: A Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R), Joy-Con 2 Grip, Joy-Con 2 Straps, Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable, Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter, and a USB-C Charging Cable.
19. A Mario Kart World Bundle will also be available at launch. It comes with all of the above, plus a copy of the game. This will cost $499.99/£429.99.
GameChat
20. And finally, the big mystery of the Switch 2’s C button was finally solved. GameChat is a new party voice channel system for the Nintendo console that will allow players to talk to friends, and all begins with a press of that button.
21. The microphone on the top of the console promises to pick up players’ voices over the top of background noise, whether be busy traffic or a vacuum cleaner on the other side of the room.
22. It will also allow players to share their screens with others, much like PlayStation’s share screen tech, so that you can see what your friends are up to or even help them with a particular puzzle.
23. GameChat, of course, comes with a price, though. And that admission fee is a Nintendo Online membership. That will only be the case after March 31st, 2026, however, as before then it will be available to all Switch 2 owners for free.
And that’s all the quickfire information we picked out from Nintendo’s extensive Switch 2 Direct. Are you planning on picking up a Switch 2 at launch? Let us know in the comments. And for everything else Switch 2, stick with IGN.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
