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Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced, Nintendo Direct Set for April 2

Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced, Nintendo Direct Set for April 2 - Article

by William D'Angelo , posted on 16 January 2025 / 7,144 Views

After months of rumors and reports, Nintendo has officially announced the successor to the Nintendo Switch is called the Nintendo Switch 2. It is set to launch later this year.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will play exclusive games, as well as physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. However, some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo will share more details at a later date.

The Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 will take place on Wednesday, April 2.

View the first-look trailer at the Nintendo Switch 2 below:

Nintendo will be holding a series of Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on experiences around the world. Registration will open on January 17 at 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET in North America.

Here are the locations for the hands-on experiences:

North America

  • New York – April 4 to 6, 2025
  • Los Angeles – April 11 to 13, 2025
  • Dallas – April 25 to 27, 2025
  • Toronto – April 25 to 27, 2025

Europe

  • Paris – April 4 to 6, 2025
  • London – April 11 to 13, 2025
  • Milan – April 25 to 27, 2025
  • Berlin – April 25 to 27, 2025
  • Madrid – May 9 to 11, 2025
  • Amsterdam – May 9 to 11, 2025

Oceania

  • Melbourne – May 10 to 11, 2025

Asia

  • Tokyo (Makuhari) – April 26 to 27, 2025
  • Seoul – May 31 to June 1, 2025
  • Hong Kong – To be announced
  • Taipei – To be announced

Visit the official Nintendo Switch 2 website here.


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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60 Comments
farlaff (on 16 January 2025)

Hlly crap! And I'm here first!! Who else is hyped?

  • +21
Mr.GameCrazy farlaff (on 16 January 2025)

I can't wait!!

  • +11
alphamb03 farlaff (on 16 January 2025)

i was in my physical education class when this was revealed. My physical education class is training on stationary bikes for a little over an hour. im very uncomfortable in this class b/c im the only guy, and i need the course in order to graduate from my degree. So, I cqn’t drop it. But it was really cool seeing NSW2 as i walked out of my women’s cycling course. :)

  • +3
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eddy7eddy alphamb03 (on 16 January 2025)

Wow, that's too much details haha, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would be happy in your place, but the NSW2 feeling is mutual ;)

  • +3
alphamb03 eddy7eddy (on 17 January 2025)

too much detail? Nah thats nothing. Im just sharing how im the only guy in my women’s cycligng course. I’m a Christian, so I’m not a creep abt it or anything, but I can say now when somebody asks “Where were you at when Nintedno Switch 2 was revealed?”, i can say “I was walking into my women’s only cycling course”.

  • +3
eddy7eddy alphamb03 (on 17 January 2025)

"Almost women's only cycling course" haha, a good memory.

  • +3
ALinkInTime farlaff (on 17 January 2025)

I'm so pumped!

  • 0
alphamb03 ALinkInTime (on 17 January 2025)

kinda like i was after having come out of my women’s only cycling class at 9:15am EST.

  • +2
xMetroid (on 16 January 2025)

The new King is arriving

  • +11
2zosteven xMetroid (on 16 January 2025)

The PS2 is king! i will be getting me a switch 2 asp

  • 0
alphamb03 2zosteven (on 16 January 2025)

not for long

  • +6
xMetroid 2zosteven (on 16 January 2025)

I mean, in the sense that i expect the Switch 2 to dominate the market from it's release and on. PS2 isn't on the market anymore but yes it does have the most hardware sales, for now ;)

  • +1
2zosteven xMetroid (on 16 January 2025)

if thats the case the switch is now king?

  • 0
eddy7eddy 2zosteven (on 16 January 2025)

Nope, Switch is the Emperor!

  • +7
Shtinamin_ xMetroid (on 21 January 2025)

You’d like the thread talking about Switch 2 dethroning the Old King (Switch)

  • 0
G2ThaUNiT (on 16 January 2025)

HYPE!!!! Gonna sign up for the Dallas hands on tour!

  • +11
Machina (on 16 January 2025)

The wait to April is gonna feel like an eternity.

  • +9
siebensus4 Machina (on 17 January 2025)

The Direct in April should focus on games. I expect the official technical specs, the reveal of the new "gimmick" and maybe the reveal of the price before April, if Nintendo is targeting a May/June release window.

  • +1
Scoopz siebensus4 (on 20 January 2025)

Nintendo doesn't detail tech specs. Haven't done for many generations. Gamecube was the last I think. It's usually external teardowns of the hardware by gaming/tech media that reveal the specs

  • 0
TheRealSamusAran (on 16 January 2025)

Only Nintendo would announce the most anticipated console in generations, in a random YouTube video, in a January, right after CES.
I can't wait to start seeing the Switch 2 logo on game trailers now!

  • +8
JohnVG TheRealSamusAran (on 16 January 2025)

nobody cares about CES. That was an E3 thing, but... not anymore.

  • +3
Salnax (on 16 January 2025)

FINALLY

Now we get to sit around waiting until April!

  • +6
anonymunchy (on 16 January 2025)

That's a pretty slick trailer. New joy-con definitely function as a mouse as well, with them sliding over the table like that. Interested to see how this will translate into actual experiences.

Joy-con size difference is also more substantial than I thought.

Time to dissect the 5 seconds of Mario Kart footage...

  • +6
farlaff anonymunchy (on 16 January 2025)

Some very good Blender 3D artist there! Or other tool, but why bother at this point seeing how good Blender is?

  • 0
Darwinianevolution (on 16 January 2025)

Backwards compatibility confirmed is a big plus, hopefully old controllers are also compatible. The new joycons better not have drifting issues, though.

  • +5
Terramlea Darwinianevolution (on 16 January 2025)

It was already confirmed for months by nintendo ceo himself. People just thought that it was digital only, but the people thinking that have not thought for a second : You can ditch gamecube owners or wii u owners, but not 150 millions of switch owners of physical games.

  • +3
Wman1996 (on 16 January 2025)

I woke up this morning a little before 8 and as I went on my phone around 8:30, the reveal popped in my feed. April 2 can't come fast enough.

  • +4
Jumpin (on 16 January 2025)

I’m looking forward to downloading the update which will morph Nintendo Switch into this thing!

What an era we live in. Digital has come a long way!

  • +4
farlaff Jumpin (on 16 January 2025)

As a Star Trek NG fan, I'm constantly dreaming this type of thing could come during my lifetime.

  • 0
ptofhearts (on 16 January 2025)

We have come a long way since the Wii U days...
Glad to still be here.

  • +4
HopeMillsHorror (on 16 January 2025)

So where's everyone that was yelling the leaks were wrong or NatetheHate is a liar ???

  • +3
Terramlea HopeMillsHorror (on 16 January 2025)

When you say something every two days, one day you end up being right. Not especially him, but all "insiders", of course one would be right at some point. If i tell you that there will be a new year next year, i won't be wrong either, would that make me great at predicting things ? No.

  • 0
xMetroid (on 16 January 2025)

Looks like Nintendo heard the term Joy-con drift and said, wait i have an idea.

  • +3
Iveyboi (on 16 January 2025)

Just give me the pre order link already!

  • +2
Jumpin (on 16 January 2025)

14 hours, 13 million views. It is the top trending video on YouTube today.
Also in the top 15 are three other videos about this video.

  • +1
alphamb03 (on 16 January 2025)

it was fun seeing “Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed” as I was walking out of my women’s only cycling class (im a guy). I have to take this class in irder to graduate my math degree. What use does taking an exercise course with a bunch of women gonna do for my math? Load of nonsense. Anyways, im excited to play the NSW2 on June 5th 2025. :)

  • +1
Terramlea (on 16 January 2025)

So the switch 2 is not releasing before june, otherwise hands on wouldn't be at these dates. I'd say second week of june at best.

  • +1
Slownenberg (on 16 January 2025)

Disappointed that it's so big, definitely going the way of less of a very portable system now and closer to the monstrosity that is the Steam Deck, but the bigger size does allow for larger joycons which will help out with one of the main physical gripes of the Switch.

The screen all the way to the edges is super nice, the magnet controllers will fix another physical problems the Switch had. I can only hope that colorful ring around the sticks is more than just a flash of color and is an actual protective thing over the sticks to prevent dirt and therefore drift form happening.

Looks real nice though. A bit disappointed we've gotta wait 2.5 months to get more info, and that does make me think the launch will likely be towards the end of the release date that I've been expecting since last Spring (May/June), maybe even July.

One interesting thing is to me Mario Kart pretty much looked the same graphically haha. I guess with Mario Kart cartoon type aesthetic at this point graphical improvement don't make much difference.

Exciting to see more details and games in April!

  • +1
HopeMillsHorror Slownenberg (on 16 January 2025)

Same size screen as the PS Portal (probably the same exact screen)
Massive W imo

Super comfortable and clear

  • +1
Slownenberg HopeMillsHorror (on 16 January 2025)

To each their own. Personally I find Switch's size just fine and prefer that over having to hold a much larger device which the Switch 2 obviously is. Like the Steam Deck, for example, just looks awful to me.

The bonus to this (for me) downside is that this allows the joycons to be bigger. While I never had a big issue with how small the joycons were, it'll still be nice to have ones that are a bit larger.

But with how big the system is gonna be, it makes more sense than ever for Nintendo to come out with a Switch 2 Home model next gen. So that people who never play undocked don't have to pay for all that screen real estate and the larger battery that goes along with it when they are never going to use it. Would love to see both a Lite and Home launch in 2027 the way Lite launched in 2019 for Switch. I mean I'm all hybrid, but for plenty of people, given the choice to go bigger size next gen, it just makes more sense to bring in a Home too for the TV-only players.

Anyway, excited for the system even if I don't like how physically big it is. But really I'm waiting to see what 3D Mario is going to be like to get me really pumped for the new system. April 2nd will be exciting!

  • +2
CourageTCD (on 16 January 2025)

Could someone tell me how many days passed between NS1's launch and NS2's announcement?

  • +1
The Fury CourageTCD (on 16 January 2025)

At least 7.

EDIT: Switch launched in March 2017, so we are on our 8th year (or just under), around 2800 days.

  • +3
killer7 (on 16 January 2025)

And the first reactions where amazing all over the Internet!! I was finally right and wrong: March 2025 was wrong for the release date. But last year i said: No release before march 06, 2025. I was right! I really think somebody owes me a million dollars right now! January 16 can hardly be called "christmas time"🤑

  • +1
HebrewGamer (on 17 January 2025)

I'm sure the leakers are happy they forced Nintendo's hand in yeating out this "reveal".

  • 0
Terramlea (on 17 January 2025)

what can they use the mouse function for, pikmin ?

  • 0
Kristof81 (on 17 January 2025)

So with "hands on experience" dating as far as the 1st of June ... when this thing is going to launch?

  • 0
killer7 Kristof81 (on 19 January 2025)

If hands on really as late as june 1, there is a possibility we won't see the system before september- december... Hands on sure as hell is not post launch!!

  • 0
catofellow (on 16 January 2025)

So, earliest possible launch date is April 2nd. More likely it be released......?

  • 0
killer7 catofellow (on 17 January 2025)

April 2 is the direct. Release no earlier than may 08.

  • +2
JohnVG (on 16 January 2025)

It was the console we already saw XD

  • 0
Olivernintentoal (on 16 January 2025)

Wow, literally everything was leaked!

  • 0
KLAMarine (on 16 January 2025)

Very cool but I despise the little lights! Wish they were gone. Is HD Rumble gone? I turned that off on my Switch and never turned it back on.

  • -1
padib KLAMarine (on 18 January 2025)

I'm sure we'll be able to turn it off.

  • 0
tslog (on 16 January 2025)
  • -15