Nintendo Switch 2 release date and UK price confirmed

The original Nintendo Switch, which launched back in 2017, has gone on to sell 150 million units worldwide — making it the third best-selling console of all time. And the second most popular Nintendo console in history.

During a blockbuster Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, the Japanese firm revealed a swathe of new details about its hotel-anticipated follow-up. The original Nintendo Switch was a one-of-a-kind proposition.

It combined the strengths of Nintendo's handheld and home console divisions, replacing both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. The two-in-one design lets players enjoy games on-the-go and on the big screen at home, thanks to the bundled dock.

The controllers — known as Joy-Cons — can be detached from the side of the console and used as a pair, or individually for local multiplayer without the need to buy any additional controllers. An optional Pro controller was available for those who wanted to play the Nintendo Switch like a more traditional home console.

Nintendo Switch 2 sticks with the same winning formula.

Like the original Nintendo Switch, games can be played on the go, and then resumed without missing a single frame on the big screen by dropping the console into the bundled dock.

Speaking about the long-awaited sequel, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said: "Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switc.

"With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches."

So, what's new?

Nintendo Switch 2 ships with a bigger, higher-resolution touchscreen, improved performance, and more storage. The redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers, which snap to the side of the console using strong magnets, can also be used as a wireless mouse as a new input method.

The faster internals will enable a slew of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S games to make the jump to Switch 2, including Elden Ring, Split Fiction, Cyberpunk 2077 – Ultimate Edition, Hades II, Hitman: World Of Assassination, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and Borderlands 4.

Nintendo Switch 2 boasts a larger 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen — compared to 6.2-inch on the original console — with twice as many pixels of its predecessor. While gameplay will be limited to 1080p on the built-in screen, Switch 2 will support 4K Ultra HD when plugged into the dock and played on a compatible telly.

Nintendo has added support for HDR and 120 frames-per-second too. Individual game developers must add support for these features, so don't expect every game to arrive with both of these features ready to go.

According to Nintendo, the Switch 2 will ship with the following in the box –

• Nintendo Switch 2 console
• Joy-Con 2 controllers (Left and Right)
• Joy-Con 2 Grip
• Joy-Con 2 Straps
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
• Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
• Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
• USB-C Charging Cable

The new console will support three types of games:

• Switch 2 games — new titles developed for the next-generation console
• Switch games — existing titles developed for the original Switch, these can be digital or physical cards
• Switch 2 Edition games — paid enhancements for original Switch games to add Switch 2 features

Nintendo will continue to release games for the Switch 2 on physical Game Cards as well as digital purchases. From the outside, these look identical to the cartridges used for the original console — aside from a bright new red lick of paint. Nintendo says the new Switch 2 Game Cards support faster data transfers to enable the improved graphics and other performance boosts seen on the new console.

Switch 2 has 256GB of buillt-in storage — a sizeable bump compared to the 16GB found on the original Switch console. If you need more storage for games, you can use a microSD Express card. That means the microSD card found inside your current Nintendo Switch won't work with the new console.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Switch was the "C" button spotted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. During the Nintendo Direct, the company confirmed the dedicated button is designed to enable a new feature called GameChat.

This lets you talk in real-time with friends and family who are playing the same — or completely different — titles on their Switch 2 console. You'll be able to watch a real-time feed of their screen to offer advice if they're stuck on a specific level, or are playing a co-op game.

Nintendo has built a microphone into the console, which it says can clearly detect voices from across the other side of the room — helpful if you've placed the console in the dock and are playing on your sofa. Nintendo says it uses noise-cancelling technology to remove distracting background sound.

An optional accessory — the Nintendo Switch 2 camera — will be available on the same day as the console. When plugged into the dock, the camera can be used to add a real-time vidoe call to the GameChat feature, or it can add you into your favourite games, like Mario Party Jamboree.

To use the new GameChat service, you'll need to be subscribed to Nintendo Online Membership. This subscription is required to play multiplayer games online too, like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and Animal Crossing.