Nintendo has officially locked in a June 5 release date for the Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $450 in the US. Alongside the console, Nintendo is planning a day-one lineup that mixes first-party heavy hitters with major third-party ports, positioning the hardware as both a continuation of the Switch era and a clear technical step up.
### Price, launch date, and what’s in the box
At $450, Switch 2 lands above the original Switch’s launch price, reflecting a more powerful spec sheet and a broader feature set. Nintendo is also offering bundles in some regions, and retailers are expected to open preorders in waves—something buyers will want to watch closely given the Switch family’s history of high-demand launches.
### New hardware features and Joy-Con changes
Switch 2 upgrades the core experience with a larger, sharper display and improved performance targets across handheld and docked play. Nintendo is also refreshing the controller setup with new Joy-Con hardware—commonly referred to as Joy-Con 2—designed to feel more premium, with updated attachment and control features aimed at improving comfort and durability.
### Display and performance targets
In docked mode, Switch 2 is built to support 4K output on compatible TVs, while handheld play focuses on smoother frame rates and more modern visuals than the original system could reliably deliver. Nintendo has also leaned into faster loading and more stable performance for bigger games, which should help developers bring current-gen experiences over with fewer compromises.
### Games at launch and early support
Nintendo’s early software slate includes a major first-party racer headlined by Mario Kart World, while third-party publishers are preparing enhanced editions and ports that were previously difficult to realize on Switch hardware. Expect a steady cadence of announcements as Nintendo and partners fill out the first-year calendar.
The bigger story here is Nintendo signaling a more “premium” Switch generation—both in price and expectations. If Switch 2 delivers meaningful performance gains without losing the pick-up-and-play versatility that made the original a phenomenon, it could become the default platform for hybrid console gaming again—while also giving studios a healthier baseline for modern ports.
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