Nintendo Releases Switch 2 Trailer to Reveal the New Console

Video Games

It looks like all those leaks pushed Nintendo to make their big Switch 2 reveal earlier than they’d planned. Confirming reports that they were moving up their schedule, Nintendo released a first-look trailer for the Switch 2, the heir apparent to their massively successful Switch. The video – which is much better quality than the ones from last week that accompanied some of those “leaks” – confirms the name of the new console as the Nintendo Switch 2 (which is the boring but predictable choice) and shows off the look and some features of the device. It also announces that the Switch 2 will be available in 2025 and that a Nintendo Direct on April 2 will give more details. You can see the Switch 2 trailer below:

It looks more or less the same as the first Switch to me, although with some new features. First of all, it’s bigger, with the opening of the Switch 2 trailer showing the increase in size from the first device to the second. More of those leaked details appear to have been true, too, like the magnetic JoyCon controllers that can be used as mice, a U-shaped kickstand, and a USB-C port. There’s also a new button under the home button on one of the JoyCon controllers, which could be what Genki meant when they said it would have a C button during their presentation at CES. They’ve also changed the color scheme for the JoyCon controllers, which are now black as opposed to light blue and orange; a small circle around the joystick on each JoyCon is either light blue or orange, maybe as an homage to the first Switch, and the interior sections that latch onto the main device are color-coded as well. (I wonder if this is their attempt to make it look cooler, sleeker, and more “adult” than the brightly-colored original.)

But enough about the design; the Switch 2 trailer also talked about gaming. On that score, the Switch 2 will have new games exclusive to the console, but it will also be backwards compatible with the first Switch. Nintendo also makes it clear that both physical and digital Switch games will be compatible with the Switch 2, although some might not be fully supported. There will be more details about which Switch games are compatible with the Switch 2 on Nintendo’s website “at a later date.” The Switch 2 trailer doesn’t give a list of exclusive games coming to the new console – I imagine some will be announced at that Nintendo Direct in April – but it does show off a new Mario Kart towards the end of the video. And it looks… like every other Mario Kart game, at least to me; it’s a bunch of characters from the Super Mario Bros. games racing in little karts. They appear to be on a beach track; is that new? No turtle shells are visible yet (outside of the spiked one on King Koopa’s back), but I’m sure they’re on their way.

Finally, the Switch 2 trailer reveals that there will be a series of “hands-on experiences” held around the world where gamers can test out the new console. The dates and cities are listed on the official Nintendo website, but I’ll save you a trip and list them below:

• New York, April 4-6, 2025

• Los Angeles, April 11-13, 2025

• Dallas, April 25-27, 2025

• Toronto, April 25-27, 2025

Europe:

• Paris, April 4-6, 2025

• London, April 11-13, 2025

• Milan, April 25-27, 2025

• Berlin, April 25-27, 2025

• Madrid, May 9-11, 2025

• Amsterdam, May 9-11, 2025

Oceania:

• Melbourne, May 10-11, 2025

Asia:

I’m not a Switch guy, so I looked around X for reactions from actual Switch fans, and they mostly seem rather tepid, which is understandable. It isn’t exactly revolutionary in its design; it’s mostly just bigger (which a lot of people seem to appreciate) and sleeker. After all the hype and leaks and secrecy, I don’t blame people for thinking, “That’s it?” But we’ll have a better idea after the next Nintendo Direct, when they reveal more about the Switch 2’s functionality and, presumably, some new games.

Let us know what you think of the Switch 2 trailer in the comments!

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