NINTENDO SWITCH 2 DIRECT APRIL 2025

Video Games

This morning (at the crack of dawn for some) came the much anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, focused on all tech specs, along with launch titles and more! After the rather lackluster Direct just a week before, the expectations were quite high for the follow-up, and, honestly, Nintendo knocked it out of the park. The Switch 2 has certainly improved since its predecessor, going from a 6.9-inch screen to now 7.9-inch, with far more pixels on the HD display to view games more clearly than before and, to top it off, up to 120 fps. Yep. That is correct. The Joy-Con 2s also attach magnetically and can be easily detached by pressing the release button. To learn more about the tech specs, check out the video below.

Now, for the games announced! 

MARIO KART WORLD 

The Direct opened with a bang, showing off a trailer for the brand new Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World. Unlike the past Mario Karts, this title allows players to literally drive off the tracks to explore the map in this open-world feature. The player can also rail grind and change their racing outfit mid-race, and there are also weather changes. This new Mario Kart also adds a WHOPPING twenty-four drivers to each race—the biggest number of people able to play in the series’ history. Oh, and you can also take photos. The game will launch the same day as the Switch 2, and an exclusive Mario Kart Direct will also air on April 17th at 6 am PST/9 am EST for more details. 

GameChat

This is a brand new feature only on the Switch 2 that allows players to communicate via voice chat when playing games, very similar to Discord voice and video chats, with a camera included for the system. To access this, press the new C button located on the right Joy-Con. 

Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition 

This edition of the game expands on the base game and adds new features such as mouse controls, audio recognition, and gameplay that uses the camera accessory. 

Drag x Drive 

This new title shows off the new mouse control feature of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons and is essentially like a Switch version of Rocket League. 

Partner Spotlights

Part 1: 

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition 

Hades II 

Street Fighter 6 

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

Split Fiction 

EA Sports FC/Madden NFL

Hogwarts Legacy Switch 2 Edition 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 

Hitman: World of Assassination – Signature Edition and Project 007 

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy – HD Remaster 

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut 

Part 2: 

Deltarune 

Borderlands 4 

Civilization VII 

WWE 2K and NBA 2K

Survival Kids 

Enter the Gungeon 2 

STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions 

Cyberpunk 2077 

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE 

Sizzle Reel: 

Hollow Knight: Silksong

STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar 

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess 

Fortnite 

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam 

Tamagotchi Plaza

And more! 

GameCube Games (for Nintendo Switch Online)

Yes, with the launch of the Switch 2 comes more of the virtual console games from previous, retro consoles. This time, we will be seeing the addition of these GameCube titles, with more to come later: 

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 

SOULCALIBUR II 

F-Zero GX 

Donkey Kong Bananza 

Explore a vast underground world as Donkey Kong, smashing, bashing, climbing (as only he can!), and more in this new 3D platforming action-adventure game, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2! 

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Editions with NEW “Zelda Notes”

In these new and improved editions, players will experience enhanced gameplay graphics and faster loading screens and travel. Players can also transfer previous save data from their old Switch to the new system AND create two manual save files. 

Zelda Notes is a new, handy feature within the Nintendo Switch Online app that acts as a guide for these editions of the games without players having to access sites like IGN for maps to find certain items or the infamous Korok Seeds. A few other features include voice navigation, literally an in-game GPS, and voice memories that activate in certain areas in Hyrule where Zelda and a few other characters do a voiceover of a specific event that happened in that area. It also includes Autobuild sharing, item sharing, Photo Studio, Play Data, and Global Play Data to see where you rank amongst other players, and a Daily Bonus that helps the player receive certain effects in game. 

Hyrule Warriors — Age of Imprisonment

Much like Age of Calamity, this tells the untold story of when Zelda traveled back in time during Tears of the Kingdom. To be released this winter. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Lands Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World

In Star-Crossed World, a new story is included in the upgrade pack. Kirby must use his abilities to clear a trail through uncharted territory. This game will also include single-player and local co-op play, as well as improved performance for the game. 

Kirby Air Riders 

Brand new title directed by Masahiro Sakurai. Based on the original title released over twenty years ago on the Nintendo GameCube. 

THE DUSKBLOODS

In this Bloodborne-esque game, “the moontears will flow for the one and one alone when The Duskbloods, a brand new multiplayer game by FromSoftware, is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.” 

The Switch 2 is set to be released on June 5th, 2025, with pre-orders beginning April 9th in the US and April 8th in the UK. To learn more about all other titles and more to come, view the entire Direct at the top of this page and tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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