Over the last few weeks, gossip about the next Nintendo console has been non-stop. Thankfully, the Japanese gaming giant has finally given us a first look at the Switch 2.
The short but sweet teaser confirms several design rumours fans have long suspected… but also presents many, many questions. Since Tech Advisor isn’t in the business of publishing articles the length of a dissertation, I’ve selected the key burning ones of mine that I’m hoping Nintendo will shed some light on in the future.
What will the graphics be like?
One of the key rumours about the new console, which has been around for years at this point, is the fact that it could support 4K content once docked, as well as other graphic improvements such as ray tracing. Recent patents seem to indicate that Nintendo has been experimenting with upscaling technology.
If this is true, it would make it a serious contender for rival consoles such as the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5, as currently, the graphics jump between these and the OG Switch are quite stark.
If AI upscaling tech is used, then there’s hope that this could be applied to existing Switch games too. I, for one, would kill to see a graphically enhanced version of Breath of the Wild. However, the graphics aren’t just important for docked gameplay.
Nintendo
While the teaser revealed seemed to show a bigger display, there’s also a question mark over whether the Switch 2 will boast an OLED panel. Other rumours imply that Nintendo is sticking with an LCD one, and I’m likely to take a punt on that.
Why? Well, Nintendo saw success by holding back an OLED version of its first Switch, which leads me nicely onto…
Will Nintendo launch other Switch 2 versions?
When Nintendo reveals more about the Switch 2 at its Direct on 2 April 2025, it will almost certainly focus on the main console, which is currently predicted to get both a spec and price increase on the Switch 1. However, it may not have all the features fans want, or the cost could be too expensive for some users to consider.
So, does that mean we’re getting both a Nintendo Switch 2 (OLED) and a Nintendo Switch 2 Lite? Possibly. The former will be more likely if we get confirmation of an LCD panel on the Switch 2, which we should hopefully learn more about in the coming weeks.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As an owner of the Switch Lite and the wife of a regular Switch owner, I certainly see benefits to having the handheld-only console. The lighter and thinner build makes it much easier to travel, especially on planes and trains, or when you only have a backpack to stuff your things in.
But more importantly, it allows users with a leaner budget access to Switch 2 exclusive games. Cosy titles such as Animal Crossing are perfect on the Switch Lite, so if Nintendo were to release a successor to this console, it could wait for the next game in this series to hit shelves and time the releases.
How many new games are coming at launch?
If I’m buying a freshly launched games console, the first thing I want to know is what games will be available.
If you stuck around until the end of the Switch 2 reveal, you’ll have seen some brief footage of Mario Kart. Take a closer look and you’ll see that Donkey Kong looks a little different than usual, being closer to the movie design (and admittedly, a lot more sleepless looking).
So, that may mean that Nintendo very cheekily added in the first footage of Mario Kart 9, which will almost certainly be one of the key IPs for this next console.
Nintendo
I’m by no means a Mario Kart 8 master, relying on scarily loud Toad impressions directed at the competition to try and put them off. However, I still enjoy it, so this is a huge plus for the new console.
Of course, more titles would be even better. As I already mentioned, I’m a loyal servant to the bank of Tom Nook, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons being one of my most-played games on the console. The promise of a new instalment in this series would be hugely exciting, as would a release date for Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Will my old Joy-Cons be useless?
As soon as the Nintendo Switch 2 hits shelves, we’ll almost certainly see an uptick in current users trying to trade in their old console or flog it on eBay – after all, times are tough during the cozzie livs. But what about those gorgeous coloured extra controllers we all bought for multiplayer games such as Super Mario Party Jamboree?
We know that the new (tall, dark and handsome) Joy-Cons on the Switch 2 connect to the main screen in a different way than the old models, with the footage seemingly showing some kind of magnetic snap-on. Thus, the older and smaller clicky Joy-Cons won’t latch onto this new console… but what if they could work wirelessly?
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The charging grip means you can juice the old Joy-Cons without needing a Switch dock, and there’s the Switch Pro controller for those who prefer a more traditional gaming experience. Users could still trade in their main console while keeping hold of extra accessories that may be hard to sell.
If Nintendo somehow figured out a way to allow these to connect to the new console, it would certainly save on waste and resources – and make many customers happy that they don’t have to pay extra. Backwards compatibility games are a thing after all, so I have a teeny bit of hope this could happen… though it’s very slim.
Okay, but does it come in another colour?
While I do enjoy the black console with the accented Joy-Cons, I will forever be a tech journalist who advocates for the bold, bright and beautiful, and the Switch 2 is no exception.
Nintendo
The original Nintendo Switch launched in two colour options: one with grey Joy-Cons and one with the iconic red and blue set. Further down the line, the company launched special edition versions to celebrate various game launches such as Tears of the Kingdom and Splatoon 3.
I’m reasonably confident that Nintendo will do the same for the Switch 2, and I’m even willing to bet that there’s a secret version of this console in a new shade we’ve not seen yet that will get its dramatic unveiling in April.
