Everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2: release date, specifications, cross-gen features

In March of this year, seven years have passed since the release of Nintendo Switch, one of the most successful gaming platforms at the moment. Given the passing of years and the fact that the original Switch has become outdated in terms of performance, fans of the big N are increasingly asking questions regarding the future of their favorite system. Therefore, rumors and leaks regarding Nintendo Switch 2 are increasingly appearing on the Internet.

In this material, you will learn about the estimated release date of Nintendo Switch 2, approximate characteristics of the console, Nintendo's approach to cross-platform and cross-gen, expected games, and why players around the world are so looking forward to Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 release date

From year to year, various rumors circulated regarding the possible release date of Nintendo Switch 2. Someone believed that the successor to the first Switch would be released in 2022, right at the peak of market growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other sources reported that the console will be released in 2023. But this also did not happen. There was plenty of information about this year, but all the rumors were dispelled by the president of Nintendo.

In early May, Shuntaro Furukawa stated on the company's official Twitter account that Nintendo would announce Switch 2 before the end of the current fiscal year. The president of Big N also said that fans should not expect details about the new console at the summer Nintendo Direct, which will focus only on games for the Japanese console.

Considering that the current fiscal year will last until March 31, 2025, the announcement of the console should be expected in the fall of this year or as early as March. The logical step would be to unveil the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in September and release it in November or closer to the winter holidays. On the other hand, if we draw an analogy with the original Nintendo Switch, it was announced in October and released in March.

Nintendo Switch 2 specifications

The first and most obvious difference that potential Nintendo Switch 2 owners will notice is the difference in performance. Obviously, 1 TFLOPS, which the Nintendo Switch demonstrates, is sorely lacking in 2024, despite being suitable for streaming, as are 4 processor cores and 4 gigabytes of RAM. Now even budget smartphones often have the same or even more.

Nintendo Switch will use NVIDIA's solution with support for DLSS technology as the heart of its system. According to rumors, the Nintendo Switch 2 will have double the amount of RAM, that is, 8 gigabytes (according to some sources, the volume can reach 12 gigabytes), and will also boast an internal storage capacity of 128 gigabytes. Let's remember that the original Switch offered only 32 or 64 gigabytes of memory. Also, the new Nintendo Switch may have both LCD and OLED screen types.

You can expect that, like any modern console, the Nintendo Switch 2 will support 4K image resolution, but with one small exception. This permission can only be available when using a docking station, that is, stationary.

Cross-platform, cross-gen features and exclusives for Nintendo Switch 2

Traditionally, Nintendo consoles have not had a rich history of cross-platform features and support in the company's games, given the fact that the corporation often releases exclusives for its platform. It is worth considering that there is now a tendency to reduce the influence of exclusivity, so it is possible that some projects will have support for this function.

Obviously, the biggest concern for Nintendo Switch fans is maintaining their digital library and game cartridges. According to available information, Nintendo Switch 2 will support the entire library of games that you managed to buy on the first Switch. This is partly due to the fact that, in any case, at first the company’s projects will be released both on the previous console and on the new one. For example, during the era of the release of the original Nintendo Switch, the company lost sales due to the fact that the Wii U version of The Legends of Zelda Breath of the Wild was quickly hacked.

Future owners of the Nintendo Switch 2 will clearly be pleased with projects of different genres and sizes in such game universes as The Legends of Zelda, Mario, Pokemon and many others. The updated characteristics of the console, which we wrote about above, will improve the graphics and make it more modern.

Why is Nintendo Switch 2 the most anticipated console on the market?

As of the end of March this year, the original Nintendo Switch had sold more than 141 million units. The console has a huge fan base, a line of famous games, and also its own unique design, which allows the Switch to be used both in mobile and desktop versions. The design of the joy-cons makes the Nintendo Switch easy to play with friends.

All this makes the Nintendo Switch the most anticipated gaming console on the market. If Nintendo gets it right, and they get it right more often than not, we'll have another high-profile contender in the modern console race. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles could use an updated version of their main competitor in the gaming arena to meet the competition.