Nintendo Switch 2: Release, price, performance - all information & rumors

We summarize all information and rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 in the following overview.

Update 16.12.2024:On Reddit, the leaker “Next Handheld,” who is said to be close to Nintendo, gave an AMA (“Ask me Anything”) and confirmed much of the leaked information and revealed new ones. The source is said to have been confirmed by third parties, but you should still take the information with a pinch of salt. We have added the new information below.

The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting closer and closer and rumors and leaks are slowly piling up. We have summarized the most important information about the release, price and technical data for you.

Price: How much does the Switch 2 cost?

There is currently no official information about the price of the console.However, let's believe the leaker»moistycharlie«, who correctly predicted the price and announcement date of the Playstation 5 Pro, then the console will start at $400 and come in two versions.

The leaker»Next Handheld«assumes a price between 400 and 500 US dollars.

Reveal: When will the Switch 2 be presented?

According to multiple sources, the release of the Switch 2 will not take place until March 2025 at the earliest.This is also indicated by a new leak from theFamiboard-Forumthere. According to this, the reveal will take place in January and delivery will follow in March. This rumor is reported by the Spanish magazineNintendostrengthened. They are said to have learned from six game development studios that games for the Switch 2 are in the works and are scheduled to be released in summer 2025.

Nintendo also intends to ensure that the console is produced in sufficient quantities to prevent scalping. The first leaks indicate a number of seven million units. For comparison: The Nintendo Switch sold around 2.74 million times in the first month.

The goal is to ensure that the Switch 2 “is always easy to find on shelves.”

Link toReddit content

Technical data: What specs will the Switch 2 have?

• Processor:Nvidia T239 (Ampere architecture)
• Cuda Core:1.536
• RAM:8 to 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM
• Storage capacity:64 to 256 GB eMMC or UFS 3.1
• Graphics technologies:DLSS 2 or even DLSS 3.5 and Ray Reconstruction
• Screen:8-inch LCD with Full HD resolution
• Battery:Larger capacity than its predecessor. Possibly replaceable.

If we believe the latest leaks and rumors, these could be the technical data of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Will the Switch 2 be 4K capable?There are rumors that the Nintendo Switch 2 will support DLSS 3.5, while others only assume DLSS 2. If the console scales up to 4K resolution, an upscaler from Nvidia will certainly be used.

VonNext HandheldThere is at least some indication that the Switch 2 is actively cooled via the dock. This could indicate support for 4K.

Link toYouTube content

Backwards Compatibility: Can you play Nintendo Switch games?

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has confirmed that the successor to the Nintendo Switch will be compatible with the current console's software. This implies that you can at least play digital games from the first console on the Switch 2.

Link toTwitter content

It is still unclear whether the console is also compatible with physical game modules.

Design: What does the Switch 2 look like? The first pictures

The new Switch could remain faithful to the design of the first overall.A leak from the subreddit»GamingLeakAndRumours«showed the first 3D render images and two photos on September 18, 2024.

Link toTwitter content

Another leak comes from accessory manufacturer Satisfye. They briefly showed off Nintendo's next-gen console in a trailer for their new "Zengrip 2". The video has since been deleted. Unsurprisingly, the supposed Switch 2 looks very similar to its predecessor.

Link toTwitter content

Based on the leaked images from accessory manufacturers and oneAMA from a leaker, which is said to be close to Nintendo, the first concept images were created that show what the Switch 2 should look like:

Link toReddit content

Joycons:Nintendo could use a magnetic mechanism instead of a rail for the Switch 2. Otherwise, the design appears to have changed little externally.

• There were rumors about the use of magnetic Hall effect sensors for the analog sticks to prevent the infamous Joycon drift. However, the use of magnets in the attachment mechanism could cause interference.
• So it is still unclear how “susceptible to drift” the new Joycons will be.

Switch 2: Is that also the name of the console?

Nintendo doesn't actually number its consoles, but the tradition could be broken with the Switch 2. At least that suggests a leak from theFamiboard-Forum.

However, in an early YouTube survey, the name “Switch Attach” was leaked. This name didn't sit well with the Nintendo community, who remember the Nintendo Wii U. The name sounds too much like an add-on.

Link toReddit content

A big leak at GameFreak has at least revealed the internal code name of the Switch successor: “Ounce”.

Link toYouTube content

Furukawa confirms “Nintendo Switch Online” for the successor:Because the online service has not yet had a name change, it is likely that Nintendo will stick to the name “Nintendo Switch” and the console will simply be called “Nintendo Switch 2”.

The Switch 2 now has a lot of competition

The Nintendo Switch has practically single-handedly shown that there are many gamers who enjoy playing their games on a handheld. Today, many other manufacturers have followed suit and the Switch 2 will have to live up to that.

• With the Steam Deck, Valve offers a PC gaming option with a similar price tag, should the Switch 2 end up at 400 euros.
• MSI, Lenovo, Asus, Zotac, Acer and other PC hardware manufacturers themselves offer handheld devices. However, most of them are significantly more expensive than the Switch 2 will be.
• Microsoft could work on one itselfwork. Whether this will appear in 2025 is still unclear.
• Sony has followed the success of the PS Portalin the handheld market. A new Playstation Portable cannot be ruled out.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is still a long time coming - in the meantime: What features do you want from the successor to the Switch console? Where does Nintendo urgently need to improve, what can stay the same? What is the maximum price that the Switch 2 should have in order to remain interesting for you? Let us know in the comments!