Nintendo Switch 2 | Official First Look

[Moonface]

For anyone who didn't see the news, Nintendo recently confirmed that the Switch successor will have backwards compatibility with Switch titles.

[Moonface]

The relevant stuff is shown from 0:50 to 1:50, for anyone who wants to just get to the Switch 2 content in the video above.

For how tight Nintendo runs their ship when it comes to leaks I'm surprised how a third party accessory maker was able to just seemingly get away with showing off Switch 2 mock-ups at CES. Anyway, it looks like in terms of form factor the Switch 2 isn't really going to be much different, which doesn't surprise me although this might be the most minimal visual change a successor console has ever had from any company. Although those Switch 2 Joy-Cons are third party, I'd love if the official ones have something similar with the back curvature instead of being mostly flat like the current Joy-Cons are. I also wonder if the color scheme is going to retain the red/blue or if these third-party ones are just using that color scheme because they don't know what the Switch 2 will actually use and so just went for the obvious color choice.

[Mr EliteL]

Just got to wait until the official announcement. If Switch 2 really is going to look something like that, I suppose it's going to come down to what features it'll have inside rather than out, other than just a slightly different physical visual look and more buttons maybe that is.

[Moonface]

I don't see any extra buttons on that mock-up so it looks like the only real big change will be the hardware itself inside the system. I'm doubtful Nintendo is even going to have some new gimmick to go with the Switch 2 because I don't know what it could really have based on how it looks. Wasn't the only time Nintendo really had just a hardware difference without much change to the controller/console appearance the NES to the SNES?

[Mr EliteL]

AH the extra button I was seeing was under the right analog stick, which may be the same on the left Joy-Con so if used separately then it can be used on that one too. Unless the button has been already added to newer Joy-Cons than the ones I have. Also that side shape, if that is a large button or just an extra piece to hold on to the JoyCon, which I'm taking it as the latter.

The NES and SNES did change quite a bit, SNES had four more buttons on the controller and more rounded than the rectangle NES controller. Consoles were different too. Perhaps you were thinking of Gameboy to Gameboy Color.

[Moonface]

AH the extra button I was seeing was under the right analog stick, which may be the same on the left Joy-Con so if used separately then it can be used on that one too. Unless the button has been already added to newer Joy-Cons than the ones I have. Also that side shape, if that is a large button or just an extra piece to hold on to the JoyCon, which I'm taking it as the latter.

The NES and SNES did change quite a bit, SNES had four more buttons on the controller and more rounded than the rectangle NES controller. Consoles were different too. Perhaps you were thinking of Gameboy to Gameboy Color.

I looked up an image of the third-party Joy-Cons and upon zooming it in, the only change between these and the Switch 1 Joy-Cons is that the capture button has been moved to the right controller beneath the home button, and a small square is on the left controller where the capture button would normally be. However, that square doesn't look like a button, but I don't know what it would do otherwise if anything.
Now of course, these are third-party Joy-Cons so them moving a button doesn't really mean anything, but there's definitely nothing new on them and if they're using specs from Nintendo to get the measurements/attachments correct, I'd assume they also have the buttons on that spec sheet to know they're making something that isn't missing buttons.

Ah, right I forgot the NES only had two face buttons. No idea why I also thought the two consoles looked similar. I wasn't thinking of Gameboy to Gameboy Color, I was just being dumb, but that's a better comparison to make that lines up with what I had tried to say.


I saw that people were questioning a rumor that the Switch 2 reveal won't feature any game announcements alongside it, so I was curious if the original Switch reveal had any game announcements alongside it, and it didn't. The reveal trailer did feature games, but most of them were either already announced games or clearly ports of already released titles. The only new title actually shown was Super Mario Odyssey, which was included as a brief teaser for a new 3D Mario game prior to its dedicated presentation video in early January 2017.
That said, the Switch had the advantage of having a lot to show off about the hardware because it was the first console to be a handheld/home hybrid so the trailer focused on demonstrating that; based on the information we have on the Switch 2 though I have doubts it will have a feature that can take up the bulk of a reveal trailer so I wonder what Nintendo's approach will be for its reveal.

[Moonface]

Nintendo Switch 2 | First Look Trailer
Get your first official look at the Nintendo Switch 2, releasing in 2025!



A Nintendo Direct dedicated to the Switch 2 will air on April 2, 2025.

[ShiraNoMai]

Also worth mentioning:

Nintendo Switch 2 Experience Events Announced:

If you're in the US and happen to live near Los Angeles (good luck, if so), Dallas or New York, you'll have an opportunity to check out and have a hands-on experience with the newly announced console!

[Little Matcha Girl]

Looks awesome! I think I'll still need a grip to use it, but I'm so excited to give it a try. I might see if husband and I can make it to the in-person event to try it out in April. Can't wait to see more on the new Mario Kart too :0

[Moonface]

The only thing I don't like about the Switch 2 reveal is that logo. It's just so...uninspired. I'd seen it multiple times in various leaks and never believed it was the real logo because of it just being a generic 2 slapped next to the existing Switch logo. Like, at least make a 2 that looks a bit more integrated to the Joy-Cons in terms of style, or something?

I didn't expect the S2 Joy-Cons to be almost a 1:1 look of the third-party ones from CES, but I loved the look of those so I'm happy the official ones are the same color palette. Also seems I was mistaken about the capture button being moved, and the new square I didn't think was a button actually is but it looks like it has no icon on it which seems odd. I've also seen some people thinking the new Joy-Cons can function as mice because of how they move in the trailer, but I disagree because it seems far too niche to be worth doing, especially for developers to make use of it.

Mario Kart 9 being teased didn't shock me one bit. MK8D still sells utter gangbusters so a new entry being a S2 launch title was a no-brainer. I've tried inspecting the clips in the trailer for any interesting stuff but all I could pick out was an item box at the 1:55 mark which is the only one seen in any clip even when the draw distance becomes very large, and it has a new look to it too. The box looks to be just mostly a gold color, and it emits some sort of twirling smoke/fire effect from the top. It could just be a new look for better quality item boxes rather than representing a new feature but I thought it was interesting.

[Mr EliteL]

Ah so just a larger Switch visually really, well it wasn't going to be smaller anyway. Looks fine, didn't get any real excitement from it though. Happy it's mostly backwards compatible with Switch games, however it did mention some certain game won't be supported or fully compatible, so we'll have to see what the details are when they release them.

Looks like the capture button is remaining on the left Joy-Con as it has the circle like the Switch has, with the right button just being blank so no idea what it's for. Joy-Cons also have a bit more to them on the side that connects to the Switch 2 itself, a USB port (I think), a smaller port of which I have no clue what it is as I've never seen one like that before, and two different things next to SR and SL, plus the normal button that's in between them on the Switch Joy-Cons, I just can't remember what that tiny circle button does.

[Moonface]

Ah so just a larger Switch visually really, well it wasn't going to be smaller anyway. Looks fine, didn't get any real excitement from it though. Happy it's mostly backwards compatible with Switch games, however it did mention some certain game won't be supported or fully compatible, so we'll have to see what the details are when they release them.

My guess is it'll be things like Labo and Ring Fit that make use of the Joy-Cons in a way that the new ones can't support due to the difference in sizes.

Joy-Cons also have a bit more to them on the side that connects to the Switch 2 itself, a USB port (I think), a smaller port of which I have no clue what it is as I've never seen one like that before, and two different things next to SR and SL, plus the normal button that's in between them on the Switch Joy-Cons, I just can't remember what that tiny circle button does.

These Joy-Cons connect using a port and magnets rather than sliding onto the system like the Switch 1 does. For the other buttons I'm curious if they're functional only because when attached to the main system there's no secondary alternative for those buttons once they're locked up against the sides of the system.


I also never noticed yesterday in my scrutinizing of the Mario Kart 9 clips that the starting grid is now 24 positions.  Give me Baby Park with 24 players Nintendo, do it! DO IT!

[queenzelda]

Makes me wonder if any specks on the Switch 2 will release before April 2.

[Moonface]

Makes me wonder if any specks on the Switch 2 will release before April 2.

Specs are like the one leak about the Switch 2 I've rarely seen being posted around, and the few that I did see were always completely different to the point you couldn't even try to make an average guess based on all of them.

For me I'd just like it if the system can let games maintain a stable frame rate, especially for first party Nintendo games. If stuff like BotW and TotK aren't gonna run above 30fps the least they should do is maintain that frame rate at all times, at least for stuff the developers put into the game. Korok Forest in both of those games is terrible for performance and I'd rather that be resolved before better graphics.