After years of rumors, speculation, and leaks that date back to whenThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of theKingdomwas initially teased in 2019, we finally have our hands on theNintendo Switch 2. Now that the honeymoon period is over, I can safely give a complete breakdown of this console for anyone out there who is considering picking one up. If you’re directly comparing theSwitch vs Switch 2,Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck, orSwitch 2 vs. PS5, those individual guides will be the best place to go after reading this overview on what this console does best, what it lacks, and, most importantly,what gamesyou can play.
Nintendo Switch 2 specs
Now that the system is out in the wild, this console has been completely broken down to get a close look at everything inside.
For anyone who isn’t tech-savvy and unsure what all those numbers and letters mean, especially looking at the CPU, GPU, and memory, don’t worry. The main takeaways are that the CPU has more cores available for developers and the system has a far higher maximum clock speed. However, the current specs don’t show it fully utilizing it, which might mean more power could be made available in future updates. A higher clock speed typically allows games to load and run faster.
The Ampere GPU is the same one used in the RTX 30 series but is the most difficult aspect to really talk about since it is very dependent on how each developer utilizes this power. If you want some more numbers, this GPU is rated for 3.072 TFLOP in docked mode or 1.71 in handheld.
On the memory front, 12 GB of LPDDR5X split between two modules, with 3 dedicated to the system itself, will leave 9GB of memory for developers to work with. By comparison, the Switch 1 only had 3.2GB leftover for developers, making this almost a 3X improvement.
One aspect that doesn’t fit neatly into that table is DLSS.Nintendo has confirmedthat the new system takes advantage of this AI upscaler, as well as ray tracing technology, but it wasn’t willing to share how. This makes sense, given we know that the system uses an Nvidia GPU, but we were told by Tetsuya Sasaki, GM of Nintendo’s Technology Department Division, that “Nintendo doesn’t share too much on the hardware spec. What we really like to focus on is the value that we can provide to our consumers. But I do believe that our partner Nvidia will be sharing some information.”
The company was similarly cryptic about ray tracing beyond the fact that the GPU does support that technology as an option for developers.
Switch 2 Design
On the surface, the Switch 2 looks almost identical to the original Switch. It retains the same basic form factor and design but with a larger screen and Joy-Con controllers. Otherwise, the only major design change is a more sturdy-looking kickstand for the screen when playing with the Joy-cons detached. Nintendo went with an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality with the console.
The Joy-cons have the most new features hidden inside. First, they are now magnetically connected to the main screen so you no longer have to slide them in and out of position. What is most unique this time, though, is the ability to use a Joy-con similar to a mouse by placing it on its edge on a surface. This could open up a new world of possibilities for how we interact with games on a console. The only game we have seen this in action for thus far isMetroid Prime 4: Beyondbut expect it to be an option in more games as they release.
While not specifically tied to design, one interesting thing missing from the Switch 2 is any form of achievements. Speaking toPolygon, Nintendo Vice President Bill Trinen was asked if players could look forward to earning any kind of system-wide achievements on the Switch 2, to which he simply replied, “Nope.”
Nintendo Switch 2 Price
It’s time to start saving up because the Switch 2 costs $499 or $500 for the Switch 2 andMario Kart Worldbundle, if you may still find one. There were concerns that the price would go up after multiple tariffs were introduced in the US, which caused the preorder date to be delayed, but Nintendo confirmed that those prices will stay the same for the time being, although the prices on some accessories were impacted. We have seen consoles increase in price after launch, however, so we can never be sure this price will stay at this amount indefinitely.
Considering the original Switch never got a price reduction, don’t expect this system to get any official price cut either.
Screen quality
Sadly, the Switch 2 does not have an OLED option at launch and will stick to an LCD display. However, it is going to be able to produce far better visuals than the original Switch. While docked, the Switch 2 can output at up to 4K visuals with full HDR, depending on the game and whether you pick the performance or quality mode, but it is limited to 1080p in handheld mode regardless.
Controllers
The Switch 2 uses new magnetic Joy-Cons that are slightly larger than the originals but have a few other notable upgrades. For one, they now connect magnetically instead of sliding into place, but the big new feature is the ability to use them similar to a mouse. Certain games will allow you to place one Joy-Con on a flat surface and essentially use it as a pointer, like a traditional mouse for aiming in FPS games or playing strategy games.
The Switch 2 will also come with a new and improved Pro Controller that is a big step up from the original. This new version includes the new C button for the new GameChat feature, an audio jack, and customizable back buttons. This brings it in line with thebest PS5 controllersandbest Xbox controllersin terms of functionality.
One bit of sad news thatNintendo Lifeuncovered is in regard to the rampant Joy-con drift issues that were present on the original Switch. Many hoped that the Switch 2 would use hall effect sticks, which are much more durable and less prone to issues, but Nintendo of America’s Nate Bihldorff directly states this is not the case. “Well, the Joy-Con 2’s controllers have been designed from the ground up. They’re not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good.”
It is too soon to be alarmed about the return of Joy-con drift, but this isn’t a positive sign.
Nintendo Switch 2 games
Being so early in the Switch 2’s life, there aren’t a lot of exclusive games at the moment. There’s a handful of Switch 2 Edition games thatfeelnew, butMario Kart WorldandDonkey Kong Bananzaare the two big titles the system has right now. There’s good third-party support with ports as well, such asCyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut,andSplit-Fiction.
While that sounds a little slim for now, there are tons ofupcoming video gameshitting the Switch 2 in the near and far future.
Nintendo Switch 2 Backward compatibility
As part of the Switch 2 announcement, Nintendo confirmed that both physical and digital Switch games will becompatiblewith the Switch 2. However, there is one asterisk here in that not every game will be compatible. Even games that haven’t gotten an official patch for Switch 2 are still getting frame rate and small performance boosts simply by being on the hardware, but games likePokémon ScarletandVioletthat do have patches almost feel like new games.
While it isn’t directly related to backward compatibility, we also learned that the Switch 2 will use the newVirtual Game Cardsystem to make sharing digital games between consoles easier. Additionally, several Switch games can be upgraded to Nintendo Switch 2 Editions for a fee, though how much that is hasn’t been disclosed as of yet.
