Nintendo Switch 2 is Official: News, Specifications, Games and Launch Window

And finally, here we go: Nintendo Switch 2 is official.

After months of leaks, rumors and assumptions that not even Sherlock Holmes could unravel, Nintendo has finally broken its silence with a trailer released on January 16, 2025.

And, guys, there's a lot of meat in the fire.

Let's see together what has been confirmed, what news awaits us and why this console could be the new must-have of 2025.

The official video: what we discovered

The teaser didn't give us a release date or an official price (hold on tight, we'll talk about it later), but it did give us a taste of some goodies.

Here are the highlights:

• Larger screen: goodbye to the 7-inch OLED Switch. Switch 2 should have a display between 8 and 8.4 inches. It's not clear if it will be LCD or OLED, but it's still nice news.
• Magnetic Joy-Con: finally a goodbye to drifting, or so we hope so, thanks to Hall effect technology. The new Joy-Con will be larger, with more pronounced back buttons and even a magnetic grip.
• Renewed dock: more rounded lines and the possibility of output up to 4K when connected to the TV. Yes, you read that right: 4K, perhaps with the help of Nvidia's DLSS.
• Almost complete backward compatibility: the games of the first Switch will be usable, both in physical and digital format. But beware, some titles may not be supported.

And last but not least, an unreleased Mario Kart was glimpsed in the trailer. In addition to Mario Kart, rumors also speak of a possible new chapter of The Legend of Zelda or a sequel for Splatoon, which could enrich the initial lineup and consolidate the launch of Switch 2. In addition, new rumors suggest the arrival of:

• A 3D Super Mario;
• A remake of Zelda;
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A;
• A new generation of Pokémon.

There are no official confirmations, but the clues are there.

Technical specifications: this is where it gets serious

Thanks to a few pre-teaser leaks, we have an idea of what will beat under the Switch 2 body. Here's the summary of the most likely technical specifications:

• Processor: 8-core ARM Cortex-A78C.
• GPU: Nvidia T239 Ampere, with 1,534 CUDA cores and support for ray tracing.
• RAM memory: 12GB LPDDR5.
• Archiving: 256 GB UFS 3.1, faster and more capacious than the first generation.
• Portable mode: 1.72 TFLOPs of power.
• Docked mode: 3.09 TFLOPs of power, with 1,007 MHz GPU.

All seasoned with HDMI 2.1 support and two dedicated fans for cooling. It seems like a perfect mix of portability and performance, with Nvidia's DLSS ready to push games to resolutions never seen on a portable console.

Mario Kart 9: the ninety piece?

In the trailer, a Mario Kart was clearly seen in action.

But which one? According to fans, it could be Mario Kart 9. Here are some details that made the antennas stand up:

• New character designs: Donkey Kong and Mario have a look more in line with the recent animated film.
• Different karts: with new mechanics, such as wider ramps and Yoshi-themed pit-stops.
• Expanded multiplayer mode: maybe up to 24 players at the same time.

Nintendo hasn't confirmed anything, but expectations are skyrocketing. And if Mario Kart 9 were really the launch title, Switch 2 would start off on the right foot.

Price and launch date: what's up?

Nintendo has chosen to keep its mouth sewn on these two fundamental details.

But the rumors speak of a price between 400 and 450 euros.

Not cheap, but not prohibitive either, considering the new specifications and the 7 years since the launch of the first Switch.

As for the exit, save these dates: on April 2 there will be a dedicated Nintendo Direct, and from 25 to 27 April you can touch the Switch 2 first hand during hands-on events in Milan (and in other cities around the world).

And to participate in Milan? Easy: just register on the official Nintendo website. Registrations start on January 17 at 15:00 and close on January 26 at 23:59. All you need is a Nintendo account.

The most likely launch window? It is possible that Nintendo Switch 2 will be released around May or June 2025.

Conclusions: Switch 2, is it worth the hype?

Nintendo Switch 2 Promises to be everything the fans asked for (and maybe something more), with its larger screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, almost complete backward compatibility and HOPEFULLY decent power for 2025.

It is a console that aims to improve in every aspect: performance, design, backwards compatibility and game lineup.

Of course, there are still a lot of unknowns, but The future looks bright for the house in Kyoto.

Now it's your turn: are you ready to get your hands on Switch 2?

And what do you think about the possible price?

Let me know in the comments or get ready to try it in Milan.

2025 has just started, but Nintendo has already turned on the turbo!