After months of speculation and teasers, Nintendo has finally unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 handheld console. This updated model is fully rebuilt from the ground up and aims to improve over its predecessor, the original Switch, in every department. During an hour-long livestream on Wednesday, the Japanese gaming giant also presented an array of upcoming titles for this console. Among them is Mario Kart World, the latest installment in the beloved racing series, which will be available during the launch period of the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2: Price, availability
The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 (around Rs 38,500) in the US for the sole 256GB storage option. The console will also be available in a bundle with the Mario Kart World game, which will sell for a suggested retail price of $499.99 (around Rs 42,700) in the US.
The handheld will officially be available from June 5, 2025, and pre-orders for the hybrid console will go live across participating retailers in North America on April 9. However, just like the original Nintendo Switch, the Switch 2’s India release date is still unknown.
Nintendo Switch 2: Specifications, features
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a larger screen measuring 7.9 inches and offers double the pixels of the previous generation, as it offers Full HD (1080p) resolution. Moreover, the console also supports HDR and 120fps gameplay with up to 4k resolution in docked mode. However, it has the same 13.9mm in thickness as the original Switch, and the entire unit with the controllers weighs 399 grams.
The Switch 2 comes with the new and improved Joy-Con 2 magnetic controllers. These don't have the prominent red and blue color scheme of the original Joy-Con and instead only have a predominantly black shade with slight hues of the Switch 2’s colours. The Joy-Con 2 uses strong magnets instead of a rail system to attach to the console. They also have larger SL/SR buttons to make them more comfortable when using a single controller at a time. Further, they can be used individually or together as a mouse. The Switch 2 also boasts a host of social features, all of which can be accessed via a new dedicated ‘C' button on the right Joy-Con.
The Switch 2 will come with 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via microSD Express cards. The console will also be backward-compatible with previous generation Nintendo Switch digital and physical games.
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