Nintendo today officially launched the Nintendo Switch 2, its first new gaming platform since 2017. Alongside it, the company released Mario Kart World, the latest installment in the long-running racing franchise and the first major entry for consoles in over ten years. The dual release marks a significant moment for the company and fans alike, with a new generation of hardware and software aiming to modernize Nintendo’s gaming experience while keeping familiar titles at the forefront.
The Nintendo Switch 2 introduces several hardware improvements and new features. Most notable is the introduction of GameChat, an integrated voice and video communication tool that allows players to talk with up to 12 friends during multiplayer sessions. The feature also supports optional video chat for up to four users when paired with a USB-C camera.
Visually, the new system is powered by upgraded internals that support higher performance and enhanced graphics. It includes a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, spatial 3D audio, and a dock capable of 4K video output and 120 frames per second gameplay for supported titles. Storage has also been increased to 256 GB, with USB-C ports and an adjustable kickstand adding flexibility for tabletop play.
The Joy-Con 2 controllers bring additional input options, including support for mouse-like movements when slid across surfaces. The system also includes VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) in handheld mode, aiming to provide smoother gameplay with reduced stuttering.
To mark the release, Nintendo hosted simultaneous launch events in San Francisco and New York, marking the first time the company has done so on both coasts at once. Fans at the events were able to try the new system and its lineup of games firsthand, with the first retail sales taking place at 9 p.m. PT and 12 a.m. ET.
Mario Kart World headlines the software launch and introduces major changes to the series. The game features support for up to 24 racers simultaneously, large interconnected maps that combine racing and exploration, and new game modes such as Knockout Tour and Free Roam. The new CameraPlay feature also adds video overlays during gameplay when using a compatible USB-C camera.
At launch, over 20 titles are available for Nintendo Switch 2. These include Split Fiction, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Street Fighter 6, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The system also includes backward compatibility with some Nintendo Switch games, which will receive free updates to enhance performance and visuals on the new hardware.
Check out the full list of games available in stores or on Nintendo eShop right now:
- Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER
- BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- DELTARUNE
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Fast Fusion
- Fortnite
- HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics:
- F-Zero GX
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- SOULCALIBUR II
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening Complete Edition
- No Man’s Sky – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Split Fiction
- Street Fighter 6
- Suikoden I & II HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 2 Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Survival Kids
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
Nintendo is expanding its subscription services alongside the hardware release. Paid subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack gain access to upgrade packs for enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, as well as a new GameCube Classics library featuring F-Zero GX, The Wind Waker, and SOULCALIBUR II.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 in the U.S., with a bundle including Mario Kart World available for $499.99. The game can also be purchased separately for $79.99.
In the coming months, Nintendo plans to release a wide range of new titles, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. A series of demo events across select Best Buy locations will begin on June 7, giving players the chance to try out the system.
Nintendo has also launched a new sweepstakes through its My Nintendo program, offering fans the chance to win a two-hour video game party with GameTruck.
With a strong hardware refresh and a wide-ranging software lineup, Nintendo is looking to reestablish its presence in the console space, offering a platform built for current gaming expectations while continuing to support the familiar properties that made its brand a household name. For more details, visit Nintendo.com.
