Nintendo Switch 2 available to pre-order next week, but there's a catch
After what's felt like years of rumours, Nintendo has finally lifted the lid on the Nintendo Switch 2. The company's latest Nintendo Direct has just wrapped, marking its biggest hardware launch in almost a decade.
The new console features a 7.9in LCD display, magnetically attached Joy-Con 2 controllers, mouse-like input support, and built-in voice chat. That's just the new features - there's also a suite of upgraded internals, including 256GB of storage and 4K support when docked.
On top of that, Nintendo also unveiled a packed lineup of new games, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and The Duskbloods, as well as third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6 and Hades 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in the UK on 5 June, with prices starting at £395, or £429 for a bundle containing Mario Kart World. Pre-orders will officially open on 8 April, with major retailers and the official Nintendo UK Store expected to go live in the early morning.
Below, I've broken down everything you need to know – from how to pre-order the Switch 2 to the features and all the biggest game announcements from today's event.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in the UK on 5 June 2025. It costs £395.99 for the standard console or £429.99 with Mario Kart World included. Pre-orders will begin on 8 April, but there's a catch – they'll initially be invite-only via the My Nintendo Store.
There will be a priority list for Switch Online members based on certain criteria. Priority will be given to gamers who've had an active Switch Online membership for at least two years, and eligibility will be based on time spent playing purchased games and whether you've opted in to receive promotional emails.
If you're eligible, you'll receive an invitation by email. Nintendo says that over time, more gamers may be invited to pre-order a console – stock permitting. Nintendo's new Switch 2 accessories will also be invite-only to start with, including the new pro controller (£74.99), Switch 2 camera (£49.99), GameCube Classics controller (£58.99) and microSD Express card (£49.99).
The Nintendo Switch 2 looks like an updated version of the OG Switch. It has a larger 7.9in full HD LCD display with 1080p resolution. It supports up to 120fps in handheld mode and HDR both on the go and when docked. The console is roughly the same thickness as the original but with slimmer bezels and more refined edges.
There are new Joy-Con 2 controllers as well. They snap on magnetically instead of via a rail-locking system, making them more secure. You can use them like a mouse by sliding them along surfaces in compatible games.
There's also a new 'C' button, which opens the system-wide GameChat menu for voice and video chat. Up to four players can share their screens with video or join in audio-only mode. The GameChat feature is free until March 2026, but will require a Switch Online membership after that. The Switch 2 features a built-in microphone with noise-cancelling tech, so you won't need to use your own headset anymore.
Nintendo has also added a second USB-C port on the top of the console, a nice quality-of-life improvement that lets you charge even when in tabletop mode, or for connecting the new USB-C camera accessory. There's also a new kickstand on the rear that's fully adjustable.
On the inside, you get 256GB of storage (an improvement from the 32GB on the original console), and it supports faster microSD Express cards for games and other media. When docked, the system can output at up to 4K resolution with HDR and 120fps support on compatible TVs. The updated dock also includes a built-in fan to help keep things cool during longer sessions.
Nintendo also revealed a new feature called Virtual Game Cards, which lets players share, borrow or lend digital games locally between Switch 2 consoles. It effectively creates a digital version of a game cartridge tied to your Nintendo Account that can be moved between devices.
A new Welcome Tour app will be available to download on launch day. It features a guided walkthrough of the system's new features, using minigames and demos to help players get to grips with the new console.
Nintendo Switch 2 games
Nintendo announced a wealth of games during the Nintendo Direct, showcasing both first-party exclusives and major third-party titles coming to the Switch 2.
Big hitters include Mario Kart World, a brand-new entry that links tracks and courses and lets racers go off-track, with up to 24 players racing at a time. It also announced Donkey Kong Bananza, a 3D action-platformer, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a game set during the Imprisoning War from Tears of the Kingdom, while a Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree will feature brand-new modes, mouse controls and support for the console's new USB-C camera.
There's more Kirby, too. Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World includes a new story expansion and upgraded performance. Kirby Air Riders, a spiritual follow-up to Kirby Air Ride, is also due in 2025.
Other games getting a Switch 2 Edition include Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the latter offering Quality and Performance modes, so you can choose between that sweet 4K at 60fps or 1080p at 120fps. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will receive visual upgrades, and there's a new co-op RPG launch title called Split Fiction.
On the third-party front, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6, EA Sports FC 25, NBA 2K, WWE 2K, Hogwarts Legacy, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and Yakuza 0: Director's Cut are all confirmed. FromSoftware is bringing out a Switch 2 exclusive. The Duskbloods, a new stealth-heavy action game that's launching sometime this year.
Nintendo also confirmed that GameCube classics will come to Switch 2 via a Nintendo Switch Online + expansion pack. At launch, these games will include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II and F-Zero GX, complete with upgraded visuals and sharper resolution.
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Games Inbox: Is Mario Kart World too hard?
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If you don't know what F-Zero, or WipEout, is then it doesn't matter, because it's not a complex concept: imagine Formula One but in the future, with anti-gravity cars and roller coaster style tracks, and that's pretty much it. WipEout had weapons and power-ups, but F-Zero and Fast Fusion do not. Instead, Fast Fusion has a boost that is, slightly counter-intuitively, activated by collecting enough coins to fill up a bar. But you can also get a boost from driving over differently coloured chevrons, while manually switching colours between red and blue, so as to match the colour on the ground – or otherwise you slow down instead of speeding up. There's also a very powerful jump and the ability to lean left and right, but those are more advanced techniques that are not necessary at first. You can knock into enemies, to send them spinning, but there isn't really an attack ability, which is something of a shame because if you or an opponent hit an obstacle you explode in a rather nice crash. Red sky at night, future racer's delight (Shin'en) Although the game has the worst rubber band AI we think we've ever experienced, and the vehicles feel a bit lightweight in terms of handling, races are a lot of fun. The track design can seem a little pedestrian (we've been spoilt by the overabundance of shortcuts in Mario Kart World) but the sheer spectacle of it all keeps your interest. If you're wondering about the name, there is a fusion process, similar to the Shin Megami Tensei series, where you can put two vehicles together, to fuse them together and get a blend of both their stats and their physical appearance. That's kind of neat but there's only three stats and there's not a lot of thought needed for which ones to splice together. This costs money to do, naturally, but while the standard game mode is similar to the Grand Prix system from Mario Kart you have to pay to unlock subsequent cups, which we wish we'd known the first time, before we spent all our money on new cars and fusions. Although it's a regular irritation when you have to repeat a whole cup, or waste time in Time Attack, just to earn a few more credits to play a new one. There's also Super Hero mode, where if you crash that's it (it's basically iron man mode, in other words). That's as frustrating as it sounds and so too, unfortunately, is the online multiplayer. There's up to four-player split screen, which is great, but there's no matchmaking for online so you either race with a friend via GameChat or… you don't race online at all. Again, it all comes back to the visuals, with 12 highly varied tracks that range from a redwood forest to deserts with sand whales jump out around you, to a race in an asteroid belt and around a futuristic city. 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Pros: Fantastic graphics, with a ton of options in both TV and portable mode. Solid racing action and dizzying sense of speed, especially in the higher championship levels. Four-player split screen and surprisingly cheap. Cons: The track design lacks flair and the championship structure is very irritating. Outrageously cheating rubber band AI. Vehicle fusion adds very little and online multiplayer is extremely limited. Score: 7/10 Formats: Nintendo Switch 2 Price: £13.49 Publisher: Shin'en Developer: Shin'en Release Date: 5th June 2025 Age Rating: 3 The graphics are really great (Shin'en) Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. 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Nintendo says sales of its Switch 2 hit a record within four days
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