"Just another free update": 'No Man's Sky' launches free Switch 2 upgrade— unlike 'Zelda' and 'Kirby'
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No Man's Sky developer Hello Games is kicking off the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 with some fantastic news for gamers, and Nintendo should be paying attention.
Thursday, June 5, is the big day Switch fans have been waiting for, when the Switch 2 finally launches. Several top Switch games, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, will have "upgrade packs" available at launch that unlock Switch 2 editions of current Switch 2 titles — for a price.
No Man's Sky is doing things a little differently — the Switch 2 version of the game will be free.
Hello Games's latest move with the Switch version of No Man's Sky is great news for current Switch 1 players, but it might make gamers dread Nintendo's paid Switch 2 Edition upgrades even more.
See also: Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order restocks
When it launched in 2016, No Man's Sky had a rough start, but it has come a long way since then through consistent, free major updates.
The latest of those updates is arguably the best one yet.
Hello Games CEO Sean Murray announced in a video on the developer's YouTube channel this week that the next update for No Man's Sky, "Beacon," will add "Nintendo Switch 2 support at launch."
"From day one, new players are benefiting from nine years of updates, just tons of huge additions. We've been working on this for over a year. I'm super proud of what the team has achieved.
"Our Switch 2 Edition is just another free update for existing players," Murray stated, after enthusiastically diving into the slew of new features and improvements in the Switch 2 Edition.
This update to No Man's Sky includes all of the new content in the "Beacon" update, such as new robotic settlements to explore, and major enhancements for the Switch version of the game specifically.
Snag the Switch 1 edition of No Man's Sky for 46% off to get the free Switch 2 Edition upgrade
If you haven't played No Man's Sky on the Switch yet, now is the perfect time to try it out. It's on sale at a huge discount on Amazon for the physical edition or directly from Nintendo for the digital edition. If you have the base Switch version, you can get the Switch 2 Edition update for free when you play it on a Switch 2.
Digital edition: $59 $23 @ NintendoView Deal
As Murray points out, the original Switch's hardware can run No Man's Sky fine, but is still limited compared to PCs and other consoles. So, it has slightly less impressive graphics, longer loading times, and a generally less fluid gameplay experience than other platforms.
With the Switch 2, a lot of those hardware barriers are removed, allowing Hello Games to take the Switch experience in No Man's Sky up a notch. The Switch 2 Edition, a free update for all existing Switch players, will include:
Multiplayer
Cross-save
Cross-play
Higher resolution (up to 4K)
Higher frame rate
Higher texture density
So, not only are Switch players getting a boatload of new content, they're also going to have a much better gameplay experience on the Switch 2 — without having to pay extra for it.
This is a really player-friendly move from Hello Games that shows how much they appreciate their players and community. The question is, why isn't Nintendo offering similar free Switch 2 upgrades for its first-party games?
Hello Games has built back from No Man's Sky's rocky start through offering frequent free updates to regain trust with players, so it doesn't come as a surprise that the Switch 2 Edition of the game is also a free update.
However, it does set Hello Games apart from Nintendo, which is charging players for most of its Switch 2 Editions.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land are all getting Switch 2 Editions, but you have to pay $10 to $20 extra for them, even if you already own the Switch 1 versions of those games. Like No Man's Sky, these Switch 2 Editions add new content and overall performance improvements.
Of course, it's totally normal for developers to offer paid DLC for games, which is basically what Switch 2 Editions are. However, considering how much controversy Nintendo has been facing over the pricing of the Switch 2 and its games, it might be a nice gesture to regain favor with players to offer these Switch 2 Editions as free updates for existing players.
I doubt that's going to happen, but Hello Games has really set the standard here for doing right by your players, and other developers might want to take notice.
"I'm really excited — but not about the price": As tariff threats loom, Nintendo fans at exclusive NYC event are torn over the Switch 2
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9 minutes ago
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I played the Nintendo Switch 2 for nearly a week. Here are my honest thoughts
The Nintendo Switch 2 is strikingly familiar. When I'm navigating its recognizably blocky home screen, swapping between handheld, tabletop and TV play and, at least for now, playing a lot of the same games, I can't help but feel like Nintendo's new console is a subtle iteration rather than a true generational reinvention like the Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64 were. That said, when that subtle iteration improves on one of the best consoles of all time with things like better controls and smooth 4K gameplay, it's hard to be too upset. And that's not to say the Switch 2 doesn't deliver moments of Nintendo magic we haven't seen before. Playing Fortnite using your Joy-Con as a mouse is a game-changer; being able to seamlessly hop into an online video chat without a microphone in sight is arguably even cooler. It also brings a great new Mario Kart game, a bunch of big third-party blockbusters Nintendo fans may have missed and improved versions of some of your favorite Switch games. But does that all add up to a package that's not only worth a steep $450, but also the hassle of trying to track this elusive system down right now? And what's the real expense when you factor in the ballooning price of games and storage? I've done the hard work of playing the Nintendo Switch 2 obsessively for the past week, and am ready to answer those questions for you. Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers an improved design, fun new tricks like mouse controls and built-in video chat and great performance for new and old games alike. A bigger, mostly better design Improving on one of the most popular consoles of all time isn't an easy task, which is why the Nintendo Switch 2 simply refines what already works. You've still got a touch screen, detachable Joy-Con controllers that allow for instant multiplayer and the ingenious ability to switch between TV and handheld gaming on the fly — except it's all packed into a bigger, mostly better design that flaunts some cool new party tricks. First off, this thing is large. The difference in dimensions between the Switch 2 and the OG model is evident the second you pick the new model up, with a roughly 2-pound design that stretches just under 11 inches wide. It's not quite as big as, say, a Valve Steam Deck, but it makes my Nintendo Switch OLED feel damn-near pocketable by comparison. The added real estate is largely a good thing; the Switch 2 just feels sturdier and more substantial, from the bigger buttons on the Joy-Cons to the grippy black matte finish that permeates the entire design. The kickstand on the back is Nintendo's most durable and flexible yet; a far cry from the puny stick stand on the original Switch and more akin to the Switch OLED stand that lets you smoothly adjust from fully upright to near-flat. You're also getting a lot more screen than before, with a 7.9-inch 1080p display that trumps the 7-inch Switch OLED, 6.2-inch Nintendo Switch and 5.5-inch Switch Lite on sheer real estate. There's now an additional USB-C port at the top of the console, which makes it easy to connect a camera or (finally) charge your system while using it in tabletop mode. The Switch 2 dock is likewise beefed-up, with familiar ports within a larger design that I still didn't have much trouble tucking behind my TV. I just wish Nintendo didn't drop the two USB-A ports that were on the original Switch dock, as they were clutch for hooking up extra accessories like wired controllers and adapters. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are the real highlight here, as they detach with a quick button press and attach via a satisfying magnetic snap. I never really had an issue with sliding my Joy-Cons on and off the original Switch, but this is an even more seamless solution that should lead to less accidental damage when you're looking to get some tabletop Mario Kart going. Speaking of which, the bigger size and buttons make each Joy-Con 2 feel much more comfortable and enjoyable to use as a standalone controller. The enlarged SL and SR shoulder buttons are a particularly nice upgrade from the borderline microscopic inputs on the classic Joy-Cons, meaning I can finally drift around as my beloved Luigi without guaranteed hand cramps. Fortunately, you can still use your older Switch controllers wirelessly, which is a godsend for anyone who's already accrued a massive Joy-Con collection. It wouldn't be a new Nintendo console without some sort of new control gimmick, and I'm happy to say that the Switch 2's new mouse mode is a delight to use. You can now plop a Joy Con 2 down on just about any surface and use it as a mouse, which allows you to navigate the home screen like you would on your computer and play select games that allow for pointing and clicking. There are only a handful of titles that support mouse control right now, but I've had a real blast using my Joy-Con (Joy-Mouse?) to whack golf balls, complete timed mazes and try and paint between the lines in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Using it in Fortnite was a revelation; I suddenly could enjoy the same pinpoint aiming that PC gamers do with their favorite gaming mouse, all from simply sliding my existing controller around on my table. I hope a good amount of games —- both competitive and quirky — end up taking advantage of mouse controls, because it's one of the system's most underrated features. Noticeably better performance The Nintendo Switch 2 might not be a massive generational leap the way that the PS5 was over the PS4, but it still delivers a noticeably better gaming experience than before. Even before you fire up any games, the extra snappiness is apparent; everything from the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online apps to massive games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom loaded up a few seconds faster on the Switch 2. Those small time savings add up, especially if you're trying to knock out a quick level or two while on the subway. Thanks to the system's new custom Nvidia processor, you can finally play Nintendo games in proper 4K when you connect to a TV (and an improved 1080p in handheld mode). The system even supports gameplay at up to 120 frames per second — an ultra-high level of smoothness that was once reserved for powerful gaming PCs and current-gen consoles. These perks all combined to make the vibrant, expansive racing of Mario Kart World look and play fantastic, even while I engaged in chaotic 24-player races across massive, sprawling courses. But that's to be expected from the system's marquee launch title. I was far more impressed by my time with Street Fighter 6, a game that I've played obsessively on my PS5 — and one that feels far less compromised than I'd expect it to be on the comparably underpowered Switch 2. Sure, the character models aren't nearly as sharp as they are on Sony's console, particularly in handheld mode and especially so during close-ups that reveal stringy hair and blurry faces. But in motion, this is very much the same smooth, explosively colorful fighting game that I poured dozens of hours into on my PlayStation. If it weren't for the Switch 2 Pro Controller in my hands, I would have completely forgotten I wasn't playing the PS5 version of the game in the heat of a competitive online match. And then there's the fact that the Switch 2 can make some of your existing Switch games run even better. I'm glad I waited until now to start The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in earnest, because its upgraded Switch 2 edition looks and feels like a true triple-A game rather than something chugging along on ancient hardware. It was actually jarring to see a modern open-world Zelda game running at a silky 60 frames per second and sharp 4K HDR on my TV; that's how relatively behind the curve the original Switch was. In addition to special 'Nintendo Switch 2 editions' of select games (which require either a paid upgrade pack or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription), a handful of Switch titles got free performance upgrades that simply smooth out the edges a bit. I didn't really notice a difference when playing updated titles like Super Mario 3D World or Arms, but a close friend (and the biggest Pokémon fanatic I know) noted that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet practically feels like a whole new game. That's high praise for a title that was notorious for its poor performance on the first Switch. Even games that didn't get a proper Switch 2 patch, like NBA 2K25 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, seemed to look nicer on the new hardware. A more social system than ever Even with its improved hardware and performance, I couldn't shake just how familiar the Nintendo Switch 2 felt. But then I hopped on a video chat with a friend, our little heads chuckling and nodding at the bottom of the screen while I played Street Fighter and he played Mario Kart. There wasn't a single microphone or headset in sight, yet we heard each other just fine. 'Okay,' I told myself. 'This feels new.' Sure, built-in online chat functionality is long overdue for Nintendo, but the system's new GameChat feature delivers it in a way that is distinctly fun and frictionless — and even has some advantages over the competition. If you've played games online just about anywhere but a Nintendo console, GameChat will likely feel familiar. Tap the new 'C' button on your controller or head to the GameChat icon on the home screen, and you can join or set up an online lobby where up to 12 people can yap over some video games. But here's the kicker: up to four of those people can be on video, whether it's via the $60 Nintendo Switch 2 Camera or any USB webcam you happen to have lying around. You can even share your screen, which often leads to blurry video but is still handy if you want to, say, show a friend how to conquer a tricky Zelda dungeon. Oh, and don't worry about grabbing a mic or gaming headset; the Switch 2 has a built-in microphone that works shockingly well, even from across a living room. These features have existed in some form on other platforms for decades, but I'm still impressed by how well Nintendo managed to package them all together. Some of the most fun I've had with the Switch 2 came from an hours-long GameChat with a friend. We gamed together for a bit, trading some heated rounds of Soul Calibur II, before I switched over to Mario Kart World and he hopped into MLB The Show 25. No matter what we were doing, our camera feeds remained at the bottom of our screens, meaning he could say hi to my dog and I could compliment his cool Space Jam poster. Neither of us were using a dedicated gaming headset, yet we could hear each other just fine — even with my air conditioner cranked to the max. I've been gaming online for two decades now, and this video-forward, microphone-free approach replicates the feeling of playing games in the same room as my buddies better than just about any other platform I've used. This is a far cry from the original Switch, which lacked built-in chat and instead encouraged players to download a dedicated mobile app for in-game communication (most of us just used better options like Discord). The PlayStation 5's controller has a built-in mic and speaker for chatting and allows for screen sharing, but the system lacks video calling functionality. Both PlayStation and Xbox support cameras, but mainly for broadcasting your gameplay to the larger internet on Twitch and YouTube. PC gamers are probably laughing as they read this given their vast amount of options for video and voice calling, but there's a big difference between the gamer that sits at their computer and the one that games casually in their living room. Nintendo is even integrating camera support directly into select games with CameraPlay, which I found very entertaining during a Mario Kart session in which I could see my opponent's reaction to every pesky red shell. And just to put a bow on the Switch 2's vastly improved social experience, Nintendo also introduced GameShare: a feature that lets you invite your friends to play a game locally or online even if they don't own said title. This worked as advertised in my testing — I invited a friend to an online Super Mario 3D World session, which he was able to join instantly without having to own or even download the game. While we had to fight through some initial lag, we were eventually able to conquer one of Bowser's castles in pretty smooth fashion. And while you'll need a Switch 2 to host a GameShare session, you can still share select titles with your friends that are still on their original Switchl. GameShare is currently limited to a handful of older Switch games, but it will work with the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party Jamboree that's coming this month (a perfect fit for this feature), and will hopefully continue to roll out for more of Nintendo's multiplayer staples. It's a bit bulky, and the display and battery life are just fine While the Switch 2's 'bigger is better' approach generally rings true, there's no getting around the fact that this thing is hefty. The new console might only be about a half pound heavier than the Switch 1 on paper, but the added weight feels significant, and younger gamers or folks with smaller hands might have some trouble getting used to it. While I didn't find the Switch 2 to be overly heavy during prolonged handheld sessions, its wide, thin design resulted in the Joy-Cons digging into my palms a bit — something I alleviated by throwing on this Supcase protective shell. I also find the console's 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display to be just fine. It is indeed sharper than the 720p screen on the older Switches — something that was noticeable when I pit Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 against Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch OLED — but it also lacks that added pop of color that I love so much on my OLED model. I also wish the Switch 2 screen was a little brighter and less glossy, as playing outside was near-impossible (though a glare-free screen protector can help with this). Also, you'll want to keep a good portable charger handy if you plan on playing on the road a lot. During an evening spent playing Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6 and a few classics on my couch while watching the NBA Finals, the Switch 2 ran out of battery in almost exactly three hours. That's well within Nintendo's estimate of two to 6.5 hours depending on what you're playing, though notably below the Switch OLED's rating of 4.5 to nine hours. It's possible that bigger games mean a bigger battery drain; Mario Kart in particular seemed to devour a charge pretty quickly. Increased storage is nice, but you'll still need more The Nintendo Switch 2 packs 256GB of storage, which, on paper, is a pretty big upgrade over the 32GB Switch and 64GB Switch OLED. But when game downloads are only getting bigger, that space is going to fill up very fast if you're buying most of your stuff digitally. It's great that the Switch 2 can finally play big blockbusters like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, but those take up around 50GB and 60GB of space, respectively. By the time you transfer your existing Switch library and tack on a handful of new titles, you'll likely run out of space like I did within my first day with the system. And expanding your storage is a bit tricker and more expensive than before. Unlike the original Switch, which let you pop in just about any microSD card to make space for games, the Switch 2 requires you to use specific microSD Express cards that allow for faster transfer speeds. The problem is, there aren't a ton of options available right now, and the ones that do exist are pretty pricey — like this 256GB SanDisk model that'll run you $72. Want to future-proof your console with 1TB of storage? Get ready to pay at least $190 for this GameStop model. Adding storage to any console isn't cheap these days, but when you compare that to this $110 Xbox Series X 1TB expansion card or this 1TB PS5-ready SSD that can be had for $65, upgrading your Xbox or PlayStation suddenly seems like a bargain. I imagine that microSD Express cards will become easier to find and more affordable over time, but if you find yourself needing to make space in the immediate future, get ready to pay up. The launch lineup is good — if you're a specific type of gamer I've been struggling to properly assess the Nintendo Switch 2's game lineup. If you're coming from the original Switch and are mainly a Nintendo gamer, you'll get a great new Mario Kart game, access to some cool triple-A titles you couldn't play before and some nice upgrades for some of your existing games. And this is your first Nintendo Switch? Sheesh, get ready to enjoy one of the best game libraries of all time. But if you're like me — a Switch fanatic that also plays games elsewhere — you can probably wait for the Switch 2 game library to flesh out a bit. As you've probably pieced together by now, the system is headlined by Mario Kart World, an expansive new take on the series that introduces huge 24-player races and an interconnected open world that you can drive around freely. It rules. I played more Mario Kart 8 Deluxe than just about any other Switch game, so having a sequel with new courses and moves to master — not to mention the option to just chill out in free roam — is worth the price of a new console for me. If you're not big on Mario Kart, that might not be the case. The other notable first-party launch game is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a playable instruction manual that packs charming visuals, some fun mini-games and a bunch of tedious but informative quizzes that cover everything from key features to nerdy tech specs. It would have been the perfect pack in game; instead, it's a $10 purchase that I can only recommend tepidly for folks who want to see everything their new system can do. You've also got the special Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, each of which are packed with performance enhancements and some nice quality of life improvements. If you've never played them, congrats: you can now experience the two of the best Switch games ever made, running the way they always should have. And if you own them already and are ready for a replay (or, let's be real, still haven't beat either of them), you can upgrade your existing copy to the Switch 2 version for $10 each or as part of your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Speaking of Switch Online, Expansion Pack members will also get access to a handful of Nintendo GameCube titles alongside the dozens of NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis classics already available on the service. The selection is limited to just F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II (featuring Link!) at the moment. I'm happy with this, because I really like Soul Calibur II. For everyone else, know that the library is slated to gain more essentials like Super Mario Sunshine and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance over time. Then you have the third party stuff, which includes blockbusters like Street Fighter 6, Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0 and Hitman World of Assassination that skipped the original Nintendo Switch. These are some great games, and their inclusion is a big deal for folks that only play on Nintendo and want to see what else is out there besides Mario and Zelda. If you already own a PS5, Xbox Series X/S or a good PC, their inclusion likely won't do as much for you (unless you really like the idea of taking these games on the go). Of course, like any new console, the Switch 2 is only going to get more big games over time. The next big exclusive is July's Donkey Kong Bananza, which promises some satisfyingly destructive platforming. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Madden NFL 26 and Star Wars Outlaws will help fill out the third-party selection this summer and fall. The latest Mario Party and Kirby games are getting Switch 2 editions, and the much-anticipated Metroid Prime 4 with launch for both Switch systems at once. Looking further into 2025 and beyond, you can expect some promising new Kirby and Zelda spin-offs, and even a new exclusive from the Dark Souls team called the DuskBloods that will almost certainly be infuriatingly hard. As it stands now, there's plenty of great stuff to play on the Switch 2, particularly when you factor in its back catalog of thousands of Switch games. But you won't be missing out on a ton if you decide to hold out for that next Big Thing. It's pricey, and hard to find right now At $450, the Switch 2 is $150 more than the original Switch and $100 more than the OLED version. While I don't think that's an unreasonable price compared to the $500 PS5 and the $600 Xbox Series X (which recently got a price bump), it's still more expensive than its predecessor and may be out of range for some folks. But perhaps the bigger issue is that the Switch 2 is just hard to buy right now. As of this writing, both the $450 base console and $500 Mario Kart World bundle are sold out at most major stores like Walmart, Best Buy and Target, with occasional restocks happening for short bursts of time. I've seen a good amount of folks online find success by just going to their local store, but your mileage may vary there. I fully expect the Switch 2 to become easier to buy later this year, but just know that you'll have to do some savvy online hunting to score one right now. Even if you do get your hands on a system, you'll probably notice that the typical Nintendo Switch 2 game price is more than you might expect. Mario Kart World alone costs a whopping $80 (that's $20 more than the typical first-party Switch game) while Donkey Kong Bananza goes for the same $70 price tag that's become commonplace on other consoles. It's hard to pin all of this on Nintendo — pretty much everything is getting more expensive lately — but it does add even more expense to an already premium-priced console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is without question one of the best consoles I've ever gotten my hands on and the best Nintendo Switch yet, retaining everything that made the original a staple in millions of households while adding some welcome quality of life improvements and a few innovative, delightfully Nintendo-ey features. And hey, that new Mario Kart game is pretty dang fun. If you're a Nintendo diehard, you've probably made up your mind already; heck, maybe you were even lucky enough to score a Nintendo Switch 2 preorder. If you're still on the fence, the question of whether you should spend your nights trawling multiple retailers for a $450 Nintendo depends on what kind of gamer you are. I can't overstate how great a purchase this is for folks who somehow missed the boat on the original Nintendo Switch — you'll have access to one of the greatest game libraries ever assembled, while still being future-proofed for all the cool new stuff. And if you only game on Switch, get ready to finally see what the hype over Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6 is about. Heck, if most of your Switch diet consists of playing games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 3 and Fortnite online with friends, you just might find the Switch 2 worth it for the radically improved social experience alone. But for the less fanatical Nintendo player, especially one that games on other platforms, there's nothing wrong with waiting it out right now. The system is only going to get more big games, and it hopefully won't be long before you can buy one without obsessively tracking restocks across multiple screens like some sort of evil villain. Even if that'd make Bowser proud. How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? The base Nintendo Switch 2 costs $450; there's also a $500 Mario Kart World bundle that includes the system's marquee launch game. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? The Nintendo Switch sports a 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display. There's no word yet on whether we'll eventually get an OLED model. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Yep! Games like Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played in 4K in docked mode on compatible TVs, and even support High Dynamic Range (HDR) for extra-vibrant color. Keep in mind that you'll be limited to 1080p in handheld mode, however. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering gaming for more than a decade, and has been doing tested reviews of Nintendo consoles since the Nintendo 3DS (which is still in his top five). For this review, he spent six grueling days playing lots of video games both solo and with friends in order to see just how well the Nintendo Switch 2 holds up.
Digital Trends
29 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Why Splatoon Raiders already has my full attention
In a very unceremonious move, Nintendo announced an upcoming Switch 2 game not at a Direct or in an official press release, but on the Nintendo Today App. Alongside a load of details on a new Splatoon 3 update coming on June 12, including its Switch 2 performance boost, we also got a tiny teaser of the first official spinoff game in the Splatoon universe: Splatoon Raiders. While details are incredibly scarce right now, there are some big hints at the new direction this game will take that have me very excited. Recommended Videos A constantly evolving franchise Even though Nintendo is calling Splatoon Raiders the first official spinoff — and this is technically true as a stand-alone product — it is far from the first time Splatoon has ventured into other genres. The core three games are multiplayer shooters, of course, but at this point they've also branched out to include linear single player campaigns, PvE hoard mode, roguelike mode, and even a card game. Few franchises even dare to stretch themselves into that many genres. Splatoon not only did, but has proven that it can pull them off. With Splatoon Raiders, the only official description we have is that 'players will go on an adventure in the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside the splat-tacular Deep Cut trio.' Between that and the little bit of footage shown above, there are strong signs that this could be Splatoon's take on a survival game. The idea of expanding the Splatoon world with a larger map to explore, perhaps some base building, and a robot buddy to possibly upgrade all fit within the Splatoon ethos while experimenting with the series in fresh ways. Style and expression have been the heart of the series, so it feels like a natural evolution to expand that beyond our character and allow us to build our own little worlds. We already know how creative Nintendo can be using the ink system for traversal and platforming in the single player modes, so translating that to a more open environment with secrets and hidden challenges would be a perfect fit. Plus, the possibility of new tools for traversal and building opens up entirely new avenues for gameplay. Being a Switch 2 game, I fully expect it to take advantage of the new mouse control system in that regard. It has never been the primary focus before, but Splatoon has always had a rich (and somewhat dark) lore beneath all that bright ink and hip-hop music. Splatoon 3 did bring it a bit more to the forefront, but Splatoon Raiders being a spinoff could be a great way to test the waters for a more front-facing narrative. Splatoon Raiders has no release date now, but will be a Switch 2 exclusive.
Digital Trends
29 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Nintendo Switch 2 review: exactly the upgrade we needed, with a few catches
Nintendo Switch 2 MSRP $450.00 Score Details 'Even with some kinks to work out, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the exact follow up it needed to be.' Pros More premium design 120 Hz display is a big upgrade A major power boost Mouse mode is ingenious Social features are truly innovative Cons Disappointing UI Battery is a downgrade Poor screen sharing 'Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.' How do you follow up a console as beloved as the Nintendo Switch? It's a question Nintendo has been blessed, or perhaps cursed, to answer for decades now. Every hardware success story comes with the burden of a follow-up and the pressure to wow people with the next big thing. Recommended Videos Nintendo has tried to live up to that challenge time and time again, attempting — and sometimes failing — to innovate at all costs. For the first time in decades, the Nintendo Switch 2 finally shows a company that knows when it's finally time to zag. Nintendo's latest console is perhaps its most straightforward hardware release since the Game Boy Advance. It asks a simple question that fans have proposed for eight years: What if the Nintendo Switch was better? That's exactly what you get with its successor. That streamlined ambition pays off in the form of a handheld-console hybrid that addresses every issue with its predecessor and more. Increased power, an excellent display, and more technical flexibility make the Switch 2 feel like Nintendo's first true 'next-gen' console. That's not to say that there aren't some good zigs along the way, as the system's impressive mouse controls feel like they're destined to rise above gimmick status. But the Nintendo Switch 2 very much feels like the second coming of the Super Nintendo rather than a repeat of the Wii U. It's very safe by modern Nintendo standards, and it has a lot of battles in its future as it launches amid a rapidly evolving portable landscape, but it's exactly what a Switch follow up likely needed to be — even if it won't set the world on fire. Switch 2 specs Size 116mm x 272mm x 13.9mm (4.5 inches x 10.7 x .55 inches) with Joy-Con 2 attached Weight 401g / 534g with Joy-Con 2 attached Screen 7.9-inch LCD, 1080p, HDR10, VRR up to 120Hz CPU/GPU Nvidia 8x ARM Cortex A78C 998MHz (docked), 1101MHz (handheld), Max 1.6GHz/ Ampere GPU architecture 1007MHz (docked), 561MHz (handheld) Max 1.4GHz Memory bandwidth of 102GB/s (docked), or 68GB/s (handheld), with 3GB (9GB for games) reserved for system memory Storage 256GB Wireless Yes Video output 4K docked, 1080p handheld Audio output 3D audio Speakers Stereo USB connector 2 USB Type-C ports Headphone/mic jack Built-in mic with noise-cancelling tech, but audio jack included in the new Pro Controller Game card slot Nintendo Switch game cards microSD card slot Supports microSD Express Internal battery Lithium-ion battery/522mAh or ~20Whr Battery life 2 – 6.5 hours Charging time TBD Availability On sale from June 5, 2025 Switch 2 design and comfort Rather than going back to the drawing board for its next console, the Switch 2's design is very much a touch up of what came before. The Switch's core pillars remain the same: This is a hybrid handheld/home console with detachable controls. There's a touch display sandwiched between two Joy-cons, a kickstand for tabletop support, and a dock that seamlessly hooks it all up to a TV. It looks almost exactly the same from a distance, but the details add up here. The Switch 2 has a more premium sheen to it all around. It's a sleek, dense tablet that feels more like an iPad than a plastic toy. That's the first signal that this is Nintendo trying to finally make a console that's keeping pace with its peers. The key difference is that it's significantly larger than the original Switch. That size primarily benefits the system's 7.9 inch LCD display, which looks enormous even compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED. The system is much heavier for that change too, with over 100g of new weight over the original Switch model. I do feel a bit more strain when I'm playing in handheld mode, though it's still manageable compared to something like the Lenovo Legion Go S. If the Switch already felt heavy for you, though, this might be a workout on your wrists. The system at least accounts for the added weight in a few ways. For one, the new Joy-con controllers are made from a slick black plastic that's smooth in the hands. They have also been rounded in a way that feels more natural in my palms, even if the lack of controller grips still makes for some odd ergonomics. If that's still not enough for you, the Switch 2 sees some significant improvements for tabletop mode. The newly designed kickstand is far sturdier than the original model's and easier to maneuver than the Switch OLED. Its range of viewing angles mean that it can almost stand up vertically and lay down fairly flat at around a 20 degree angle. I set it up at an acute angle on a tray table during a flight and it was not moved by a patch of light turbulence. Other improvements are of the no brainer variety. There's a USB-C port on the top as well as the bottom, which means that players can now charge it while in tabletop mode. Then there's the system's one big magic trick: magnets. How do they work? Well, the Joy-cons can simply be attached to the console by lightly slotting them into the sides of the display, where they tightly snap into place. If that has you nervous, don't be; they feel more secure when inserted than they do on the old Switch. My Joy-cons frequently pop out on my OLED at this point. That seems far less likely to happen on Switch 2, as they stay locked in place unless I hold down release buttons behind each trigger. They pop off with just a small bit of force, but there's still enough pressure required in the button press to ensure kids won't pull them off by accident. They're easy to pull off from the new dock too, as its rounded edges are built to make them easy to reach. I don't know how it will hold up to wear and tear over the years, but it's an impressive bit of engineering that makes the original Switch feel rudimentary in retrospect. Switch 2 UI: Menus, eShop, and more If I have one complaint about the system's safe design ethos, it's the UI. I've long been less than thrilled with the original Switch's full interface, full of plain white menus with no customization options. I had hoped that a new Nintendo console would bring a total redesign, but that's not the case. The Switch 2's menus look identical to that of its predecessors. Even new features like GameChat have been built with those minimal white menus in mind. It successfully gets across the idea that the ecosystem is consistent, but it's a bit of a letdown compared to other consoles on the market. The differences are minimal in most cases. My game library now has a tab where I can group games together as I please. I now have the option to set a button remapping shortcut to my pop-out home menu. There's better integration into the Switch mobile app, as I can instantly transfer screenshots and video there just as I can on the PlayStation app. These are largely additions that could have been added to the original Switch with a routine free update. The only noticeable improvement is in the eShop, which has received a much-needed overhaul. The entire app now loads significantly faster now, allowing me to continuously scroll a tab while game thumbnails load in an instant. There are some new discoverability tools built in too, like a recommendation feature that will take you to a random game page based on your play history. It's far less of a pain to use than the original Switch eShop, so I'll take that small victory. Switch 2 display and performance: HDR, VRR, and more I was a little worried at first when Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would use an LCD panel rather than sticking with OLED, but those fears have been calmed. Though the 7.9-inch screen isn't exactly up to par with the OLED, it's close enough that most casual fans won't notice the difference. It will also be an enormous upgrade for anyone still using the washed-out base Switch. Colors are vivid, as evidenced by the bright and bubbly Mario Kart World, and HDR helps keep the display light. I've yet to pick up any kind of noticeable haze while in handheld mode. Even more impressive is the fact that it's a 1080p display capable of outputting up to 120 frames per second, something that I never would have imagined from a Nintendo system. I've gotten to toy around with exactly what VRR can do in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which shows its frame rate potential in action. We won't really get to see just how powerful it is until more games go all out, but my early testing has yielded very smooth frame rates across the board. Mario Kart World impresses at 60fps, even when flying over an open-world where I can see very far off in the distance. An improved display isn't much without power that takes advantage of it, though. That's where the Switch 2 comes in clutch thanks to its very capable custom Nvidia chipset. You can see its power in games like Cyberpunk 2077 that bring the Switch 2 in line with the Steam Deck, but the upgrade is most noticeable when looking at some of the original Switch's ugliest games. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was a bit of a tech nightmare when it launched, with a stuttering frame rate and jagged lines everywhere. It is a completely different experience on Switch 2 running at 60 frames per second with clean edges. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the other showpiece that's sure to turn heads. That game hardly functioned on Switch, but it comes alive here. I couldn't believe how it looked when I started dashing around the world at 60fps with more monsters popping up on screen at a time. That's not to say that everything is magically fixed. There's still plenty of pop-in and ugly textures, but that has more to do with the game built on spaghetti. The fact that the Switch 2 can salvage it at all is impressive. The real test will be how brand-new games made to run on PS5 and Xbox Series X hold up. More testing will come in time, but we at least have some samples that give us an idea of what to expect long term. Split Fiction, for instance, works on the system only with some noticeable cutbacks to resolution and frame rate. It's still an impressive feat when looking at its underpowered predecessor, but you have to keep in mind that we're at the start of what will likely be an eight-year life cycle, one that probably cuts through another console generation. There's no doubt in my mind that this tech will start to feel old in four years' time, or even less if Valve moves to make a new Steam Deck. Nintendo has caught up here, but it's still playing from behind. DLSS support will help bridge the gap, but don't be surprised if the features that impress you today have you yearning for an upgrade tomorrow. It's great to see 4K support finally available on a Nintendo console too. Mario Kart World shines on my display, and that makes me more eager to dock my system. All of these bells and whistles do come at a significant cost, though. My system got surprisingly hot the first day I put it through its paces, which explains the dock's need for a cooling fan. The power is a major drain on battery life too, which is the big problem with Switch 2. Despite the fact that the 5,220 mAh battery is a massive leap over its predecessor, it depletes far quicker than I'm used to coming off the OLED. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour feels like a relatively modest game, but even that drained my battery in around three hours. Games like Mario Kart World can get down to around two and a half hours, and even that number is variable when you factor in features like GameChat. I'd say that battery life is about on par with what the original Switch's was at launch — maybe even a bit worse — but at least you're getting a significantly better image during that time. That makes it all a bit easier to swallow, but it's still the system's one major weakness. Switch 2 games: first party, third-party, and upgrades Like any Nintendo console, the Switch 2 will live and die by its games. We won't have a full picture of how robust its library is for a few years, but the system is off to a good enough start with some promising things on the horizon. On the first-party front, the main attraction is Mario Kart World. That's the system's Breath of the Wild equivalent, meant to be a launch day blockbuster that survives the system's lifespan. It's undoubtedly fun and an obvious must-have for anyone looking to use the console socially, but like the Switch 2 itself, it's a safe start. It's a reliable kart racer whose wow factor rests solely on a novel, but somewhat sparse open-world. It's not Zelda caliber, but it's a good showpiece for features like GameChat and camera integration. Aside from that, Nintendo's first-party efforts are a waiting game that will reward anyone who decides to wait for the holidays to grab the system. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a neat idea for a tech demo, but it only teases what the system can do. Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and Kirby Air Riders will all have to prove that the system's success doesn't rest solely on Zelda or a new 3D Mario game. Based on what we've demoed, it seems like at least some of those games will deliver. To help fill the gaps, Nintendo will release several Switch 2 Editions of the Switch's greatest hits. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom look better than ever on the new device, but titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet really do feel like new experiences to some extent. These updates aren't a good enough reason to fully replay a game, but they do help broaden what's available out the gate for those who have some gaps in their Switch library. The most important difference between this console launch and Nintendo's previous ones is how third-party developers are playing a role. The launch line up has already given us some big games from Cyberpunk 2077 to Sonic X Shadow Generations. Some games are a better fit than others. While Split Fiction loses some of its visual luster on Switch 2, Civilization 7's mouse control support makes it a better fit here than on PS5 or Xbox Series X. All that really matters here is that third-party partners seem to be all-in on the system, which puts the Switch 2 in a much healthier software position from the jump. Switch 2 controls: new Joy-cons, mouse mode For its controls, the Switch 2 comes with a new iteration on the Joy-cons. If you simply hated the feel of those controls on Switch, the new versions won't do much to change your mind. The joysticks are a little bigger, but they're otherwise the same in terms of feel. I'm the rare sicko who loved using the original Joy-cons in a grip, but that's less viable here. The newly redesigned grip is a big misfire, as its side grips aren't rounded on top. The space where you'd usually rest your palms is flat, which leaves your hands awkwardly hovering in negative space. If you hate using the Joy-cons, you'll really want to grab a traditional Pro Controller (the new version for Switch 2 is a small, but great upgrade thanks to added back buttons). You do at least get some slight tweaks here that were much needed. The joysticks are bigger, as are the shoulder buttons on the detached Joy-cons. I would have loved to see some extra ergonomic considerations here, but the small improvement is on brand for the console's grand theme: It's the Switch, but just a little better. The new Joy-cons get rid of the Switch's rarely used IR sensors, which aren't missed. It does keep HD Rumble, a feature that never really did much to differentiate itself from regular old rumble. It still feels a little plain next to the Dualsense's full haptic feedback, but it does come with a surprising trick or two. As Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will teach you, the vibration can get so fast that the controllers can actually simulate sounds like a 1-Up in Mario. I don't know if that will amount to anything more than a fun party fact, but it's something. The truly new feature is the Joy-cons' mouse functionality, and that's the big area where the Switch 2 really feels innovative in terms of what it does for play. Both controllers can be placed on a flat surface and moved around like a mouse, both to control supported games and to navigate the Switch's menus like a desktop. It's a goofy idea on paper that works remarkably well in practice. Based on my testing, the mice are pinpoint accurate even when I'm using my jeans as a mousepad instead of a table. Using them to place buildings in Civilization 7 or play high-speed minigames in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour feels natural, like using a PC mouse. The Joy-con triggers just so happen to be in the perfect spot to function as clickers too. It all seems strange at first, but I've adapted to it incredibly well and am quietly hoping this is the one feature that competitors take from this generation. I will note that during my initial testing, I was able to accidentally trigger the mouse cursor on screen while just holding the Joy-cons normally. I have not been able to reproduce that since, but it does seem as though the sensors can be a bit sensitive. Thankfully, you can disable the functionality in the settings menu if you're worried about it screwing you up at the worst moment possible. It's not just that the Switch 2 has a mouse; it's that it has two that can be used simultaneously. That's where the console gets more into gimmick territory, but there's some potential waiting to be unlocked here. You can use two controllers simultaneously as mice, which opens the door for some original experiences. In Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, for instance, I can play a minigame where I steer a ship's wheel and control a cockpit full of controls around it. Another rhythm minigame tasks me with catching beats in a line formed between my Joy-cons. Those controls can seamlessly pair with motion support too, allowing players to pick up their Joy-con to shoot a basket in Drag X Drive and then place it back down to keep driving. Inventive ideas like that leave lots of rooms for designers to experiment. But realistically, I don't think that will happen very much. The two-mouse setup very much feels like the kind of feature Nintendo will play with in first party games, but is minimally used elsewhere. Even Mario Kart World doesn't try to use the feature, and that's the console's big launch game. The real future for mouse controls feels like it's in first person shooters, strategy games, and other PC friendly genres that rarely adapt well to controllers. That's less exciting than the idea of inventing entirely new games, but it's a practical truth that'll likely limit a good idea. Switch 2 social features: GameChat, game sharing, camera support While mouse controls are a strong innovation, they aren't the Switch 2's real tentpole feature. That would be the system's surprisingly impressive social functionality. GameChat allows players to essentially set up a Zoom call within their system on the fly with the press of the new C button. Up to four players can enter a chat at once, using USB-connected cameras to share their video. I've been using Nintendo's official 1080p camera during testing, but I've also plugged in a random Logitech cam and that worked with no friction. Video comes in fairly clear and the face tracking tech always keeps my head in frame even when I'm using a transparent background. Transparency mode works fairly well, though it does occasionally pick up some visual noise in the tapestry behind my couch. While a microphone can be plugged in, the console itself has one built in that can work even when docked. My early tests with it have been shockingly positive. I figured that it wouldn't pick me up clearly when sitting far away from my dock, but I was coming in loud and clear according to the people I've chatted with. The microphone knows whether you're using the console docked or in handheld mode and seems to regulate the volume based on that quite well. More impressive is how well it handles background noise. My dock is directly in front of my TV, so game audio was pushing straight into it during my tests. The noise reduction seemed to cut that out entirely, only bringing my voice through. That's not the only magic trick either. GameChat features a speech-to-text option that will transcribe all chat audio live with surprising accuracy. It even splits that transcription up based on whoever is speaking. There's even a text-to-speech option that's just as impressive. By opening the GameChat menu, I can pull up an on-screen keyboard, type something in, and have it read out loud. What's better is that I was able to plug a keyboard into my dock through its USB port and start typing in that box instantly, no settings change required. While not every USB accessory works quite as seamlessly (my XR glasses don't connect, and plugging in a mouse doesn't seem to work for menus, though the option seems to be supported in some games), it's a big step for a Nintendo console. As great as GameChat can be, there are some big catches. Players can all screen share while in a chat, but the video comes through at the kind of frame rate that you see when you try to put a video in a PowerPoint slide. It's not a very viable way to actually watch someone play a game, which is a shame considering that there's a lot of potential there. I couldn't make out much at all when I expanded a friend's window and tried to watch his choppy, low resolution Mario Kart World gameplay. More successful is Game Share, the second piece of the system's social offerings. Players are able to share select games with friends either locally or while in GameChat. Doing so instantly lets a player jump into that game without downloading it. During a test, a friend invited me to join him in Super Mario Odyssey while we were chatting. A feed of Odyssey popped up on my screen and I was instantly controlling Cappy. The resolution and frame rate can be rough during dips, but the feed looks a lot better than screen shared games do. Lag seems to be quite minimal too based on my testing, as I was able to jump my pal over a river with accuracy. The feature only works for supported games, but it does genuinely feel like the console's most revolutionary idea so far. If you were to isolate any small upgrade that I've discussed in this review, the Switch 2 might sound like a modest upgrade. The more I've tested, though, the more I'm finding secret depth to it all. The power boost is significant, mouse controls are a great addition, and GameChat has exceeded my expectations so far. The design and UI still do leave me feeling like I'm using the same console, but everything starts to add up as I get more into a day-to-day groove with it. I have years of testing ahead of me, and we intended to treat this review as a work in progress just as we do with all console reviews, but we're starting from a high point. The games will decide whether we go up or down from here. How we tested the Switch 2 Our initial Nintendo Switch 2 review was largely based on hands-on time with our review unit, but we also incorporated some testing we did pre-launch. That included a bit of our first hands-on session with Nintendo Switch 2 in April, but we cross-referenced any findings there with our review unit to verify that information was still accurate. We also incorporated impressions based on a full day of testing the week before the console came out, as we had a chance to test some camera and GameChat features in depth and felt comfortable having those inform some of our final impressions. Once we got our hands on the system, we tested it extensively in a variety of use cases. We tested it on a 4K TV, a cruddy hotel screen, handheld mode, tabletop mode. We took it on the subway and used mouse controls on an airplane tray table. We tested a large variety of games including Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Rune Factory: Legends of Azuma and more. We tested several Nintendo Switch games on Switch 2, including games that got official updates and ones that did not. We used Balatro to test the touch screen, Fitness Boxing 3 to put the Joy-con 2 gyroscopes to the test, and Lumines Remastered to test latency on TV. Many more were tested alongside those examples. We tested GameChat extensively with other members of the press, stress testing it as best as possible. That included Game Share testing, as well as seeing how well the connection held up on hotel wi-fi. We used Nintendo's camera when testing GameChat, but we also tested other webcams, as well as third-party devices like USB keyboards and mice. Other peripherals tested included the Nintendo Switch Pro controller and the Joy-con wheel. While we feel comfortable enough to put out a scored review, we will continue to test the system post-launch and update this review with any relevant findings throughout the system's lifespan.
