Nintendo Switch 2: everything we know about a potential Switch successor
It’s official: a successor to the Nintendo Switch will be announced “within the fiscal year” according to Nintendo, which means before 31 March 2025. The wait is on now that we have that announcement window, though there is still very little concrete information about the console itself.
The last hardware refresh that the Nintendo Switch received was with the launch of the Nintendo Switch OLED on October 8, 2021. Although the Nintendo Switch OLED boasts an enhanced OLED display, not to mention additional internal storage and improved speakers, there were no substantial upgrades to the power of the machine itself. This is a little problematic as, while the majority of the best Nintendo Switch games manage to run smoothly enough, the Nintendo Switch is powered by a modest Nvidia Tegra X1 chip and just 4GB of RAM.
Recent third-party releases like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Biomutant have really started to push this hardware to its absolute limits, with unstable frame rates and greatly compromised visuals. Even in ideal situations, however, the console can only play games in up to 720p in handheld mode, while that number increases to just to 1080p when in docked mode. Now that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have been on the market for a few years, both consoles that can play games at a smooth 60 fps and high-fidelity 4K resolution, it makes a lot of sense for Nintendo to take things back to the drawing board and improve the hardware under the hood to better keep up with the competition.
But what could be in store for Nintendo fans? Here are all the latest rumors, plus plenty of considered speculation, about the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2: cut to the chase
- What is it? The successor to the Nintendo Switch console
- How much will it cost? TBA
- When will it release? TBA, but an announcement has been confirmed for before the end of next year
- What will its upgrades be? TBA, but more powerful hardware with improvements to RAM, CPU power, and GPU speed, is almost gauranteed. Based on recent leaks, we should also expect redesigned Joy-Con controllers, possibly using magnets.
Nintendo Switch 2: release date speculation
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 has yet to be officially announced, Nintendo has confirmed that the announcement is coming within the fiscal year – which means before 31 March 2025. Based on the reveal and release of the original Nintendo Switch, it seems safe to assume that it will then release later that same year. This lines up with previous reports from the Japanese media outlet Nikkei that suggest that the console is set to release in 2025.
Nintendo Switch 2: price speculation
The Nintendo Switch launched for $259.99 / £259.99 / AUD$435, with the newer Nintendo Switch OLED then available for $349.99 / £309.99 / AU$539.95. Given that the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely feature improved hardware compared to both models, the asking price is very likely to come in higher than these figures.
For some additional perspective, the PS5 and Xbox Series X sell for $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95 and $499 / £449 / AU$749 respectively. Nintendo often aims to undercut its competition, offering lower spec hardware at a more affordable price.
With this in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Nintendo Switch 2 is priced around $399.99 / £399.99 / AU$699.95 or even slightly lower to keep the competitive edge. That said, you should bear in mind that this figure is purely an educated guess for the time being.
Nintendo Switch 2: rumored specs
The most recent rumours regarding potential Nintendo Switch 2 specs come from a spec sheet created by the YouTube content creator Paul Eccleston or “RedGamingTech”. As explained by Tom’s Hardware, Eccleston supposedly made the spec sheet with information from his own sources and a report by the Korean United Daily News. This spec sheet suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature an eight core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. While this is not particularly impressive compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X, it would still represent an improvement in power compared to all of the current Nintendo Switch models.
That same source also indicates that the Nintendo Switch 2 could offer hugely improved battery life, in addition to a 120 Hz refresh rate with a 7-inch OLED display. In terms of overall design, Ecclestone says that it is likely to be similar to that of the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Interestingly, this contradicts older rumors that suggested we may see a mini-LED display used for the screen. According to a report by Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, a Nintendo Switch successor could sport mini-LED screens supplied by Innolux.
Going back even further, Wccftech reported that a data miner known as “SciresM” had claimed to have found a reference to a new Nintendo Switch model within the Nintendo Switch’s latest firmware update under the codename ‘Aula’. Rather than being within the Nintendo Switch itself, this source argues that the hardware improvement “might be inside a new dock and not inside the tablet”. They do note, however, that “there’s no way to tell from the firmware code yet.”
We’ve also seen some Nintendo Switch Pro rumors thanks to a leaked Nvidia email which suggested the existence of the Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Reportedly, this was being designed specifically for an upcoming Nintendo Switch model, which could very well mean the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2: latest news and rumors
Nintendo has a simple plan to thwart Nintendo Switch 2 resellers
Speaking at a Q&A during the company’s 84th annual shareholder meeting, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa discussed some plans to combat potential Nintendo Switch 2 resellers. He said that “as a countermeasure for resale, we believe that it is most important to produce a sufficient number to meet customer demand.” Put simply, the idea is that if Nintendo manufactures enough Nintendo Switch 2 units, customers won’t ever feel the need to purchase from resellers at a marked up price.
We will have to wait and see whether this strategy is effective, but this should still offer some reassurance to those who are worried about having to hunt down limited stock around the launch period.
A Nintendo Switch successor will be announced “within this fiscal year”
In a post to the official Nintendo X / Twitter corporate account on May 7 2024, the company confirmed that a “successor to the Nintendo Switch” will be announced “within this fiscal year”. As the Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31 2025, we now know for sure that we will getting an official announcement before that date.
Nintendo Switch 2 reportedly delayed until 2025
As spotted by Tom’s Guide, known leaker “Moore’s Law is Dead” joined the many sources saying that the Nintendo Switch 2 had been delayed until at least 2025. Interestingly, they provided some additional insight that was supposedly gleaned through their NVIDIA contacts. According to this leaker, the physical hardware powering the Nintendo Switch 2 has been ready for some time but Nintendo has been holding off on revealing the system in order to ensure adequate stock at launch – which lines up with other reports.
Nintendo president denies Nintendo Switch 2 developer briefings
Following our report that Nintendo Switch 2 tech demos took place at Gamescom 2023, which was confirmed by our own sources, Nintendo company president Shuntaro Furukawa denied that any such briefings took place. Speaking to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi, Furukawa described the briefings as “rumours” that “are inaccurate.”
Nintendo has briefed Activision on a Nintendo Switch successor
In September 2023 an internal email that was unearthed as part of the now resolved FTC lawsuit over Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Acquisition revealed that Activision executives had been briefed about the existence of the “NG Switch” – a potential Switch successor. The email suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 could offer performance that is roughly on par with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, which would definitely make sense if it maintained the handheld form factor of its predecessor.
A Nintendo executive hinted at backwards compatibility
Going back even further, a Nintendo executive hinted at the possibility that the Nintendo Switch 2 could be backwards compatible in June 2023. Speaking in a shareholder Q&A session that was translated from Japanese, the executive stated that “[Nintendo] will do our best to make the transition smooth for our customers” when new hardware arrives.
Should you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2?
The question of whether you should wait for the Nintendo Switch 2 is something that’s likely going to be on every gamer’s mind in the lead up to the console’s official reveal and subsequent release. As with a lot of things, however, the answer here really depends on your specific needs and what you want out of a console.
If you’re just looking for a way to play the existing library of Nintendo Switch games, then the current Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED, or Nintendo Switch Lite are likely going to be more than enough for you. Given that the console is quite old now, it’s available pretty cheaply and is often part of generous bundles that pack-in a top game at no extra cost.
As the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely cost more than the existing Nintendo Switch, thanks to a combination of general price increases in plenty of consumer tech products over the years and the high likelihood of substantially improved hardware under the hood, Nintendo’s current system is also a great choice if you’re shopping on a tight budget. In this regard, the Nintendo Switch Lite is especially easy to recommend, as has occasionally dropped to under $160 / £190 in big sales events.
That said, I would say that it’s definitely worth waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2 if your biggest concern is graphics. The current console is capable of a lot, with some superb looking games such as Splatoon 3 or Super Mario Bros. Wonder showing what it can do, but it is almost gauranteed that software on its successor will look even better. If you play lots of third-party games, then I would also say that it’s worth waiting. Lots of recent third-party titles on Nintendo Switch have suffered from poor performance, notably the likes of Mortal Kombat 1 and Biomutant. If you intend to play games that weren’t developed or published by Nintendo, then hold off until a beefier system is here.
Of course, you should also avoid the Nintendo Switch if you’re the kind of person who simply has to own the latest and greatest version of a system. It is very likely to be released next year and that means you won’t have that many months before needing to upgrade if you pick up a Nintendo Switch right now.
Dashiell Wood
I’m a gaming hardware expert and a dedicated Nintendo Switch player who has poured thousands of hours into the system since its release back in 2017. I cover all the latest gaming consoles here at TechRadar, with a keen focus on the Nintendo Switch, and stay up to date with everything from all the latest rumors and leaks to new analyst insights and relevant sales data.
Nintendo Switch 2: FAQs
Will the Nintendo Switch 2 be backwards compatible?
This is a tough question to answer, as we really don’t know right now. That said, some Nintendo executives have hinted that the company is looking at backwards compatibility, which could be a positive sign of what’s to come. Lots of past Nintendo consoles, like the Nintendo DS or Nintendo Wii, have also featured backwards compatibility with their direct predecessors, meaning that it is likely on the cards of the company intends to follow this trend this time around.
Is the Nintendo Switch 2 coming soon?
We now know that a successor to the Nintendo Switch will be officially unveiled “within the fiscal year”. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean that the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming soon, it confirms that more concrete information will be on the way in the coming months.
Could the Nintendo Switch 2 have VR support?
While Nintendo has experimented with virtual reality (VR) functionality through Nintendo Labo, delivering a true VR in the vein of Sony’s PSVR 2 would demand some pretty beefy hardware. It’s not totally impossible, but it seems unlikely that Nintendo would be able to put out a handheld gaming system with console-quality graphics that also supports VR play.
Could the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K?
While Sony and Microsoft continue to expand into the 4K market, there isn’t really any big reason for Nintendo to follow suit. In an interview, Nintendo France General Manager Philippe Lavoué brushed off 4K saying that the technology has “not been adopted by the majority” and it would, therefore, be too early for Nintendo to jump on board.
