Michał Stekla
After months of speculation, Nintendo officially releases the Switch 2 – a console that expands on the proven concept from the first generation, but adds more power, a better screen, and fresh games that couldn’t be played before. It is still a hybrid – you can play on the go, at the table, or on a large screen. You will still find Joy-Cons – but in a new version. And it’s still all about games, though this time on a grander scale.
What will you find in the Switch 2? What has changed?
In the package, we get the console, upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers (with a new mouse feature) and a classic docking station. At the front, we have a 7.9-inch LCD screen that offers 1080p and even 120 Hz. Inside – 256 GB of storage, which can be expanded to 2 TB via a microSD card. Battery life? Between 2 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game.
When docked, the Switch 2 is capable of displaying visuals in 4K at 60 Hz or 1080p/1440p up to 120 Hz. Nintendo also mentions support for HDR, VRR and 3D spatial audio, although not all features work perfectly in every game – more on this in analyses by FlatpanelsHD.
Under the hood sits the T239 chip from Nvidia, based on the Ampere architecture. The manufacturer boasts even a 10-times higher graphical performance than the first Switch. On paper, it looks like this: 3.1 TFlops in docked mode and 1.7 TFlops in handheld mode, which means a significant leap, though still not on the level of PS5 or Xbox Series X. Ray tracing, DLSS and other modern graphical technologies are also in play.
New games, new possibilities
What about games? It’s really interesting here. At launch, there will be titles available exclusively on Switch 2 – including Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter 6, Fortnite as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Additionally, over time, updates for older games optimised for the new hardware will be released. Prices? Up to £74.99 – which means Nintendo is not afraid to follow in the footsteps of major AAA publishers.
Switch 2 on sale at night - no queues, no drama
Ultima, Media Markt and Warsaw's Media Expert have launched the night sale of the Switch 2. There were interested parties, but no crowds – Nintendo did not repeat the chaos from the PS5 launch. The warehouses are full, so those looking to flip on OLX might be surprised.
Prices? £349.99 for the console without a game, £379.99 with Mario Kart World included.
Availability? For now, it is no problem – both online and in-store. But things may vary by the weekend.
Switch 2 is not a new generation in terms of graphical revolution – it is rather evolution, not revolution. The console is faster, better, more modern, but it still does not throw down the gauntlet to PlayStation 5 or Xbox. And it probably never has – because Nintendo has been playing its own tune for years.
If you want to play new titles and stay in the Switch ecosystem, today is a good day – Switch 2 goes on sale on 5th June in the USA, Europe, Oceania, and parts of Asia. In the following weeks, it will reach more countries.
