Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed: Everything You Need to Know From Today’s Direct

By Lucas Luna | April 2, 2025

Hey everyone, Lucas here from Thanks For Playing, and I just had to jump on and share my instant reactions to today’s massive Nintendo Switch 2 reveal. We got a lot of news, from hardware upgrades to wild new features, and a bunch of game announcements that basically guarantee none of us are going outside this summer.

Let’s break it all down.

🚀 Switch 2 Hardware – Bigger, Better, Finally 1080p

Nintendo is not messing around this time. The Switch 2 is basically everything we’ve been begging for:

• 7.9” 1080p HDR screen in handheld mode (up from the original’s 720p)

• Up to 120 FPS gameplay (!!)

• 256GB internal storage, 8x more than the OG Switch

• Magnetic, larger Joy-Cons with improved ergonomics

• Built-in mic and 3D audio support

• Two USB-C ports (top and bottom for better charging flexibility)

• Kickstand 2.0 – no more flimsy table flops

• Dock supports 4K output and now has a built-in fan for better thermal performance

They even added mouse functionality to Joy-Cons, which… yeah, we’ll see how that goes, but I respect the innovation.

And for those wondering: yes, there’s a new Switch 2 Pro Controller and a GameCube-style controller to pair with the GameCube emulator (more on that later).

🎮 Mario Kart World – 24 Player Races and Battle Royale Mode!?

They kicked off the Direct with the new Mario Kart World, and let me tell you, it looks incredible. The big headline is 24-player races and a seamless open-world track system where you go from one course to the next without loading screens.

Also… Knockout Tour Mode, a battle royale-style race where the slowest players get eliminated at checkpoints. Plus a free roam mode for casual chaos. They’re really reinventing Mario Kart, and it somehow works.

🧱 Game Chat and Social Features – Nintendo Gets Zoomy

Believe it or not, Nintendo is adding native voice chat, video integration via the new Switch 2 camera, and real-time screen sharing. Think Zoom but on your console.

There’s a chat button on both the Joy-Con and Pro Controller for muting, screen sharing, or turning off your camera. It's clearly made for family-friendly hangouts more than esports scrims, but it's a huge step for Nintendo, who has traditionally made online multiplayer feel like an afterthought.

🎥 Game Announcements Galore

Some of the biggest reveals today include:

• Enhanced editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom – better framerates, HDR, and larger screens in handheld mode? Say less.

• Hollow Knight: Silksong – soft confirmed for 2025 (we saw it, it happened!)

• Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 edition, fully supports the new camera

• Metroid Prime 4 – finally looks good on Switch 2

• Elden Ring, Hades, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, Hitman, and Final Fantasy VII Remake all coming to Switch 2

  
  

Oh, and Donkey Kong Bonanza, a new AAA DK game with heavy environmental interaction. Plus, Kirby Air Ride remake and a new Hyrule Warriors if that’s your thing.

💿 GameCube Emulation is Real

We finally got confirmation of the GameCube emulator built into Switch 2. Launch titles include:

• Soul Calibur II

• Wind Waker

• F-Zero GX

• Super Mario Strikers (yes!)

• *More to come... including Mario Baseball, please, Nintendo.)

And yes, they’re launching that beautiful GameCube-style controller with it. Instant buy.

🧛‍♂️ FromSoft Exclusive – The Duskbloods

This was a curveball. The Duskbloods is a FromSoftware game exclusive to Switch 2. Visually, it looks Bloodborne-adjacent, though a little rough around the edges. Still, it’s a bold move from Nintendo to bring in that kind of hardcore IP. Even if it's not your thing, it speaks volumes about where the Switch 2 is headed.

🗓️ Release Date & Price

• 📆 Launch Date: June 5, 2025

• 💸 Price: $450 (rumored)

• 🎮 Mario Kart World: $80 at launch

Yeah, we're officially in the premium era of Nintendo. But considering how long the original Switch lasted (7 years!), I think it’s a pretty fair value.

🎉 Final Thoughts

This was one of the most exciting Directs I’ve ever seen. Nintendo didn’t just upgrade the console – they leveled up their whole ecosystem. New tech, thoughtful hardware updates, bold experiments with social play, and a healthy mix of first-party bangers and third-party support.

Switch 2 is looking like a real contender, not just for Nintendo fans but for gamers across the board. I’ll be there Day 1, playing Mario Kart World and soaking in that HDR.

And July? That’s for Zelda.

Catch the full episode of TFP for even more takes and chaos from our Discord! Pre-orders are likely going live soon — get ready.

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