Expected release date and what we want to see

Update, September 22, 2024 (11:51 AM ET): We’ve updated this Nintendo Switch 2 rumor hub with suspicious leaked CAD-based images and more information on possible specs.

Original article: Even if you love it and still use it daily, there’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch is getting old. Launched in 2017, the hybrid console celebrated its seventh birthday in March, which means it’s getting close to retirement. With this in mind, one can’t help but wonder: where is the sequel, presumably called the Nintendo Switch 2?

Thankfully, Nintendo has confirmed that a successor is coming soon. There have also been some rumors and leaks surrounding the sequel to Nintendo’s best-selling home console. We’ve rounded up the most trustworthy of them here. Towards the end of the article, we also have a few wishlist items — things we hope to see but don’t have any evidence for quite yet.

The Nintendo Switch is the company’s best-selling home console ever, with over 143 million units shipped to date. The only hardware Nintendo has released that has done better than the Switch is the Nintendo DS, which sold 154 million units, making it possible (even likely) that the Switch could become Nintendo’s best-selling hardware of all time. When you take this popularity into account, you can be relatively assured there will be a Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo has confirmed that it will announce a successor to the Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year, meaning that the Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will be revealed no later than March 31, 2025.

Since the announcement comes directly from the company, this is completely true and reliable as long as you believe their word.

Eurogamer reported on September 7, 2023, that Nintendo showcased the Switch 2 to developers behind closed doors at Gamescom. The outlet claimed that the firm showed a number of tech demos, including a higher resolution and frame rate version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. But it stressed that there was no hint that this game would be re-released.

It was also reported by VGC that Nintendo showed off Epic’s The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, which was originally released to showcase the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This doesn’t mean that the Switch 2 is as powerful as these consoles, however. The report says that the Switch 2 was relying on NVIDIA’s DLSS technology with advanced ray tracing enabled to upscale the resolution to the same level as current-gen consoles.

For the record, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa shot down these rumors in November while speaking with the Japanese publication Mainichi. Specifically, Furukawa says the rumors are “inaccurate” and “untrue.” Take that as you will.

Will it be called ‘Nintendo Switch 2’ or something else?

Sony sticks to a reliable naming scheme for its consoles. The first PlayStation was followed up by a PlayStation 2. After that, we saw a PS3 and a PS4. Even today, the newest console is the Sony PlayStation 5. It’s all very logical and reliable.

Nintendo doesn’t go this route. In fact, since the launch of the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, there has never been a “2” in a Nintendo console’s name. That includes handheld consoles as well as the 2DS, which isn’t a direct sequel to the DS but instead a variant of the 3DS. So, the likelihood of a sequel to the Switch landing with the official name of Nintendo Switch 2 is relatively low.

Then again, the Nintendo Switch is unlike anything the company has done before. Its ability to act as both a home console and a handheld sets it apart from Nintendo’s historical roster, and its runaway success has created some serious brand recognition for the word “Switch.”

We also have to consider the Wii. While the Wii sold well, the Wii U name was confusing and didn’t help sales in the slightest. It’s possible the company could keep things simple and call the sequel a Switch 2.

Still, Nintendo tends to do its own thing, and it’s likely the Switch successor will follow these same rules while still trying to clarify this is indeed a new console. For what it’s worth, there have been some possible names thrown around, such as Super Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Pro, among others. For now, though, we’ll just use “Nintendo Switch 2” as a shorthand.

As mentioned, Nintendo has officially teased that the company will make an announcement about the successor to the Nintendo Switch “within this fiscal year.” The current fiscal year ends on March 31, 2025, so the Switch 2 will definitely be announced between now and then, as per the company’s own words.

However, keep in mind that just because Nintendo will launch the new Switch between now and April 2025, that doesn’t mean you’ll actually be able to buy one then. It is very possible Nintendo could reveal the new console’s name, design, launch titles, price, and more, but not actually make it available for purchase. There have been numerous examples of this strategy in Nintendo’s past and competitors such as Sony and Microsoft.

With that in mind, it’s anyone’s guess as to when you’ll actually be able to get one of these for yourself. But, Nintendo will almost certainly reveal this information during the launch, so you don’t have long to wait.

We don’t expect Nintendo to reinvent the wheel with a Switch sequel. The original Switch is a massive hit and a cultural touchstone. Hopefully, Nintendo won’t mess with this success. As with the jump from the Nintendo DS to the Nintendo 3DS, we expect the company to keep the core of what the Switch is and make it better rather than wildly revamping things as it tried to do from the Wii to the Wii U.

A new design?

It is very unlikely that Nintendo would ship a Switch 2 that looks and functions just like the original Switch. As such, we are expecting at least minor changes to the design. However, as of now, what those changes might be are relatively unknown.

We have seen some leaks, but we would advise heavy skepticism about their accuracy. We’ve seen plenty of conflicting information from various sources, so we’re not quite sure who to believe. Regardless, here are the significant leaks we’ve seen so far.

The above CAD-based images allegedly show the Nintendo Switch 2. The images were found on Reddit, but are said to originate from an unverified source on a Chinese social media site.

According to the Reddit post, we’re dealing with a console that has an 8-inch screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, and USB-C ports on the top and bottom. Additionally, it’s claimed that the system will have 12GB of RAM, support for HDMI 2.1, and 256GB of internal storage. Notably, other rumors contradict these leaked specs.

Based on the images, it looks like the SL and SR buttons on the Joy-Cons may have been revised. In addition, it appears that the release button on the controllers have been changed as well.

While you should remain skeptical of this leak, the images reportedly match what Nintendo’s partners have been told to expect, according to VGC‘s source who has not seen the Switch 2 but has been briefed on the plans. The details also appear to align with previous leaks suggesting an 8-inch display.

Meanwhile, a reshared leak from CentroLeaks, citing Famiboards community member “mjayer,” includes a purported scale mockup of the Switch 2’s size based on leaked parts, comparing it to the original Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck. Keep in mind that this is a size mockup, not a design mockup. The final product will almost certainly look significantly different from this mockup, but it could retain similar dimensions:

Switch accounts

Whenever Nintendo switches (pun intended) to a new console, those consoles tend to have their own account systems. So unlike PlayStation and Xbox, where players carry their accounts over from generation to generation, Nintendo players typically need to create a new account. But that won’t be the case for the Switch’s successor.

Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser spoke with Inverse about the Switch’s future in October. While he didn’t confirm or deny the existence of a Switch 2, Bowser did talk about making the transition easier by allowing accounts to carry over to whatever comes next.

“Well, first, I can’t comment — or I won’t comment, I should say — on the rumors that are out there,” Bowser told the publication. “But one thing we’ve done with the Switch to help with that communication and transition is the formation of the Nintendo Account.” He then said that the new overarching Nintendo Account would “allow us to communicate with our players if and when we make a transition to a new platform, to help ease that process or transition.”

As for why Nintendo is embracing this change of approach, Bowser stated:

“Our goal is to minimize the dip you typically see in the last year of one cycle and the beginning of another. I can’t speak to the possible features of a new platform, but the Nintendo Account is a strong basis for having that communication as we make the transition.”

So, it appears whenever the Switch 2 — or whatever the next console is — comes out, you’ll still have the same account as you did with the original Switch. This strongly suggests at least some level of backward compatibility.

A better processor

Inevitably, the Nintendo Switch 2 would need to be more powerful than the original. The need for better CPU/GPU performance is painfully evident for Switch games like Pokémon Scarlet/Violet, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and even The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These titles sap so much from the Switch’s meager processor that dropped frames, glitches, and even outright crashes are common.

As such, we are confident Nintendo will include an upgraded processor with a Switch sequel. The system on a chip (SoC) in the Switch is based on the Tegra X1, which NVIDIA launched in 2015. Recently YouTube content creator Paul Eccleston put together a spec sheet that is supposedly made from info that combines his own sources with a report from the Korean United Daily News. In this report it is claimed the Switch’s successor will have a Cortex-A78AE processor with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal eMMC. This is a paltry amount of built-in storage but not out of character for Nintendo in the slightest, as the company has always had relatively low internal storage compared to its contemporaries.

Nintendo will also need to finely balance performance with power consumption due to the ostensibly portable nature of the Switch 2. Though the same spec sheet claims this won’t be an issue as the company will offer improved battery life which hints at a bigger battery and a possibly bulkier design.

Most recently, we’ve heard that the performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 could be on par with a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. This comes from an Activision employee with direct knowledge of Nintendo’s plans, which came to light through heavily redacted documents unearthed for the Activision-Microsoft litigation. This makes us feel pretty confident that the Switch 2 will be much more powerful than the original and it an upgrade to nearly Xbox One quality graphics feels reasonable even for a system designed with portability in mind.

Launch games

The rumor mill appears pretty confident that the Switch successor could support backward compatibility with current Switch titles. That would be terrific news, as it would enable you to continue playing your favorites from the past seven years without needing to keep your original Switch.

One “new” game we do think might launch with the Switch 2 is Hi-Fi Rush. Per a report from Insider Gaming, the Xbox/Windows-exclusive title is confirmed to be coming to other consoles, including the PlayStation 5. However, the Switch was curiously left out of this announcement, and IG thinks it might be because it’s actually coming to the Switch 2. If so, we likely wouldn’t hear confirmation until deep into 2024.

Regardless of the status of Hi-Fi Rush, you should expect at least one launch title from Nintendo’s various first-party franchises. This could be Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Metroid, or any other, but it is unlikely Nintendo would launch a new console without a first-party exclusive attached.

One reason for the runaway success of the original Switch is its price. At $299, it is significantly less expensive than a PlayStation 5 and the same price as an Xbox Series S. However, that does not mean the Switch 2 would be priced similarly.

If Nintendo does keep the original Switch in production when it launches a follow-up console — which is very possible considering Nintendo’s official statements on its continuing support for the original Switch — it could easily justify charging more for the Switch 2. For example, Nintendo could price a Switch 2 at $399. In fact, a reliable source, VGC, points to that number in a recent leak from January 2024.

That’s expensive, yes, but still $100 less than an Xbox Series X and the same price as the original digital-only version of the PlayStation 5 (the slimmed-down version of the digital PS5 got a price increase in late 2023). The success of the Switch has perhaps earned Nintendo the right to charge more, especially if it sees a ton of spec upgrades.

If you think about it, that hypothetical $399 price would make a lot of sense. On the low end, you’d have the Switch Lite at $199. The original Switch would remain at $299, and the Switch OLED Model would be an upsell at its current price of $349. The Switch 2 could top the list as the newest and best model at $399. Of course, Nintendo could make the Switch 2 feel more premium by eliminating the original Switch and dropping the Switch OLED Model to $299, too.

Regardless, we do not expect the Switch 2 to cost the same as the original at launch since both products will likely exist simultaneously.

In fact, it’s very possible the Switch Lite could continue on for a while longer with a focus on smaller games and more DS-like experiences, which is a lot of like what we frankly saw from the OG Switch and Switch Lite in 2024 anyhow.

Additionally, games will likely be more expensive. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom controversially launched at $70, which is $10 more than the average first-party Switch game. This may have been a test run, as VGC says Switch 2 games might be at $70 as a default.

Should you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2?

At this point, yes, if you are thinking about a Nintendo Switch this late in the game, we’d wait for a Switch 2 unless you’re willing to buy used. The only exception is maybe the Switch Lite, as it’s very likely a Switch Lite 2 won’t come until further down the road.

Simply put, the Switch is too old to spend full price on, and it’s very likely the system will see step discounts next year when its successor arrives.

Of course, if you have young kids who have just come of age for gaming and don’t want to wait another year, the Switch is still a great system. Just be aware it’s showing its age hard.

A performance-boosting dock

The Switch’s dock is incredibly simplistic. Really, it’s just a plastic box with an HDMI adapter attached. The Switch OLED model slightly increases complexity by incorporating an Ethernet port, but it’s still just an adapter box. We’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 have a dock that also increases the power of the Switch itself.

The dock could act the same way as an eGPU, boosting the graphical abilities of the Switch when it’s connected. This could allow for higher refresh rates, higher resolutions (4K please!), better audio, etc., when playing the Switch 2 on your television. When you take it out of the dock to use it in handheld mode, the performance would drop — but it wouldn’t matter on that tiny screen. Obviously, this would increase the cost of the Switch 2 significantly, but it would make the console so much better. Even if this is a “Dock Pro” that’s sold separately, we’d love to see Nintendo do this.

Support for higher refresh rates

Whether playing on your TV or in handheld mode, all three current Switch models are capped at 60Hz. The Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5 — both three years old at this point — support higher refresh rates. Even budget Android smartphones have 90Hz displays nowadays, so Nintendo needs to get with the times. We’d love to see 90Hz in handheld mode and 120Hz when docked. This would make the Switch 2 more of a modern console and would make it more future-proof. It would also help differentiate the Switch 2 and the original Switch models.

Better Joy-Con

Without a doubt, the weakest aspect of the original Switch is the Joy-Con controllers. The rumble tech is cool, and the multiple control options are neat, but the stubby sticks, questionable ergonomics, and cheap, tiny buttons leave much to be desired when using the Switch on the go. Nintendo probably isn’t going to reinvent the wheel with a Switch 2, so the sequel console will probably have Joy-Con that are very similar in design to the originals. But there’s a ton of room for improvement there. Besides, Nintendo would need to avoid the “Joy-Con drift” debacle that still pervades to this day with Switch hardware. Once again, this could also be a simple differentiator for why the Switch 2 is more expensive than other Switch models.

Have any Nintendo Switch 2 leaks to share with us? Send us a tip, and we’ll check it out.