Nintendo’s full showcase of the Switch 2 has finally arrived. The Switch 2 is bold in black and spunky with its colorful joystick accents, but its real capabilities are more than skin deep. Nintendo is back and is once again declaring itself as the king of fun gaming devices, even if that means you may not be playing your games with the greatest graphical fidelity. While we’re still waiting on price and release date, we’re keen to see Nintendo finally explain what the hell that “C” button actually does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXUmjX7DsP8
The “C” button enables GameChat, which combines with the Switch 2’s built-in mic to talk to friends while playing games online. The system will show the streams from your friends screens, even if they’re playing in different games than you. You can also expand your friends’ game screens to see more of what they’re playing.
You need to have a Switch Online subscription for GameChat, but new buyers will get a one-month subscription. The Switch 2 also includes a separate camera that centers the image on players’ heads, although we don’t know how big the camera sensor is, considering the blurry images shown off in the Direct stream.
Nintendo gave us a tiny peak of its Switch 2 back in January, but on Wednesday the legacy Japanese gamemaker finally pulled the curtain back on its sequel to 2017’s Nintendo Switch. The Switch 2 is an iteration on the company’s dockable handheld design from 2017, though with more top vents and a few extra buttons on top. The Nintendo Switch 2 houses an 7.9-inch, 1080p IPS LCD display, not OLED like on the $350 Switch OLED from 2021. The new JoyCons don’t slide onto the controller, but slot into the main body and are held together through magnets. There’s two switches on the rear side of the JoyCons that allow you to unlatch each individual stick. They’re both compatible with their own straps and new charging grip.
Nintendo said the screen supports HDR for better visual contrast, and the system also inclujdes a better speaker and in-built microphone. The system will also support 3D audio through supported headphones.
Though the JoyCons sport a more rounded design than the original, the real difference between the last gen and this version lies in its capabilities. The right-side JoyCon includes a large “C” switch under the Home button which makes a chime when you press it. For those wondering, if those rumored mouse controls were real, they are! Both left and right JoyCons support it.
It now includes 256 GB of storage, twice as much as the original Switch. The beefy Switch 2 dock supports 4K resolution for compatible games and HDR is supported in TV mode. The dock includes its own fan system for cooling.
As for games, Nintendo started its stream by showing off Mario Kart World, a Switch 2 exclusive. It’s complete with its redesigned Donkey Kong, new power ups, and a few hints at new tracks. Each track will have different day/night settings as well as weather effects. The big update is an open-world type “free-roam” environment to discover new routes or just take a few selfies with friends. It launches same day as Nintendo Switch 2. It will have its own Direct on April 17.
Some of what Nintendo showed at its latest direct are details you’re already well-aware of if you’ve been following the ultra-hyped handheld these last few months. The company’s previous Nintendo Direct made the debut of Virtual Game Cards as the new way the Nintendo Switch can store your digitally-purchased games. The Virtual Game Cards also double as a way of lending games to friends and for moving titles between two Switch consoles you own.
Nintendo has been preparing for this moment for the past two years, though we’re hoping the stock situation is better than it was with the original Switch. Nobody wants to stand on line for hours just to get their hands on a console, as much as they might love Nintendo.
This is a breaking story, and we will be updating this post as we learn more.