Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2

Finally, we have confirmation from Nintendo that a Switch console successor is coming! Well...sort of. All we actually have to go on is a tweet posted via X back in May, where the President of Nintendo stated that an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch will be made "within this fiscal year", which if we go by Nintendo's calendar, means we'll hear more before March 2025.

The so-called Nintendo Switch 2 (or is that Super Nintendo Switch? [or is that Switch Pro?]) has been rumoured for years now, but we're yet to hear anything else official about the souped-up Switch sequel. Gamers were a little disappointed when Nintendo revealed the Switch OLED model in 2021 since it wasn't exactly 'Pro' – aside from a brighter display. This new console offered little in the way of spec upgrades, and then in 2022 and 2023 we got nothing.

Since the very casual announcement from Nintendo, Nintendo Switch 2 leaks, rumours, and speculation have been hotting up. Read on for a breakdown of everything we know about the next Nintendo Switch console, and if you don't fancy waiting until 2025, check out the best Nintendo Switch deals available now.

Nintendo Switch 2: Spec-ulation

There's been plenty of spec-ulation (get it) about what specs we can potentially expect from the unofficially-named Nintendo Switch 2 console. Rumour has it that the Switch successor will feature a vastly improved display, with 4K resolution, plus new charging tech that could revamp the portable experience.

As expected, most of these rumours have been coming from Reddit discussions, although other recent hardware leaks have been procured from manufacturing information based in China, shipping manifests, and confirmation from developers. Here's everything we know below.

Display:

According to new reports, the Switch 2 could have a larger 8-inch screen (around 15% bigger) as reported by Gamerant. Other leaks suggest the console display might not be OLED, but it will instead feature an LCD screen according to an industry analyst, namely Hiroshi Hayase - Omdia Research Manager.

The display screen might also be capable of running 120hz, which is twice the current 60hz. This could result in super-smooth gameplay, which, when accompanied by the rumoured 4K display, would look absolutely stunning. Gamers have been begging for 4k resolution on the Nintendo Switch, and many were disappointed not to see this arrive with the Switch OLED model. Indeed, exploring Hyrule or zooming around Bowser's castle would be infinitely more immersive and thrilling in crisp 4K.

Storage:

Shipping manifests (if reliable) show that Nintendo has been ordering parts for the upcoming console, which include 12GB of RAM, more specifically – lpddr5x, which is not only more expensive but offers more memory bandwidth than the current 4GB installed with the standard Nintendo Switch models.

Internals:

Naturally, all of the juiciest Switch Pro rumours are regarding the internals. We've heard that the Switch Pro could feature NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) AI rendering technology, along with a more capable CPU. One Nintendo leaker has claimed that the Switch Pro's power will amount to around that of a PS4 – pretty impressive for a handheld device.

Charging:

As spotted by GamingBible, leakers on the Famiboards forums have been dishing out supposed details on the Switch 2, including the fact that a new 60W charger will allow the device to charge at a much faster rate.

Nintendo Switch 2: Design concepts

While we still have no idea what the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2/Switch Pro will look like, plenty of concept artists have been creating weird and wonderful iterations of hypothetical Nintendo hardware. With rumours suggesting that the new Switch could even be titled Super Nintendo Switch, it's not impossible that we could be in for a retro-looking colour scheme with colourful buttons.

Call us crazy, but several second-gen consoles from Nintendo have followed this trend, including the monochromatic NES with rainbow buttons, and the NEW 3DS model had red, green, yellow, and blue buttons, making this more than a colourful conspiracy theory.

Fan-made renders also hint at the radically different possible design of the Nintendo Switch Pro. From a four-cartridge dock, to a bunch of delightfully retro concepts, fans have revelled in imagining what the future might hold for the design of the Switch. Although, we're not too fond of this ridiculous mod which sees the screen size increased by 188%.

A global contest by Freelancer.com received more than 100 entries from freelancers challenged to submit their "best conceptualisation of what the rumoured Nintendo Switch 2 might look like". It was a unique render created by Aiden, L. from California that garnered attention, with a concept featuring two vertically stacked screens in a style reminiscent of the Nintendo DS.

Nintendo Switch 2: Joy-cons and accessories

The biggest rumour we've heard about the new Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons is that they'll somehow feature magnetic attachment. According to Spanish gaming site Vandal, the new Joycons will ditch the rails of the current console and have the ability to magnetically attach to the side of the Switch screen.

This could mean that current Joy-Cons won't be compatible with the new console, but we don't know this for sure, and it's likely the Pro controller would still function via Bluetooth connectivity. Rumours have also suggested that we could be in for more ergonomic Joy-Cons, with a grippier texture.

There's actually been leaked footage and images of reported Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-cons, with footage originally shared via the Chinese video platform Bilibili, that showcases blurry visuals of someone grabbing a Joy-Con (which appears to shor magnets) from the sides of a display screen, rather than sliding off in the usual rail format. Take a look at the tweet below or context.

Recent leaks on Switch 2 accessories have been circulating, with several listings cropping up on e-commerce sites operated by Alibaba Group (specifically 1688.com) that could either be genuine or totally fake. Either way, these accessories could give us an indication of the Switch 2 dimensions, with most suggesting it will have a larger screen after all.

Nintendo Switch 2: Price

Spanish tip site Nintenduo has speculated that the Nintendo Switch 2 price could be between €400 and €500, based on estimates from market analysts (specifically analyst Hideki Yasuda of Tokyo Securities), which would mean that the console could cost between $419 and $524 in the US.

Nintenduo offers no real credit or source other than Yasuda to back up this claim, so this can only be treated as a rumour for the time being, though these figures don't seem too far-fetched given the recent prices of other next-gen consoles like the PlayStation Pro.

Nintendo Switch 2: Compatibility

We've also recently heard that the Switch 2 will offer backwards compatibility, letting gamers play OG Switch titles without needing to own the standard console. Not only that, but it's been suggested that games and cartridges could be 'enhanced' and upscaled, taking advantage of the Switch 2's rumoured power increase to show off graphics and improve performance.

We don't seem to have any leaks or speculations around Switch cartridges yet, but we wouldn't be too surprised if Nintendo opted to make the Switch 2 digital-only, which is a format that other next-gen platforms including Sony's PlayStationn5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series S and X consoles allow for at a discounted price.

Nintendo Switch 2: Release date

So when might the Switch 2/Pro arrive, if ever? As we mentioned earlier on, Nintendo has confirmed there will be an announcement "within this fiscal year", so March 2025 is a pretty solid guesstimate – lining up with Nintendo's calendar and it would also coincide with the 10-year anniversary of when Nintendo first announced the existence of the Nintendo Switch in March 2015 (under the code-name NX).

The original Nintendo Switch was announced in April 2016, followed by an official release in March 2017, which is a full two-year waiting period. Let's hope that the Switch 2 announcement doesn't follow this same pattern, as that would mean we would get an announcement in March 2025 but an actual console release in 2027.

Concerning an official release date, the latest leak from Nintenduo, claims that stock is being mass-produced as we speak in preparation for a Summer 2025 release date. This seems logical, as if we do get an announcement in March then it would take reasonable time after the news drop for preorders to come in. This leask is based on "members of at least six development studios working on titles for the successor to Switch", so we should definitely take this with a pinch of salt.

We'll keep this page updated with all the latest Nintendo Switch Pro news as and when it arrives. Want to start gaming right here and now? You're in luck – there's plenty of fun to be had with the existing consoles. Check out today's best Nintendo Switch deals below, and be sure to take a look at our roundup of the best free Nintendo Switch games.