Nintendo Switch 2 – Our Expectations For Launch Window, Pricing, Software Lineup, And More

Nintendo Switch 2, the next generation successor to the Nintendo Switch, was officially revealed by Nintendo on January 26, 2025.

While official information on the system will remain scarce until the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 broadcast on April 2, NintendoSoup is pleased to share some of our expectations on the system’s release date, price, software lineup, and other features.

Release date

Officially speaking, Nintendo has only announced a 2025 launch window for the system. We expect the console to launch in late May 2025 to mid June 2025. This would be roughly two months after the Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 broadcast, just about the same amount of time between the Nintendo Switch presentation in January 2017 to the Nintendo Switch launch on March 3, 2017.

Other indications pointing to this launch window is the fact that majority of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience hands-on events will be held in April or May 2025. Also, we have to keep in mind that mass production of the system started in September 2024 in order to prepare a large stockpile for launch, it wouldn’t be feasible to keep millions of units lying around in storage beyond June 2025.

Pricing

Most experts, insiders, and fans of the industry expect a USD399.99 SRP for Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. We echo the same sentiment as it would roughly cost the same as past Nintendo consoles adjusted for inflation.

The SRP, however, could be affected in the US depending on what happens with tariffs after Trump’s inauguration, potentially bumping up the price of the hardware by USD50 to USD100.

We do not expect any significant changes to the price of first party and third party software on Nintendo Switch 2. Depending on the tariff situation, physical games could cost slightly more in the US.

Software Lineup

The Nintendo Switch 2 software lineup at launch and the rest of the year remains a mystery, with the exception of Mario Kart 9 (tentative name) that was shown off in the reveal trailer.

We expect 2025 to be a huge feast for Nintendo fans, regardless of whether they’re buying Nintendo Switch 2 games or Nintendo Switch games. Aside from a few Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive titles that are too powerful to run on Nintendo Switch, we expect many first party titles to be released natively on both platforms in 2025, similar to the cross-gen transition on PS5 and PS4. This would mean:

1. Mario Kart 9 as a launch title, a new 3D Mario title at the end of the year, and at least two smaller first party titles exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2
2. Pokemon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 to get native Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch releases in the second half of 2025
3. At least one to two first party titles yet to be officially revealed that will be released natively on both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch

Backward Compatibility

We expect the vast majority of all Nintendo Switch software to be backward compatible on Nintendo Switch 2. While Nintendo has not shared details on the type of titles that can’t be supported on the system, we expect titles that make use of any of the following features to be partially supported or incompatible with the system:

1. Nintendo Labo accessories
2. Some or all IR camera functionality
3. Ring-Con and Leg Strap accessories

All of these issues, with the exception of Nintendo Labo, could be bypassed by using the original Joy-Con for Nintendo Switch. We expect all first party Nintendo Switch controllers, such as the Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, to be fully supported as wireless controllers on Nintendo Switch 2.

Other Expectations

• Nintendo Switch 2 will continue to be region free (except for consoles officially released in mainland China, if it happens in the future)
• The system will continue to support up to 8 user profiles
• System transfer from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2 to work largely the same as system transfer from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch
• All Nintendo Switch Online features will be available from Day 1, but certain retro game systems (such as Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance) may not be available until a later date
• Nintendo eShop to display both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch titles by default, with the option to filter by platform