Happy Nintendo Switch 2 launch day! Today the highly anticipated Switch 2 hybrid console launches worldwide along with over 20 launch titles, including the all-new Mario Kart World.
The Switch 2 builds upon its predecessor as a handheld and home console with increased graphical capabilities, improved controllers, and built-in social features.
The new dock supports up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second. The handheld screen features a 7.9-inch LCD screen that can display 1080p HD. The system also features an increased storage space of 256 GB (eight times the Switch), a better kickstand, spatial 3D sound, and magnetic attachments for the Joy-Con 2 controllers. The controller also support new mouse controls by sliding them on a surface.
Players can access the new GameChat function with the press of a new C button. GameChat uses the built-in mic and supports up to 12 people in a chat room. GameChat also supports video chat using the Switch 2 camera (sold separately). Use of GameChat normally requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo is waiving that requirement during the “Open-Access Period” through March 31, 2026.
Players who subscribe to the updated Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership can also download the Switch 2 upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for free (if they own the original Switch versions).
Many other Switch games feature free upgrade packs for the Switch 2, including ARMS, Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and more. The Switch 2 must be connected to the internet and perform a system update to download the Switch 2 updates.
Mario Kart World is the hot new launch title, featuring an open world, free roam mode, up to 24 drivers, and online and local multiplayer support. Other launch titles include Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Split Fiction, Fortnite, Civilization 7, and Hogwarts Legacy.
The Switch 2 is Nintendo’s first new console in eight years, since the original Switch released in 2017. It’s also Nintendo’s first time to use “Console 2” as the official name, clearly learning from the Wii to Wii U debacle.
The Switch 2 retails for $449.99, which includes the console, the dock, and Joy-Con 2 controllers. Mario Kart World launches with a staggering retail price of $79.99, but you can grab the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for a discounted price of $499.99.
