Nintendo Switch 2 launches June 5 at $449.99, new ways to connect players.

Posted by zmnteam

Nintendo has officially revealed Nintendo Switch 2, the next generation of its hybrid console line, set to launch on June 5, 2025 in the United States with a suggested retail price of $449.99. Alongside new hardware upgrades, Nintendo is introducing GameChat, a built-in social feature designed to make it easier to talk, share, and play together online.

Quick facts

Release date (U.S.): June 5, 2025
Price (U.S.): $449.99 (MSRP)
Bundle: Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for $499.99 (includes a download code)
Display: 7.9-inch LCD screen, 1080p in handheld/tabletop play
Storage: 256 GB internal storage, microSD Express support for expansion
TV output: Up to 4K resolution and up to 120 fps via the new dock (compatible games and TVs required)
Controllers: Joy-Con 2 attach magnetically and can be used like a mouse in compatible games
Online: GameChat supports voice chat for up to 12 people, with screen sharing for up to 4 friends and optional video chat via a compatible USB-C camera
GameChat access: Available without Nintendo Switch Online until the end of March 2026 (membership required afterward)

GameChat: built-in voice, screen sharing, and optional video chat

Nintendo Switch 2’s headline social feature is GameChat, a new online system that lets friends talk while playing as if they were in the same room. Players can start a chat by pressing the new C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. The console’s built-in microphone supports voice chat while gaming with up to 12 people in different locations.

GameChat also includes screen sharing for up to four friends. With a compatible USB-C camera, such as Nintendo’s Switch 2 camera accessory (sold separately), players can enable video chat and see each other while they play. Additional participants can join by audio only. Nintendo also emphasized parental controls: players under 16 will require a parent or guardian’s approval through an updated Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.

Hardware highlights: bigger screen, faster performance, and more storage

Nintendo Switch 2 keeps the handheld-to-TV flexibility of the original system while adding several major upgrades:

A 7.9-inch LCD display that runs at 1080p in handheld or tabletop mode, aiming for smoother motion and clearer detail.
Joy-Con 2 controllers that snap to the console with magnetic connectors, plus mouse-like control by sliding a Joy-Con 2 on a surface (or even on clothing) in compatible games.
A freely adjustable rear stand and a second USB-C port on the top of the system, allowing charging while playing in tabletop mode and supporting camera connections for GameChat.
Improved CPU and GPU performance compared with Nintendo Switch, enabling faster load times and more visually advanced gameplay.
Enhanced audio with clearer sound and spatial 3D audio effects in handheld and tabletop play.
256 GB of internal storage, with expansion via microSD Express cards (required for Switch 2) for higher read speeds.

GameShare and virtual game cards expand how games are shared

Nintendo is also adding features that focus on flexibility for local and digital play. With GameShare, a player who owns a compatible title on Nintendo Switch 2 can invite others to temporarily join the same game, even if those players do not own it. GameShare supports local play with Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch systems, and can also be paired with GameChat for online sessions.

For digital libraries, Nintendo highlighted virtual game cards. This system is designed to make it easier to manage purchased digital games, play across two systems, and lend or borrow games among members of the same Nintendo Account family group via local wireless communication.

Compatibility with Nintendo Switch games and accessories

Nintendo Switch 2 will play compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. Nintendo noted that some Nintendo Switch titles may not be supported or may not run fully compatible on the new hardware. Existing Nintendo Switch accessories, including Joy-Con controllers and peripherals like the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, can also be used wirelessly with Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch Online support at launch

Nintendo Switch Online will carry over to Nintendo Switch 2, with members able to use GameChat and other online features. Nintendo also announced that a Nintendo GameCube classics library will launch on day one for Nintendo Switch 2 owners who subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, starting with F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and SOULCALIBUR II.

Nintendo Switch 2 launches June 5, 2025. Additional details, including supported features and game compatibility, will be shared closer to release.

Source: Nintendo official announcement (April 2, 2025).