The Nintendo Switch 2 launches June 5 for less than you might expect

By Patrick Hearn Published April 2, 2025

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has officially wrapped up, and we have the starting price for Nintendo’s latest console: $450. A bundle that includes Mario Kart World will also be available for $500.

Considering the out of control rumor mill surrounding the price prior to its announcement, the Nintendo Switch 2 is more affordable than many people expected — especially considering the jump in power compared to the previous console. Today’s Direct detailed many of the upcoming games, including remakes of several beloved classics, new additions to the Nintendo Switch Online lineup, and the first 3D Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64.

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New features like GameChat make the Switch 2 a more social experience than before. Not only can players communicate with each other in real-time, but you’ll also be able to share your screen with friends. It’s like playing together, even if you’re far apart — and it’s an easy way to let your friends chime in and help you past difficult spots.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a new Pro controller with an improved layout, and more importantly, extra buttons on the back that give players even more control than before.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

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Gaming

Hollow Knight: Silksong will be a cross-gen launch, devs say

Hornet dueling in a field of white flowers.

During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, eagle-eyed fans spotted a short teaser for Hollow Knight: Silksong — and now Team Cherry Games confirms the highly-anticipated game will be launched on both the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2. The post comes after fans expressed concerns that the title might be only on the Nintendo Switch 2, but we now know that's not the case. In fact, it's releasing on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series as well (and on Game Pass), although we still don't know when.

Matthew Griffin, part of Team Cherry Games' marketing team, took to social media to clear up any confusion. Silksong is one of those games that's just as much rumor as fact, so it's a treat when the development team confirms a new detail.

Gaming

The Nintendo Switch 2 could still be vulnerable to the original’s biggest issue

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom runs on a Switch 2 screen.

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will not use Hall Effect sensors in its Joy-Cons, and unfortunately, that means it's still vulnerable to stick drift. Instead, the handheld will use analog-style sticks, but Nintendo assures fans they have been redesigned to combat one of the biggest problems of the original Nintendo Switch.

In an interview with Nintendo Life, Nate Bihldorff, Nintendo of America's Senior Vice President of Product Development & Publishing, provided details on what to expect from Nintendo's next console. "The Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up. They're not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good," he said.

Gaming

All Switch games that don’t run on Switch 2

Two people playing a game on an OLED Switch.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the excitement over a new console and miss some important fine print details. Nintendo was eager to share all the Switch 2 launch games and a massive list of upcoming Switch 2 games to get everyone excited to get their hands on the console, but it also let us know that most original Switch games would also be playable on the Switch 2. We learned a lot about certain Switch 2 Edition games and how they would perform so much better on the Switch 2 vs. Switch, but that asterisk of "most" games running on the new hardware was never focused on in any of the presentations. We all have a massive library of Switch games at this point we would like to be able to carry forward, so let's shed some light on all the Switch games that won't work on the Switch 2.

Every Switch game that has startup issues on the Switch 2

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