It’s been more than eight years since the original Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, and now we have the full lowdown on what’s next: the Nintendo Switch 2.

In a big Nintendo Direct at the start of April, the Japanese gaming giant showed off a whole suite of Switch 2 features and the games we can expect to see at the console’s June 5 launch and beyond, including one unexpected exclusive.

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Given the original Switch is one of the biggest-selling games consoles of all time, we can expect the Switch 2 to build upon that success, which could make it the biggest deal in gaming this year… alongside GTA 6.

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So let's get into what you need to know about the Nintendo Switch 2 and if it should be on your wish list this year.

Nintendo Switch 2: cut to the chase

• What is it? The successor to the Nintendo Switch console, officially called the Nintendo Switch 2
• How much will it cost? $449.99 / ￡395.99 / AU$699.95
• When will it release? June 5, 2025
• What will its upgrades be? A new design, a custom chipset with a power boost, a 7.9-inch LCD display with 1080p resolution, Game Chat and more

Nintendo Switch 2: release date and price

Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live on April 8, then you’ll have a bit of a wait as the hybrid console will be released on June 5.

Pricing is a little more punchy than that of the original Switch, with the Switch 2 starting at $449.99 / ￡395.99 / AU$699.95. But the better bet might be the Mario Kart World bundle, which costs $499.99 / ￡429.99 / AU$769.95; that's notable as Mario Kart World on its own costs $79.99 or ￡74.99, so by going the bundle way you’re saving a nice chunk of change.

For comparison, the original Switch cost $259.99 / ￡259.99 / AUD$435, but with the Switch 2 you do get a bunch of new features as well as hardware upgrades.

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