OFFICIAL: Nintendo has revealed Nintendo Switch 2
Switch 2 was shown for the first time in a trailer published by Nintendo
After countless months of speculation, Nintendo has finally officially announced Nintendo Switch 2.
The successor to the Nintendo Switch was revealed in a trailer published on Nintendo‘s social media and YouTube channels on Thursday, which features a 2-minute look at the new hardware.
As suggested by previous leaks, the Switch 2 looks similar to the original console, with the same layout of a screen surrounded by two Joy-Con controllers.
However, this time, the controllers appear to connect with a powerful magnet, making it less likely that they will loosen and slide apart from the console over time, something current long-time Switch owners are now experiencing.
The Joy-Cons also now appear to be black, with the color appearing under the sticks, at the side where they connect to the console, and on their removable side grips. The hardware will also come with a longer stand, with a wider tilt which lets it lie almost horizontally.
The video also officially confirms the presence of an extra button on the right Joy-Con, which had been previously been described as a C button in various leaks.
While some previous renders from third-party peripheral manufacturers appeared to suggest this new button would have a letter C on it, the button in Nintendo’s video has no markings on it whatsoever.
The video also briefly shows the Joy-Cons sliding across the ground towards the console, lending further credibility to speculation that at least one of the controllers will have the ability to work as an optical mouse.
Nintendo has yet to officially confirm a release date or price for the console, meaning at least some speculation will continue as its release nears. There will, however, be a Nintendo Direct focusing on the Switch 2 on April 2.
Further reading
The trailer also gives a very brief glimpse of a new Mario Kart game running on the Switch 2 hardware. At the end of the video, Nintendo confirms that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with the original Switch, saying it “plays both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games”.
It does warn that “certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2“, but it’s possible this may refer to games which rely on the specific physical properties of the Switch, such as the Nintendo Labo series.
Nintendo has also now confirmed that players will be able to play the Switch 2 in advance at a series of events to be held globally.
The Switch 2 Trial Event will start in New York and Paris on April 4, and will continue until the end of May, spanning various locations in North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia.
Players will have to register for these events in advance, to ensure they are able to attend.
