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Next week, we’ll learn more about Nintendo Switch 2. On Wednesday morning, February 2nd, a new Nintendo direct showcase will air, focusing on secret handheld consoles.
Ahead of the event, there is a long list of questions that Nintendo still needs to answer. Below are some of the biggest unknowns about Switch 2:
Some of the biggest questions we want will be addressed while surrounding Nintendo’s direct new Joy-Con controller. Do they have Hall Effect joysticks, as previously reported? And does that mean that stick drift is a thing of the past?
How does Joy-Cons rumored mouse control function work? More importantly, do Joy-Cons actually feel better like a mouse? Does the player need a dedicated moating surface, or is the surface of a coffee tabletop or sofa?
Importantly, how do new, bigger Joy-Cons feel like their hands? Do these big shoulder buttons work the way we wanted them to? And what does that new “C” button in the correct Joy-Con do?
The joy of the Switch was a rather radical reinvention for the innovative and highly flawed game controller. That’s why the full release of the Joy-Con (2.0) controller is extremely appealing to see how Nintendo advances its design and fixes the drawbacks of the original version.
Nintendo’s first party game
Image: Nintendo
Officially, we only know the new Mario Kart game, one game developed by Nintendo that will be appearing on Switch 2 at this point. However, Nintendo is reportedly building a powerful library of internally developed Switch 2 games, and while there are ideas about which franchises they are working on, Nintendo is excellent at keeping secrets and bringing surprises.
Are there any current Gen Switch games being developed with Switch 2 in mind? That is, do you support higher resolution and frame rate improvements? (Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition You may have already answered this question. )
Frankly, I think we’re all wondering which Nintendo franchise will appear in the first year of Switch 2. Is Nintendo ready to launch a new 2D or 3D Mario?
Beyond the franchise, perhaps the most exciting thing that hasn’t been revealed is the equivalent of Switch 2 Wii Sports, Nintendo Landand 1-2 Switch – A game or game that shows what the new system can do and what distinguishes it from the original switch.
Third Party and Indie Games
Which third party will appear on Switch 2? And how strong? Both Microsoft and Ubisoft seem ready to support Switch 2 with a long line of AAA games that didn’t fit the Switch but perfect for Switch 2.
Microsoft means that franchises such as Halo, Call of Duty, Forza, and Fallout will be doing powerful shows on Nintendo’s new console. If Microsoft fully adopts Switch 2, it could potentially fall for Nintendo fans, who have a wide range of very good franchises to play on new systems, not just for Xbox makers.
Image: 343 Industries/Xbox Game Studios
Ubisoft is a longtime supporter of Nintendo consoles and could potentially repackage the back catalogues of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy Games into a more powerful Nintendo handheld from the past decade. Other publishers such as Sega, Capcom, and Electronic Arts can continue with remasters and re-releases. It’s enough to say that AAA gaming makers have a potentially large new revenue stream with Switch 2, and hope that owners of new systems will be washed away with the choice.
Smorgasbord also includes indie games. Nintendo has shown strong support for independent game developers in the Switch era, with a dedicated Indie World showcase. I expect this to continue with Switch 2. Are Switch indie developers like Team Cherry and Super Giant Games ready to drop the much-anticipated sequel to Switch 2?
The late spring/early summer release of Switch 2 is increasingly anticipating, based on the timing of Nintendo’s hands-on events for the console and polygon’s own source. I heard that it is planned for release in early June.
In that case, Nintendo directly in April will need to announce a solid date. June is just two months away. Retailers need time to speed up, and customers need to get pre-orders for Switch 2 launches.
What’s bigger unknown and what feels a bit fluid at this point is the price. While $399 sounds like a sweet spot for the Switch 2, the weak yen in the yen related to tariffs threatened by the Trump administration, fluctuating component costs and price uncertainty could affect Nintendo’s pricing decisions. Some analysts are predicting potentially high prices (over $499). If so, there’s one more question that hasn’t been answered yet. Does Switch1 owner pay more?
