After months of speculation, rumors and internet sleuths sleuthing, Nintendo finally pulled back the curtain on the Switch 2.

In classic Nintendo fashion, they gave plenty of juicy details in a roughly 1-hour presentation that was informative, yet playful. Not going to lie, I felt giddy throughout the presentation, and I couldn’t help but feel Nintendo felt the same way in the presentation. We got a rundown of the console’s hardware, and a good look at the lineup of games coming.

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s start strictly with the hardware. I’ll be diving into some of the biggest game announcements in the coming days, so be on the look for that. There is a ton to be excited about.

The Console

At a glance, the Switch 2 doesn’t look too different than the Switch, but there’s a lot different under the hood.

First off, the screen is bigger. It’s been bumped up to 7.9 inches, which is a nice jump from the OG Switch’s 6.2-inch display. It’s still an LCD, but now it’s rocking 1080p resolution, HDR support, and up to 120 fps. That’s damn solid for a handheld console.

And when you dock it? You’re getting up to 4K resolution and 60 fps on your TV. I didn’t expect Nintendo to pump out 4K, but hey – Rainbow Road in 4K? Yes, please.

There’s also a small but much-needed quality-of-life upgrade: a proper stand for tabletop mode. FINALLY. It was bewildering to me that the OF Switch came with this flimsy kickstand that was as strong as a wet playing card. This new one actually looks stable, and it can be set to different angles.

The upgrades don’t stop at the console – the dock got a much-needed overhaul. I’ve always thought the Switch’s dock was … well, basic. It seemed like a cheaply made piece of plastic that docked the console, and not much of anything else.

The Switch 2 dock? Huge improvement. It’s got a built-in fan to help keep the system cool and an ethernet port for a direct internet connection. Simple additions, but honestly, very welcome.

Especially now that I’m running fiber internet, hardwiring is a must. If you know, you know— there’s no lag, no random teleports in matches, and downloads don’t take all day.

The console itself also gets some nice upgrades: there’s a built-in mic for voice chat (more on that later), noise-canceling tech, and support for 3D audio in compatible games. Oh—and it now comes with two USB-C ports, one on the top and one on the bottom. Seriously, how didn’t they think of this before?

One of my biggest gripes with modern consoles (and the original Switch in particular) is storage. The original Switch had a whopping 32GB of internal storage. That’s like… two modern games, if you’re lucky. Thankfully, the Switch 2 comes with 256GB right out of the box. It’s not a terabyte, and a microSD card is going to be a must, but it’s a massive step in the right direction.

Battery life is estimated to be up to 6.5 hours, depending on what you’re playing. And yes, the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with most Switch games, though there are a few exceptions.

If you’re into deep-dive specs and numbers, Nintendo’s official spec sheet has you covered.

Joy-Con 2

The Joy-Con 2 is way bigger than the original Joy-Con—and as someone with larger hands (and someone who just the other day was whining about how uncomfortable handheld mode is), this is exciting.

Now, here’s something a little weird: instead of the old locking mechanism, the Joy-Con 2 attaches to the Switch 2 magnetically. That seems… questionable? I mean, I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure magnets can weaken, right? It feels like a potential long-term issue, but I’m hoping Nintendo thought this one through.

Some of the design tweaks are really smart, though. The SL/SR buttons—previously tiny and borderline useless—are now bigger and look way easier to press. Same with the analog sticks. It just looks more comfortable all around.

But the real curveball? Each Joy-Con 2 can double as a mouse. Yep. A mouse. I have no idea what that means for gameplay yet, but color me intrigued.

Release Date and Cost

We’re really not waiting much longer for the Switch 2—it’s officially hitting shelves on June 5, with pre-orders going live April 9.

It’s launching at $449.99, and there’s a $500 bundle that comes with Mario Kart World—which, fair warning, I’ll be talking about a lot over the next few weeks. That bundle actually feels like a decent deal, especially considering some retailers are already listing Mario Kart World as a standalone game for a ridiculous $79.99. Buying the bundle just makes more sense.

I saw plenty of analysts throwing around numbers anywhere between $350 and $600, so this price lands right in the middle—and honestly, it feels about right. Sure, it’s pricy, but given what we’re seeing so far, it’s fair.

Now let’s just hope Nintendo has a plan to keep stock on the shelves.

My Impressions

I went into this Direct with high expectations. I mean, it’s Nintendo – something about their presentation is just exciting.

The Switch isn’t just popular – it’s one of the best-selling consoles of all time, with over 150 million units sold. So yeah, the pressure was on. Nintendo had to bring the thunder with the Switch 2.

And honestly? They did.

The Switch 2 looks like a true evolution of the original. More power under the hood, a stacked lineup of games for the rest of the year, and some much-needed upgrades to the console and controllers. Plus, it’s backwards compatible—which is a huge win if you’ve already built up a digital library like I have.

A day-one buy? Absolutely. Assuming, of course, I can contend with the bots and scalpers and land a pre-order.