Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced With Backward Compatibility

Nintendo Finally Reveals Its Next Console

Nintendo has officially announced the successor to the Switch, confirming months of leaks and speculation. The Switch 2, as it is officially named, features an 8-inch LCD display, magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and full backward compatibility with existing Switch game cartridges and digital purchases.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa unveiled the console in a six-minute video presentation. "Switch 2 is designed to honor the experience our players have built over the past eight years while opening new possibilities," Furukawa said.

Hardware Specifications

The Switch 2 is powered by a custom Nvidia T239 system-on-chip, which Digital Foundry estimates delivers approximately four times the GPU performance of the original Switch in docked mode. The console supports DLSS upscaling, enabling 4K output when connected to a television via the updated dock.

RAM has been doubled to 8GB LPDDR5X, and internal storage starts at 256GB with microSD Express card support for expansion. The larger 8-inch display maintains a 720p resolution in handheld mode, prioritizing battery life over pixel density. Nintendo claims 3 to 5 hours of handheld playtime depending on the game.

Launch Lineup

Nintendo confirmed a launch window of June 2026 but withheld specific pricing and the full launch game lineup. A new 3D Mario title and Mario Kart were shown briefly in the announcement video. Third-party publishers including Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Capcom were listed as development partners.

Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based game consultancy Kantan Games, said the backward compatibility decision "eliminates the biggest risk for a new console launch. Day one, Switch 2 owners have access to a library of over 5,000 games."

Market Expectations

The original Switch has sold over 146 million units since its 2017 launch, making it one of the best-selling consoles in history. Analysts at Niko Partners forecast the Switch 2 could sell 15 to 20 million units in its first year, assuming a price point between $349 and $399.

Nintendo's stock rose 6.2% in Tokyo trading following the announcement. The company said a more detailed hardware reveal and pricing information would come at a dedicated Direct presentation in April 2026.