It's Game Time: The Nintendo Switch 2 Arrives!
Console Release Anticipation Ends - The long-awaited console launch has finally happened.
Yippee, yakkity-yak!
Gonna be a wild ride, gamers! The Nintendo Switch 2, baby! The highly-anticipated successor to the ever-popular Switch is hitting the shelves today, June 05. Excitement levels are skyrocketing, but is it justified? Buckle up, let's dive right in!
Casting Off Cash like a Hot Potato: Breaking the 500-Buck Mark
The retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2 juices up your wallet by 469.99 euros. The package comes with the console, a power adapter, a docking station, an HDMI cable, a USB-C charging cable, dual "Joy-Con 2" controllers, a holder, and wrist straps. The bundle with the launch title "Mario Kart World" will cost you 509.99 euros. The physical game version sets you back 89.99 euros, while the digital version retails for 79.99 euros.
Watch out, collectors of physical video games! A new feature exclusive to the Switch 2 is the "Software Key Cards." These cards don't house the entire game but rather serve as a "key" that enables downloading the complete game to your console via the internet. Once the game is downloaded, you can play without an internet connection, but the card must still be inserted into the console. Nintendo has hinted that these "Software Key Cards" won't be used for their games[1].
Under the hood, the Switch 2 boasts a beefed-up performance, still capable of working on the TV. In handheld mode, the Switch 2's LCD display buzzes at a whopping 7.9 inches, offering games in 1080p resolution. This bad boy can crank out up to 120 frames per second and delivers HDR for enhanced color contrast. To put things in perspective, its predecessor's screen stemmed from a smaller 6.2-inch screen[1].
When connected to a TV, the Switch 2 can display games in 4K resolution, if your TV and the game support that tech. However, the frame rate caps out at 60 frames per second. Do you want to geek out a little? Nvidia claims the Switch 2 flaunts ten times the graphics performance of the original Switch[1]. It doesn't end there; the Switch 2 comes with an internal storage capacity of 256GB. Now, here's a pro tip: Expanding the storage will require caution. You'll get the best results using microSD Express cards of up to 2TB[1].
With the new hardware finally here, gamers will discover its true potential in the forthcoming days and weeks. Strangely enough, media representatives are only getting their hands on review units of the Switch 2 right before release, with some even receiving their device on the release day[2]. The reason? Nintendo explains that a comprehensive patch is necessary on the first day, which will take some time to test thoroughly[2].
Firing Up the Racetrack from the Get-Go
Here's a heads-up: Nintendo is only launching one totally new in-house game - "Mario Kart World." The previous version, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," has sold a staggering 68 million copies on the Switch[3]. This gem offers two exciting new features: a race with 24 drivers, and the option to explore the areas off the track. The press has already gotten their hands on the game, and "The Guardian" reports that it plays flawlessly, looks fantastic, and is "familiar, incredibly polished"[3].
Don't worry about missing out on other popular titles! Nintendo is releasing a "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" of "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." Meanwhile, Nintendo is advertising the "Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour" as an interactive exhibition that showcases the console's new features.
In addition to the newly announced games, "Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition," previously released on other platforms, launches alongside the Switch 2. It impressively runs smoothly on the new console, as reported by "GamesRadar" in April[3]. "Split Fiction," the co-op hit, will also be playable on the Switch 2 from day one. Additional titles like "Street Fighter 6," "Hogwarts Legacy," and "Fortnite" will form part of the lineup starting June 05. Moreover, games compatible with the original Nintendo Switch will also work on the Switch 2.
- Switch 2.0
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo
- Console
- Graphics Performance
- Street Fighter 6
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Fortnite
- Games
- Performance Improvements
*In order to enhance your gaming experience, the Nintendo Switch 2 comes packed with improved hardware to run popular titles like Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, and Fortnite. Despite only having one new in-house game - Mario Kart World - at launch, gamers can expect an exciting range of additional games from day one.* Smart-home devices and gadgets aren't the only areas where technology is evolving; with its performance improvements, the Nintendo Switch 2 has taken a leap forward as a console, aiming to captivate gamers worldwide.
