The speculation is finally over. Nintendo surprised many of us by shadow-dropping its “First-look trailer” for the Switch 2 this morning. The video is a little under 2:30 minutes long, and basically confirms all of the leaks that we’ve seen in recent weeks.
The video starts by showing off a render of the original Nintendo Switch with its Red and Blue Joy-Cons. Then, the original shell is stripped back to reveal that the Switch 2 will feature a larger display than its predecessor.
From there, the slots from the original Joy-Cons are expanded to reveal the newly-designed controllers. These are both larger and more bulbous than the original, which should make for a more comfortable handheld gaming experience. Although we can’t help but wonder whether there will still be a need for grips from Satisfye and others.
It’s also interesting that the initial Switch 2 Joy-Cons ditch the all red and blue colors in favor of accents around the thumbsticks and the connector. Speaking of which, this is another area where Nintendo introduced changes, as the connection between the Joy-Cons and the display is deeper and while there is a port, we assume that the Switch 2 is just relying on magnets to keep everything together.
After showing off what seems to be some type of “mouse mode” for the Joy-Cons, we get our first look at Mario Kart 9. There’s nothing really to write home about here, other than the fact that Nintendo is finally releasing an entirely new version of one of its most popular games.
Towards the end of the video, there are a couple of splash screens revealing a bit more information. Notably, although there will be games that are exclusive to the Switch 2, it will be capable of also playing original Switch game cartridges. However, there is a note that says “Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.”
At the end of the video, its confirmed that there will be a Nintendo Direct all about the Switch 2 on April 2, 2025. Obviously, this means that we’ll be waiting at least a few more months before getting our hands on Nintendo’s next-gen console.
Nintendo also announed that it will be hosting the “Nintendo Switch 2 Experience” in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas. This will be the first opportunity for people to get their hands on the Switch 2, but you’ll need to register for the chance. Ticket registration begins on January 17 at 3 PM ET, where you’ll be entered into a drawing.
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