The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives in less than two months, and I’m still processing all the news from the gaming system’s huge Nintendo Direct reveal. I’ve played the Switch 2 and its hottest games, and learned exciting details about the console’s many features (and less exciting news about its price). However, important questions still linger. Here are the seven biggest Nintendo Switch 2 mysteries I need answered before the console’s June 5 launch.
1. When Will Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders Go Live in the US?
At least in the US, the most significant unanswered Nintendo Switch 2 question is the preorder date. Originally, preorders were slated for April 9. However, Nintendo halted that plan in response to President Trump’s tariffs, which threatened to increase prices for the already expensive $449 system. You can register interest to preorder, either through Nintendo’s program or a retailer, but the exact date is unknown. For more details, check out our story on how to make sure you get a Switch 2 on June 5.
2. Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Suffer Joy-Con Stick Drift?
Joy-Con drift was one of the original Switch’s most notorious hardware issues. Over time, the analog sticks’ internals wore down, leading to frustratingly inaccurate controls. It became so bad that Nintendo had to fend off lawsuits and offer free repairs. Will the same issue plague the Joy-Con 2 controllers? Nintendo claims the new analog sticks are redesigned from the ground up for a smoother experience. However, these sticks won’t employ the magnetic Hall Effect that makes drift virtually impossible. Hmmm!
3. How Much Will Nintendo Switch 2 Games Cost?
Mario Kart World costs $80. Donkey Kong Bananza is $70. Zelda’s Switch 2 Edition upgrades cost $10, whereas Mario Party’s DLC is $20. Third-party games range from $40 to $60. There’s little price consistency. It appears the days of variable pricing for digital and physical games are back, so Nintendo should make a greater effort to communicate the new pricing information.
4. What Do Nintendo Switch 2 Free Upgrades Look Like?
Nintendo will have free updates for Switch 1 games so they can leverage the Switch 2’s extra power. What do those updates do? That’s nebulous. For example, Clubhouse Games gets expanded online multiplayer features via GameShare, but does that come with visual improvements? Will Pokémon Scarlet and Violet get a dependable, steady frame rate? The upgrades appear to vary in significance from title to title.
Get Our Best Stories!
What’s New Now
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
5. How Does DLSS Work on the Nintendo Switch 2?
A generational leap over the original Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 looks to be about as powerful as a PlayStation 4. However, Nvidia confirmed that its newest system on a chip includes modern DLSS features. Theoretically, a Switch 2 could save power by running a game at a lower resolution and upscaling the graphics via AI, producing images that look great on a 4K TV or move at 120fps in handheld mode. But how many games will achieve that kind of performance?
Recommended by Our Editors
6. Is a 3D Mario Game Coming to the Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo ended its Switch 2 showcase with a first look at Donkey Kong Bananza, a glorious 3D platformer coming in July. It hasn’t been confirmed, but I’m convinced from the gameplay that it’s from the company’s Tokyo team, the squad behind Super Mario Odyssey. So that raises the question: Is another part of that team working on the next major 3D Mario game? That would be a fantastic holiday release. Or will Kong carry Nintendo’s first-party 3D platformer mantle for some time?
7. Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Get Xbox Games?
Nintendo demoed many exciting third-party Switch 2 games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, and Yakuza 0. You know what was missing? Xbox games. Microsoft recently has pivoted to a multi-platform strategy, releasing Forza Horizon 5 and Pentiment on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, respectively. Furthermore, as part of its Activision acquisition, Microsoft promised lawmakers that Call of Duty would come to Nintendo systems for the next decade. Meaning Xbox games on Switch 2 are a matter of when, not if. So I was surprised not to see an Xbox teaser during the Switch 2 reveal. Perhaps Halo on Switch is an announcement so monumental that Microsoft didn’t want to share the spotlight. Maybe at June’s IGN Live?
Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed: Everything Announced, in 16 Minutes
About Jordan Minor
Senior Analyst, Software
发表回复