Although handheld gaming devices have existed since the earliest days of the Game Boy, the recent craze can probably be attributed to the unprecedented and unexpected success of the Nintendo Switch. More than just portability, it offered flexibility in gameplay, especially with its innovative removable Joy-con controllers. Although it continues to be a successful product, the almost eight-year-old device has started showing its age.
In typical Nintendo fashion, it has taken years for a successor to arrive, but the wait is finally over. After no small amount of clamor and a few leaks and false leads, the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been confirmed to be coming this year. And while the teaser video is light on the details, there is definitely enough for fans to chew on until the official reveal in April.
Designer: Nintendo
Right off the bat, Nintendo wants to make it clear that the Nintendo Switch 2, which is its official name, is bigger than the OG Switch. You will, however, also notice a complete switch (pun intended) in color schemes. While the first Nintendo Switch drew your attention to its Blue and Red Joy-cons, the Switch 2 carries an almost completely black color scheme, with the other hues acting only as highlights on the controllers. To some extent, this makes it match the predominantly black aesthetic on handheld gaming PCs these days, though Switch 2 owners will most likely apply skins anyway.
There are, of course, even bigger changes all around, starting with, at long last, a second USB-C port at the top of the device, hopefully saying goodbye to awkward charging positions and hello to more accessories. The flimsy bar-style kickstand has also been replaced by a wide U-shaped design, giving not only more stability but also more angles. You can finally lay the Switch 2 almost flat on a table, for whatever reason you might want to.
The Joy-cons also undergo a significant change beyond the increase in size. Gone is the rail mechanism that gave the Nintendo Switch its iconic snapping sound, replaced by hopefully more reliable magnets with a matching snapping sound. The dock has also been given a facelift with rounded corners and a matte finish. All in all, the Nintendo Switch 2 exudes a more mature character than its predecessor, though it’s not clear how that will appeal to those who prefer Nintendo’s Fisher Price aesthetics.
Unsurprisingly, Nintendo is silent on the internals, so it’s still anyone’s guess how much more powerful the Switch 2 will be. Don’t hold your breath that it will go head-to-head with handheld PCs or even current-gen consoles, though. That just isn’t Nintendo’s style. Especially since Nintendo is promising compatibility with some, but not all, first-gen Switch games. More details will be revealed in the company’s Direct stream on April 2, but it looks like the launch title has already been decided to be Mario Kart.
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