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Switch 2 render credit: Nintendo
I'm a massive fan of Nintendo in general, and the Nintendo Switch generation has been the most engaged I've ever been with video games. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Nintendo Switch 2 is something I'm looking forward to with a ton of anticipation.
And while the most exciting part of a new console is usually the new games it brings (as much as that hasn't been the case with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S), there's actually a lot more that's leaving me antsy with excitement when it comes to the Switch 2. And with just a couple of days left to go, I wanted to shine a spotlight on a few of the features of the Switch 2 that have me constantly refreshing my order tracking page to make sure I'm getting one at launch. So let's get right into it.
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6 Free updates and Switch 2 Editions
They're not new games, but they're still very exciting
I don't want to dwell on games too much here, but I do want to touch on the fact that many Switch 1 games are getting upgraded on Nintendo Switrch 2, either three free updaes or through the paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade path.
Switch 2 Editions are fine in concept, and while the idea of paying for an upgrade to the same game on a newer console isn't overly exciting, Nintendo is at least putting in some real work for most of these. In the case of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, those upgrades are even included at no additional cost with the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, so that's already a huge plus. And those include higher resolution textures, improved frame rates, and new features in the form of Zelda Notes, which I'm very eager to check out. Environmental storytelling is cool and all, but it will be nice getting more bits of lore from Zelda herself. I'm also very excited for the Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which has a whole new story campaign.
The free updates for existing games, however, are potentially even more exciting. While they're smaller in scope, they still pack in a lot of cool stuff. For example, a game like Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics will enable GameShare support on Switch 2, so I can play 34 of the included games with people who don't own the game themselves. There was already a "guest pass" feature for this game that allowed some games to be played with others who don't own the title, but GameShare will support a lot more games I can now play with my wife easily. Another exciting game getting an update is Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This pair of games runs notoriously poorly on the original Switch, and what's been shown of the Switch 2 version looks leagues better. I've done mostly everything I wanted in this game, but I'll still jump back in just to enjoy that smooth performance.
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Multiplayer games made easier
Image credit: Nintendo
I already touched on this above, but the addition of GameShare to the Nintendo Switch 2 is another extremely exciting feature for me. Download Play was one of the coolest features on the Nintendo DS, and it kind of continued with the 3DS though it didn't get as much use, only to fall by the wayside with the Switch generation. Switch 2 is sort of bringing that idea back, though instead of fully downloading the game you want to play, GameShare streams the necessary video feed to the receiving consoles in real time.
Clubhouse Games is the biggest example of this feature, as I mentioned above, but there are even more Switch 1 games that will support it, including Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. What's even more impressive, though, is that some Switch 2 games support this feature, too, including Split Fiction — and the console that receives the game can still be a Switch 1. That means I can play this game with my wife without having to buy two Switch 2 systems for the household. That's amazing.
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4 GameChat
It's Discord, but better — and I'm not kidding
Nintendo is going all-in on GameChat with the Nintendo Switch 2, and it's been one of the focal points in the marketing. And personally, I love that. During the Switch generation, fans relentlessly bashed Nintendo for relying on an external smartphone app for voice chat, so the Switch 2 is fixing that, while also going way further than it needed to.
Sure, voice chat is the core of GameChat, but the Switch 2 will also allow you to share your game feed in real time, and others in the GameChat group can see what you're playing on their screen. I love the idea of gaming as a shared experience, even when you're not playing a multiplayer game, and you might say this is just Discord, but in reality, it really isn't.
To be able to share your screen while also playing a game on Discord, you'd first need a PC, since Discord integration on other consoles doesn't support this. And even then, you'd either need a very large monitor, or multiple monitors, so you can see your game in full on one screen and your friends' game feeds on another screen. PlayStation 5 also allows this, but only two people can watch each other while playing a game (compared to four on the Switch 2). And then there's the fact you can use a camera to make yourself visible, either over the game feed or by yourself, which none of the other consoles nor Discord can do seamlessly.
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GameChat makes this kind of virtual hangout way more seamless than any solution out there right now, and you're still in full control of the experience. If you don't want to see other people's video streams, you can hide them. But being able to play any game you want at any time and always share that experience with your friends, even if you're all playing different games — it's kind of magical. It's the kind of feature I've always dreamed of, and I can't wait to try it out.
3 Better wireless communication (hopefully)
It can't be as bad as Switch 1, right?
One of the biggest problems I've had with my Nintendo Switch has been using the Joy-Con controllers wirelessly while playing on my TV. I sit a few feet away from the screen, and it's far too frequent that my inputs are either very delayed or just don't get picked up when playing this way. Things get worse if I'm in a more relaxed position and the Joy-Con is behind my leg or something, but either way, the connectivity is nowhere near as reliable as it should be, and that's the main reason I use the Pro Controller most of the time.
While we haven't heard much about this, one of my biggest hopes for the Switch 2 is that the Joy-Con 2 controllers have much better wireless performance and I don't need to worry about how I sit as much as I do currently. I really don't want to have to depend on a Pro Controller again, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a more reliably wireless connection.
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2 Mouse controls
Who cares about PC anymore?
One of the biggest additions that Switch 2 is making compared to Switch 1 is the mouse sensors on both Joy-Con 2 controllers. As Nintendo mentioned in an interview, this is a perfect example of Nintendo's philosophy of "lateral thinking with withered technology". Mouse sensors have been around for a long time and they're very cheap to make, but the way Nintendo is implementing them is still incredibly unique.
For one thing, simply having a mouse input alongside a controller is already pretty interesting. A mouse and keyboard combo may be the preferred setup for many gamers, but I personally find keyboards to be overly complex at times, so combining a mouse with a controller certainly has potential. Another thing worth noting is that the mouse sensor can be combined with the motion sensing on the Joy-Con 2, so not only can you move the mouse cursor, but you can also rotate it in place.
But the real interest for me comes from the fact that multiple of these sensors are supported at once. On a PC, even if you have multiple mice, they're always going to control the same cursor, so there's no potential for multiplayer games on one PC, or for games that rely on more than one mouse. But since both Joy-Con 2 controllers have a mouse sensor, out of the box, you can already play mouse-based games like some of the party games in Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV. Plus, a game like Drag x Drive, where each mouse controls one of the wheels in a wheelchair, is also possible with this kind of setup, and it just wouldn't work on PC.
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1 The magnetic Joy-Con 2
I'll finally hold my console normally again
Render credit: Nintendo
Since the Nintendo Switch came out, I've heard too many people say that their Joy-Con no longer lock in place while using the Switch, and just applying a bit of extra force can cause the controllers to detach. I've also personally experienced some issues with the Joy-Con not being properly connected, despite the locking mechanism being engaged. This has resulted in me often playing my Switch in handheld mode with my little fingers underneath the body of the system, in an attempt to prop it up so there's less upward force being applied on the Joy-Con that could wear down the connection.
This makes the new sideways magnetic attachment for the Switch 2's Joy-Con 2 one of the most exciting parts of this console for me. My hope is that I'll finally be able to hold the console in a more comfortable position and not have to worry about the controllers coming off inadvertently or becoming loose over time.
Overall, it seems like the build quality of the Switch 2 has been greatly improved from the original Switch, so I'm truly looking forward to having a device that feels much more durable. The Switch OLED already made some strides in that area, but I'm excited to see a completely redesigned system that's more premium.
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Let's not forget the obvious upgrades
The main focus of this article is the things that you might consider smaller details that are easily overlooked, but of course, there's even more to be excited about. The significantly increased performance, higher resolution display, support for 120 frames per second and HDR, and more all make this a huge upgrade over the original Switch, and they're all reasons I can't wait to get my hands on mine.
We're on the last stretch of this years-long wait, though, and you can rest assured I'll have more to say about the Switch 2 in the days and weeks ahead.
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4K Capability Yes
4K Capabilities 4K 60Hz (TV mode only)
Top Games Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Power Source 60W USB-C power adapter
What's Included 1x Nintendo Switch 2 system, 1x Left Joy-Con 2 (blue), 1x Right Joy-Con 2 (orange), 1x Joy-Con 2 strap (blue), 1x Joy-Con 2 strap (orange), 1x Joy-Con 2 Grip, 1x Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, 1x Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, 1x power adapter, 1x USB-C power cable
Brand Nintendo
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English (US) ·