A Run-Down of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

Written By Joshua Ray

It’s finally here! And like all the important things in my life, I am fashionably late to talking about it. However I am here now, and so was Nintendo earlier! Here is everything YOU need to know about the Nintendo Switch 2!

A World Tour Indeed! A look at MarioKart World

The direct opens with its driving title, MarioKart World . This looks to take our Mushroom Kingdom pals for another round of Kart racing, with the biggest thing shown being the inclusion of multiple vehicle types, including and not limited to a jet-ski, snowmobile, and aeroplane, features seen mainly in its competitor Team Sonic Racing. It's hard not to mention the graphical fidelity here, which has indeed jumped up tenfold. Water glistens with the sun’s rays, realistic clouds dangle over a large, obelisk-esque question block. Vehicles shine, and characters have embraced a next gen saturation. And in a move that can only ever remind me of  Tony Hawk Pro Skater , you can now grind on rails with your Kart and drive on walls. Physics in the Mushroom Kingdom continues to astound me. New additions look to include the Moo Moo Meadows cow (as a Nickelodeon’s Barnyard fanboy, I know my new main), a ‘Mega Mushroom’ power-up, the Hammer Bro and a new hammer throwing item, a question block which constantly dispenses coins, and a semi-truck that you can drive into the back of and then control. Mario then eats a burger and changes his outfit, which looks to be a new cosmetic feature, allowing characters to change their appearance on the track, including their vehicle of choice.

Kouichi Kawamoto, a producer for the Nintendo Switch 2, alongside director Takuhiro Dohta and Tetsuya Sasaki, the Hardware Design Lead, begin to break down some more information on Mariokart World, which seems to be taking its namesake to heart, having tracks based on climates and regions around the globe,m with each track changing depending on time of day and weather conditions. Each cup has four racetracks to complete, and boldly boasts a ‘drive virtually anywhere’ ideology, having players drive to the next course as well as part of the competition for the cup. MK:World now also boasts a twenty four driver limit, a new record for the series. 

Knockout Tour has also been announced, where players race from one corner of the globe to another, with multiple checkpoints connecting all the maps, each with a placement on them. If the placement shown on the checkpoint is higher than your placement in the race, you are eliminated. 

Yes, this is a Mario Kart Battle Royale.

The game also totes a ‘Free Roam’ seeing the player go from dusty desert to frozen tundra. All the maps available to cross over and drive in whenever. The game launches the same day, or as a bundle with the Nintendo Switch 2. A Mariokart World Direct will also be airing on April 17th, 2025.

Features Galore!

Takuhiro Dohta begins a section speaking on the Nintendo Switch 2’s new features, something that has been fan speculation since the teaser earlier this year. Here’s what was shared:

  • GameChat looks to be Nintendo’s answer to Discord, a party chatting system that sits below the game you are playing. The Switch 2 has an in-built microphone which picks up the player’s voice, docked and handheld, with built in noise suppression. GameChat also sports built-in screen sharing, though the FPS does look a bit rough handheld compared to being docked. The new ‘C’ button can bring up the party menu, allowing a user to must, leave, expand anothers game screen and so on. Nintendo have even created the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which automatically cuts out the background and allows only the player to be visible. As suspected, the camera is not bundled with the switch, and GameChat is locked behind the Nintendo Online service after March 31st, 2026

  • GameShare allows one game to be played locally on multiple systems, great for multiplayer titles. The feature is also backwards compatible with the Nintendo Switch. This can also be used with GameChat

The S(witch)ystem

  • The console supports a bigger screen at the same width, a solid 7.9 inches. The display itself is high-definition, supporting 1080p compared to the 720p Nintendo Switch.

  • The console allows for up to 120FPS gaming (in supported titles) both docked and handheld.

  • The screen is LCD similar to the Nintendo Switch LCD system, but no OLED version which is surprising to be sure, however the Switch 2 provides HDR support, again both docked and handheld.

  • As thought, the Joy-Cons do attach magnetically, and tote bigger SL/SR buttons for those who are player two. Larger control sticks are also a new feature.

  • Theorised by fans, each Joy-Con 2 controller can be used as a Mouse!

  • Improved speakers and clearer audio, including 3D audio.

  • A new stand with an adjustable angle, as well as two USB-C ports

  • The system has upgraded to 256GB of storage.

  • The most surprising feature, the new dock supports 4K for compatible games. It now also has a built-in cooling system.

  • The system is compatible with Nintendo Switch titles, but not all games, this is likely due to some games using features of the Nintendo Switch which may not be present in the Switch 2, or third party licensing issues.

  • Data transferring between the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is possible by simply logging in and using the new System Transfer feature.

  • A new pro controller is being released which has the aforementioned ‘C’ button and ne GL/GR buttons on the back which can be mapped to existing buttons, as well as an audio jack for headsets or earphones.

  • The Nintendo Switch 2 game card is now red.

This segment ends with the news fans were waiting for. The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on a surprisingly soon June 5th, 2025.

Three Types of Games (and more games)

A new segment kicks off where Takuhiro Dohta states users of the Switch 2 can play ‘three types of games’. These are:

  • Nintendo Switch 2 Games

  • Nintendo Switch Games

  • Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games

The latter relates to upgraded Switch titles which are re-released onto the Switch 2. They show this this type of game off with a Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree, which adds new mouse and voice controls and three new modes which use the camera in the new Jamboree TV section of the game:

  • Mario Party, which now includes webcam like area for players

  • Bowser Live, where the more lively player wins

  • And the mouse controlled Carnival Coaster, a rail-action minigame where you shoot enemies for coins, and complete minigames when entering pipes

This also briefly mentions an ‘Upgrade Pack’ owners of the Switch version can purchase to upgrade for less cost.

Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Breath of The Wild and Tears of the Kingdom also exist with higher resolution, framerate and HDR support, and a new ‘Zelda’s Notes’ app on the Nintendo Switch App, which has things such as a map. This also includes:

  • Metroid Prime 4

  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land

  • Pokemon Legends ZA

This segment ends with a surprise announcement, a wheelchair basketball game titled DragxDrive, utilising the mouse controls of the Nintendo Switch 2, coming out in the Summer of 2025.

Here is a list of all the games announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 from publishing partners and Nintendo:

  • Elden Ring Tarnished Edition

  • Hades II

  • Street Fighter 6

  • Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion

  • Split Fiction

  • EA Sports FC

  • Madden NFL

  • Hogwarts Legacy

  • Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4

  • Hitman World of Assaniation

  • Project 007

  • Bravely Default

  • Yakuza 0 Directors Cut

  • Deltarune Chapters 1+2 and dates announced for chapters 3+4 which is June 5th, 2025

  • Borderlands 4

  • CIV VII

  • WWE 2K and NBA 2K

  • Survival Kids

  • Enter the Gungeon II, now in 3D

  • Starseekser: Astroneer Expeditions

  • Cyberpunk 2077

  • FF7 Remake Intergrade

  • Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

  • Hollow Knight Silksong, which states finally a 2025 release date

  • Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

  • Goodnight Universe

  • Two Point Museum

  • Wild Hearts S

  • Witchbrook

  • Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S

  • Rune factory: Guardians of Azuma

  • Marvel Cosmic Invasion

  • Star Wars Outlaws

  • NOBUNGA’S AMBITION: Awakening Complete Edition

  • Fast Fusion

  • Shadow Labyrinth

  • RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

  • No Sleep for Kaname Date — From AI: The Somium Files

  • Reanimal

  • Fortnite

  • Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER

  • Professor Layton and The New World of Steam (2025)

  • Tamagotchi Plaza

  • Human Fall Flat 2

  • In collaboration with Nintendo, Hyrule Warriors, Age of Imprisonment

  • Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the 2003 title Kirby Air Ride, directed by Masahiro Sakurai

  • A surprise announcement at the end, a new 3D Donkey Kong game DOnkey Kong Banaza, dropping June 17th, 2025

  • And finally, a new From Software title for the Switch 2, The Duskbloods by Hidetaka Miyazaki a spiritual successor of sorts to From Software’s Playstation Title Bloodborne

Nintendo Gamecube has also finally been added as a subscription benefit for the Switch 2, the titles at launch are:

  • The legend of Zelda — Windwaker

  • Soulcalibur II

  • F-zero GX

More titles were teased including:

  • Super Mario Sunshine

  • Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness

  • Chibi -Robo

  • Luigi’s Mansion

And to Cap it All off…

The price. The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch at $449.99 without Mariokart, and $499.99 with.

As the direct closes, I can once again say I am happy to be a gamer, and I look forward to the release of this console, if only to take sick days off work to play Mariokart and Yakuza 0 Directors Cut.

Joshua Ray
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