SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 will be released on June 5 of this year with all new features, games, and more.  

The Switch 2 is the newest gaming system from Nintendo, which will release later this year. It was officially announced on Jan. 16, 2025, and now has an official release date of June 5, 2025, with a pre-order option before the release date. If you require some assistance in purchasing the new Switch, instructions are listed on their website. 

With a “check back soon for retailer availability” note currently posted by Nintendo, if you don’t take the pre-order option, then you will have to try your luck on the long lines the day of the release.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a larger 1080p screen compared to the Switch 1’s 720p screen. You can also connect to a TV and play with 4K resolution, including its added support for HDR and frame rates up to 120 fps, adding more vivid color, clarity and smooth gameplay, according to Nintendo. The new Joy-Con also snaps into place with magnetic connectors. Each controller can even be used as a mouse in compatible games.

A brand new feature that will be on the Switch 2 is GameChat, which lets a group of up to 12 people chat while playing games. With the new C button on the joycons used for GameChat, a less popular option amongst teenagers is the parental controls app included with any Nintendo paid membership. Parents will be able to check who their child has been chatting with and they will be able to restrict video chat and view game chat history.

Good news for those who already own a Nintendo Switch, it will be easy to move over to the new Switch 2 console. You can transfer your games, save data and settings over to your new console, and you can also continue to play compatible Nintendo Switch games and use Nintendo Switch controllers wirelessly on the Switch 2. If you already have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you won’t need to make a new one for the new console.

No doubt, the new Nintendo Switch is a better piece of hardware than the existing Switch. “I like all the new features of the Switch 2, and I think it could be a pretty great console, so the price is pretty fair. I think the price of games is too expensive, though. I don’t know if I’d want to pay 80 bucks for Mario Kart,” Gavin Rosales, a freshman from Silver Creek, said. 

But with a 450 price tag, plus $70 or $80 for its two biggest launch games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. It might be an expensive proposition for any family right now, so don’t be upset if your parents say to wait a while.