Everything we’re still dying to know about Nintendo Switch 2

The seven-year wait is over. Nintendo Officially revealed the next consoleSwitch 2. Now that the reveal has actually happened, After months of speculationWe can all move on to something else, right? Not so fast. In fact, the short intro video raised more questions than answers. There’s a lot we don’t know about Nintendo’s upcoming hybrid console, so let’s get into it.

When will he come out?

We don’t know! Nintendo has a live stream planned for April 2, where we’ll likely get this information. It will be sometime after that, but during 2025. They might do a quick turnaround and be ready for sale by the end of April, but it will most likely be released in the summer. It is also possible that the company will wait until the start of the profitable holiday season. People will be able to play it in the near future, as is the case with Nintendo Hold in-person events around the world In April until June.

What are the internal specifications?

This is another mystery. The introduction video showed only the exterior of the console, along with the updated controllers. There was no mention of internal specifications. Of course, there are a lot of rumors regarding the power of Nintendo’s upcoming console, but nothing concrete. Some analysts expect the console It will include an octa-core processor Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB RAM, 64GB eMMC storage, while others say It will be operated by Tegra239 SoC made by NVIDIA (System on a Chip). Most people seem to agree that the system will include some version of NVIDIA’s deep learning DLSS upscaling technology.

What about the screen?

We’ve seen the screen in action, and it’s likely running some version of the upcoming Mario Kart game. The video gave us an idea of ​​how big the screen looks 30 percent larger than the current model. This follows rumors pointing to an 8-inch screen. However, we don’t know what type of screen comes with the console. Rumors differ here. Some analysts expect a Small LED screenWhile others expect a traditional LCD screen. It will likely not be an OLED display, as the company is likely saving it for a future upgrade.

What is the battery life?

There aren’t even any reliable rumors about this, but there was some speculation last year regarding the company adopting… Performance mode feature With the Switch 2. Nintendo likes to hit that sweet spot in the market, so I’d be very surprised if the battery life didn’t match Switch the OLED from 4.5 to nine hours of playing time per charge. The console will certainly be more powerful than the OG Switch, but it’s also larger. This extra room can hold a large battery.

How much will it cost?

This is another unknown. Nintendo is likely to reveal pricing information on April 2. The original Switch launched at $300, as did the Wii U. However, inflation is real and supply chains are broken. Rumors have spread that the price It can shoot for up to $400or even higher. Nintendo tends to increase the prices of entry-level consoles every few generations. The GameCube originally cost $200, and the Wii was $250.

Do the controllers feature optical sensors?

There have been long-standing rumors that the Switch 2 It will include mouse-like functionality Via optical sensors on Joy-Cons. We don’t have exact confirmation of this, but the intro video certainly implies it. Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted a clip featuring Pixar-like controllers moving around a table like two computer mice. If this is true, Nintendo will likely develop some weird software that combines mouse and controller inputs. However, this addition will definitely make things like Civilization VI Easier to play. It can also refer to new Mario Paint.

What’s that unmarked button on the right side?

Viewers will also likely have spotted a new button on the bottom of the right Joy-Con. This was previously rumored to be the “C” button, but it was not identified in the intro video. We don’t know what it does, so your guess is as good as ours. Maybe it’s calibrating the controllers or starting a voice chat. Maybe we’ll find out on April 2.

What’s the deal with backward compatibility?

Yes, the Switch 2 is backward compatible with original Switch games. This is great news, but the introduction video noted that “some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2.” We don’t know exactly what this means or how many titles it will affect. It’s a fair bet that it references some of the more ridiculous things from the previous generation, e.g Nintendo Labo or Mario Kart: Home Circuit.

Will stick drift be a problem?

We’ll have to wait and see on that, but the reveal video took some time to show the joystick doing nice little full circles. Previous leaks have suggested that Nintendo has learned its lesson regarding Stick-drift and the new console Will include a Hall effect joystick. We certainly hope so.

What will the user interface be like?

The Switch’s UI is, for better or worse, very simple and intuitive. This carries over to the online shopping experience. We don’t know if the Switch 2 will include some Nintendo-level silliness when it comes to the UI. I hope he brings it back The long-forgotten social network Miiverse. It was silly and fun. Modern social media apps are many things, but I won’t Call it exactly silly or fun.

Will there be any weirdness at Nintendo?

From the headache-inducing 3DS to the equally headache-inducing Virtual Boy, Nintendo has always marched to the beat of its own drum. However, the Switch 2 seems to be a very conservative release for the company. It is a slightly stronger and larger switch.

Will there be any of the Nintendo eccentricity that saved the company in the Wii era and nearly destroyed it during the Wii U era? We don’t know yet. It’s entirely possible that the aforementioned optical sensors or the “C” button could lead to wild and weird gaming experiences. It is also possible that there are features that have not been announced yet. This is Nintendo we’re talking about here.

What are launch games?

This is not entirely known, although fans hoping for a new Mario Kart game have certainly been in for a shock by this reveal video. It included a fair amount of footage of what appeared to be a brand new Mario Kart game, complete with it Revamped character designs And the possibility of races of 24 people.