Finally. It’s real, it’s shiny, and it’s a little weird — in classic Nintendo fashion.
After months of leaks, rumours, and "accidental" Best Buy blog posts, Nintendo has finally pulled back the curtain on the Switch 2 — and yup, it’s a lot.
The April Nintendo Direct was packed with first-party titles, third-party surprises, and a bunch of new hardware features that swing between “this could be genius” and “is this a gimmick?” Let’s break it all down.
Yup. Mario Kart is going open-world.
This launch-day title lets up to 24 racers grind rails, explore connected tracks, and navigate the dynamic weather chaos. There's even a dedicated Direct happening April 17 to deep-dive the features.
Open world Mario Kart? We’re listening.
It’s finally happening — Donkey Kong goes full 3D platformer for the modern age, and it’s giving Odyssey energy. The environments look lush, the movement’s fluid, and it feels like DK is getting the modern Mario treatment he deserves.
Directed by none other than Masahiro Sakurai, this one had people (us) thinking it was a new Smash Bros. at first. Instead, it’s high-speed racing chaos in Dream Land, and it sooo super lush.
New modes, new minigames, new chaos — including one mode called Bowser Live, which turns into a game show-style.
It also takes advantage of new Switch 2 hardware features like mouse controls, the built-in mic, and the all-new Nintendo Camera.
Nintendo confirmed that several classic titles are getting Switch 2 Editions — with upgraded visuals, smoother frame rates, and in some cases, brand-new control options (hello, mouse support?!). No pricing was announced (yet), but here are the confirmed titles:
Yes, you can finally mouse your way through Metroid. Wild.
This wasn’t a spec dump — but Nintendo still gave us some juicy details. Here’s the need-to-know:
That mysterious “C” button? It’s not for crouching — it launches GameChat, Nintendo’s brand-new voice & video chat system. You can invite friends into a party, see their gameplay on-screen while you play yours — and while it’s not essential, the new Nintendo Camera adds a whole new layer of chaos to GameChat (because of course it does). I thought the framerate on your mates' screens was a bit choppy, something to check out on release.
Also introduced: GameShare. Lend a digital game to up to 3 other Switch 2 systems in a gaming session— perfect for multiplayer board games or chaotic Mario Party nights.
Big names, deep cuts, and a FromSoftware exclusive — here's what’s coming to Switch 2:
And in what might be the biggest curveball:
FromSoftware’s new game, The Duskbloods, is a Switch 2 exclusive. Gulp.
At long last, GameCube games are joining the Nintendo Switch Online service:
Oh — and they’re launching a new GameCube controller, which feels like an immediate “shut up and take my money” situation.
🗓️ Nintendo Switch 2 releases June 5, 2025
Two bundles:
Pre-orders are:
Yes, Aussies got it early. Yes, we’re smug about it.
Was it mind-blowing? Not quite.
Was it classic Nintendo — slightly unhinged, unexpectedly clever, and very ‘them’? Absolutely.
The Switch 2 isn’t a reinvention, but it refines the magic that made the original so beloved — and gives us enough weirdness (GameChat, I’m looking at you) to keep us guessing.
We’re ready. See you June 5.
🎥 Check out the full Nintendo Direct showcase below.
While all content stems from genuine author opinions, some content on this site is AI-assisted—ensuring detailed analysis, critique, and timely reviews, with the author maintaining final editorial oversight.