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70% of Gen Z and Millennial Gamers Are Ready to Purchase a Switch 2, CNET Survey Finds

Gen Z gamers spend nearly $700 a year on new games and subscriptions. And they’re looking forward to the new Switch model the most.

The time has finally come for a new Nintendo console. Eight years after the launch of the original Nintendo Switch, the storied gaming company will release details on its highly anticipated successor, the Switch 2, this week. 

On Wednesday, April 2, Nintendo will unveil its hybrid gaming console, which can be handheld or connected to a TV. The original Switch gained popularity with different variations, including the Switch Lite and the OLED model. Further, Nintendo remains the only place gamers can enjoy beloved franchises like Mario, Zelda and Animal Crossing. 

The gaming world has evolved since the first Switch hit the scene. Nowadays, 4K graphics, virtual reality, streaming, game subscriptions and social play are increasingly important to many gamers. The new Switch has the opportunity to catch up to the technology of competitors like the Xbox Series X and Sony PlayStation 5 while maintaining a family-friendly, portable format that’s more accessible to everyone. Gamers everywhere are excited about what Nintendo will reveal next. 

A new CNET survey finds that over half of US gaming adults (58%) are interested in buying the Switch 2 but are considering a few factors ahead of the launch. By the numbers, 27% are looking for an affordable price tag, while others hope new games for the Nintendo franchise and improved technology will meet their expectations. 

And after years of waiting, loyal Nintendo gamers are ready for a new and improved system — and to pass down the older one. However, the big question is, will the Switch 2 deliver?

Here’s what CNET’s latest gaming survey found and the big Nintendo moments our gaming editors say you don’t want to miss. 

Gen Z hopes the Switch will bring better games and performance

CNET found that 70% of Gen Z gamers and 71% of millennials who identify as such are interested in the upcoming Switch model. What’s most interesting is Gen Z’s hopes for the new console and how they view gaming. 

Nearly one in four (23%) of Gen Z respondents are looking forward to new games for Nintendo franchises, while 30% are looking forward to improved technology such as a bigger screen and better graphics. Above all, the top factor for deciding whether or not to buy the Switch was an affordable price (31%). CNET Editor-at-Large Scott Stein, who writes about gaming devices among other things, wasn’t shocked by any of this.

«It definitely sounds like those results favor the Switch 2’s existence,» said Stein. 

Here’s a closer look at the factors Gen Z gamers and US gaming adults overall consider when deciding to upgrade to the Switch 2 and what experts think about the data. 

Read more: Nintendo Switch 2 Preorder and Release Date Leaked by Retailer

The no.1 factor is the console price

Compared to other gaming consoles, Nintendo hasn’t been the most expensive on the market, which makes it a budget-friendly gaming option for some compared to a $500 Xbox Series X. Stein predicts that the Switch 2 will cost less — around $400, which Gen Zers may be a lot more willing to pay if they don’t want to spend as much on a console. In comparison, when the first Switch was released, it cost $300. 

«Gen Z knows the tech landscape and doesn’t want to pay a lot,» said Stein. «The Switch 2 could make a play for a middle ground.» 

Stein also pointed out that if Gen Zers love the usual Nintendo games, they’ll likely buy the newer Switch model. However, it could depend on how much support big-name publishers give the Switch 2 for popular games that could make the new console worth the sticker price for them. 

It’s all about the Switch’s performance and unique features, too

As one of the youngest gaming generations, Gen Z hopes that Nintendo will deliver higher-resolution graphics with the upcoming release, which could meet Gen Z’s expectations — like we see with PlayStation and Xbox. Since this generation was much younger when the first Nintendo Switch was first released, Stein said this is the first time they can weigh in on the Nintendo franchise’s graphics and capabilities. 

Beyond graphics, Gen Z is also looking at what makes the Switch stand out. 

For example, Nintendo has teased the possibility of using the Switch’s Joy-Con as a mouse. That might not move the needle for making the purchase, but Gen Z is looking for something different and will make the purchase worthwhile, said David Lumb, a senior reporter at CNET. 

They’re spending more on gaming, but intentionally 

Even though the younger generation is weighing the console price, let’s not forget about the no. 1 factor for the younger generation considering the Switch 2: the availability of games. «Gen Z, with its disposable income, is choosing to focus on a couple of games and going a little bit on that, rather than having a broader [array] of games, especially if their socialization is based on those one or two games,» said Lumb. 

Lumb also said there’s a chance Gen Z will initially wait to see if more games come out to justify the price of the Switch 2, especially since they already have forever games they’re socially playing with friends. 

Yet this generation spends the most on subscriptions and gaming. 

Gen Z spends an average of $56 per month on subscriptions and/or new games, compared to US gaming adults as a whole, spending an average of $35 per month. That’s an additional $252 per year for the youngest surveyed generation. 

Beyond buying new games and paying for subscriptions, there’s a chance this monthly amount could be spent on in-game purchases for games that Gen Z gamers may only buy once a year. However, they could spend the monthly amount on customization, upgrades and other in-game purchases, said Lumb. For example, think about in-game cosmetics and items you can purchase in Fortnight. 

Read more: Nintendo Switch 2: Release Date Rumors, Everything We Know So Far

Why the Switch 2 is gaining traction for US gamers

More than half (58%) of US adults that game want to buy the Nintendo Switch 2. The big question is why. 

For loyal Switch gamers, the format and games are fun, and gamers are ready for the next iteration of it, Lumb said. 

«I think it’s just people are excited to see the next version of this, but I also think it’s excitement, not a guarantee people are going to buy it,» Lumb said. For US adults, here’s what would persuade them to buy the new Switch. 

The big Switch moments our editors and gamers are hoping for 

Lumb and Stein said we shouldn’t plan on any major changes for the Switch 2. While Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct will tell us more, here are a few possibilities that gamers and our experts are looking forward to based on survey findings. 

Better performance to lure popular games 

Aside from the price of the console, the two biggest factors for buying the Switch are improved technology and game availability. However, to have both, big-name popular games need better performance to offer more than Nintendo’s usual titles. 

Nintendo hasn’t been focused on performance like Xbox and PlayStation — which perform similarly to a personal computer, said Lumb. Instead, it has focused on offering unique games. 

«Nintendo is really going for style over the latest and greatest, which is fun. However, the original Switch suffered in terms of porting top-end games,» said Lumb. «So hopefully, we will see a performance boost to at least be able to get a decent amount of these leading games.» 

A new Nintendo subscription plan 

Currently, Nintendo offers Nintendo Switch Online, which allows cloud data storage, online gameplay and a library of Nintendo games. Our editors are eager to see if Nintendo’s big announcement will include changes to the existing subscription to offer more to gamers. 

Stein wonders if Nintendo will do a fun subscription for the Switch 2, and whether or not the special offers will be available to all Switch owners. For example, there’s the possibility of a subscription tier that includes Switch games and special offerings for a certain amount more per month. Think about playing the new Mario Kart for free with the subscription. 

But it all depends on Nintendo’s proposition for the Switch 2 and whether it’s planning any subscription changes with the new release. And the big question is, would the offers only be for the Switch 2 or all Switch users?

Special features and upgraded technology 

So far, specs rumored for the Switch 2 include an 8-inch LCD screen, an eight-core Arm Cortex A78C CPU and a 5-watt draw for battery life. 

Occasionally, Nintendo has a way of impressing us technologically, which could be interesting with the upcoming console release. «It’s funny because we always write off Nintendo as not being about graphics or necessarily about tech, but they do have moments that they push the envelope on tech,» said Stein.

There’s also a chance for artificial intelligence upscaling and an Nvidia processor. But one of the features Stein is hopeful for is the Switch 2 being backward compatible. That means your older Switch games will be compatible with later Switch models and the Switch 2.

«I would totally expect that Nintendo hedges its bets in a clever way so that people who don’t want to spring the money right now won’t feel totally left out,» said Stein. 

Stein said that would be welcome news for loyal Nintendo customers, who may consider buying the newer model later on. And when they do, they’d already have a library of games since the Switch 2 would be backward compatible. 

Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,369 adults, of which 1,290 were gamers. Fieldwork was undertaken between March 19 and 25, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 and over).

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