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

Nintendo is about to tell us a whole lot more about the Nintendo Switch sequel on April 2. Here’s what we know and what we’re still guessing.

Mario’s getting a makeover, and it’s imminent. The 8-year-old Nintendo Switch is about to get a sequel, and we’ll know a lot more on April 2. Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 via a several-minute-long YouTube trailer earlier this year that showed off the new console’s contours and a single Mario Kart game but little else. But we’ll know a ton more in a Nintendo Direct video that’s expected to be an hour long, tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET. You can follow CNET’s announcement live blog for the news and commentary, starting now.

We also know Nintendo will be showcasing the Switch 2 soon in hands-on gameplay as part of a world tour that was extremely hard to win free tickets to. If you missed the tour, there’ll be a Nintendo video series on April 3 to 4 that will show deeper dives into Switch 2 gameplay. What we don’t know yet is price or release date. It could go on sale sometime around when Nintendo’s next Super Nintendo World theme park opens at Universal Studios Florida this May or June, but we probably won’t know that until April 2. The latest reports, however, point to a June release.

The countdown is underway, and these are the knowns and the unknowns so far. The Switch 2 was rumored for a long time, and its reality closely matches previous leaks. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises. In fact, we’re counting on them.

A familiar formula

Signs point to a big jump in gaming power — don’t expect something on the order of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but you should expect a console that can finally play higher-end games at higher resolutions, and has improved controllers too. That’s okay with me. And, according to a recent CNET survey, it’s more than okay with most people who responded. The Switch 2’s propositions sound like they’re already appealing to a lot of people, even if it seems iterative. That’s also because it’s been a very long time since the Switch has gotten a true hardware successor.

Recent reactions online initially seemed a little disappointed in the Switch 2 perhaps not being a hardware powerhouse, but keep in mind the relative landscape and Nintendo itself. Handheld game systems have to split differences in performance and power efficiency in ways that plugged-in megaconsoles don’t: Consider Valve’s Steam Deck as a template. 

It’s also worth remembering that Nintendo likes to keep its hardware affordable. Plenty of Nintendo consoles made magic with older graphics chipsets. As far as my expectations for Switch hardware performance, I’d think it would feel as good as or slightly better than what the current Steam Deck can pull off.

Price unknown: will it be $400? Or higher?

Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, told investors that the April 2 Nintendo Direct, and the hands-on experiences afterwards, will be used to determine consumer demand for the system. Pricing is still being considered, with reports suggesting anywhere from $350 to $500. Nintendo’s aim here is affordability, however, so expect something not so incredibly expensive that people won’t have money left over to buy games. Maybe it’s best to be prepared for a price around $499, just in case.

It wouldn’t be any surprise if the new console were at least $400, since the many-year-old Switch debuted at $300. Inflation alone would merit a price uptick of nearly $90. Could it hit $500? Or could Nintendo sell different configs, similar to what Microsoft and Sony are already doing? Reports also suggest higher prices for the games themselves, possibly around $70 for big first-party games. 

And yet, the most recent reports seem to be suggesting prices no higher than $400 and possibly even less. Nintendo’s Switch Online subscription price could see an increase instead, based on one report from a purported retailer via Reddit. Maybe higher-priced games and subscriptions would be Nintendo’s way of making up for the lower hardware cost.

Nintendo’s showing it off on tour

Nintendo offered a chance to win free tickets to anyone with a Nintendo Account to attend a hands-on experience of the Switch 2 in a number of world cities, but it was hard for even our colleagues at CNET to win. (There is a waitlist, though.)

  • New York, April 4 to 6
  • Los Angeles, April 11 to 13
  • Dallas, April 25 to 27
  • Toronto, April 25 to 27
  • Paris, April 4 to 6
  • London, April 11 to 13
  • Milan, April 25 to 27
  • Berlin, April 25 to 27
  • Madrid, May 9 to 11
  • Amsterdam, May 9 to 11
  • Melbourne, May 10 to 11
  • Tokyo (Makuhari), April 26 to 27
  • Seoul, May 31 to June 1
  • Hong Kong and Taipei, TBA

It’ll be backward compatible with the Switch

No worries: the Switch 2 can play older Nintendo Switch cartridges and digital games. Almost all of them, at least. And upcoming Switch games are already known to play on the original Switch as well: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends Z-A.

Nintendo previously confirmed the Switch 2 would be backward compatible with both Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch Online. Backward compatibility for Nintendo game consoles isn’t new. Many TV-connected Nintendo consoles and handhelds could play games from the immediate last generation before it: the Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, for instance. But the original Switch made a clean break from the Wii U and 3DS and ran its own software. I’m glad that’s not happening again.

As for the few games Nintendo says may not be compatible? I’m guessing they’re games that needed specific older Switch hardware, like Nintendo Labo or Ring Fit Adventure.

It means you should be perfectly safe treating the next Nintendo console as an upgrade for your existing Switch and its game library. That’s the whole idea.

New games expected: Mario Kart for sure, but also Mario, Xbox Games and more

Nintendo revealed only one game in its most recent trailer: a new Mario Kart game, which appears to have 24 simultaneous players. As for the rest of the lineup, we may not know until April. Still, reports have given us ideas.

Based on the most recent reports, Nintendo’s expected to announce a new 3D Mario game as well, arriving later this year. Super Mario Odyssey, the Switch’s first new 3D Mario game, is already more than 7 years old. Well-regarded leaker Nate the Hate detailed the reports on his YouTube channel.

Reports also point to Xbox games debuting on Switch, with a Halo compilation and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 being the first. Other games may include Final Fantasy VII Remake, Red Dead Redemption II and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Microsoft’s gaming head, Phil Spencer, has already teased games arriving on Nintendo’s next system.

Based on what we think Nintendo’s graphics power on the Switch 2 will be, it’s likely safe to assume a lot of previously unavailable Xbox and PlayStation games might finally be able to make the move sooner than later, including notable Switch no-show Madden.

Staggered release dates for games?

You might have to be patient for your favorite games to hit Switch 2. Past Nintendo history suggests that’s practically a guarantee. A recent report points to a staggered release schedule, where a couple of AAA Nintendo games lead off the first release, while third party games and more Nintendo games follow between here and the holidays. The report says developer kits may not even be available yet. 

Regardless, that sounds like what the original Switch’s game release calendar felt like. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out alongside the Switch, but many games slowly became available later on. 

Specs and features? Double USB-C for sure

The Switch 2 is definitely bigger than the original Switch and seemingly thicker. It reportedly has an 8-inch screen, up from the 7-inch Switch OLED, and it definitely has USB-C ports on both the top and bottom of the console this time. The handheld will dock just like the Switch, but that extra USB-C port suggests something else: maybe accessories and, who knows, support for secondary displays like glasses.

The Steam Deck, laptops and most phones already support video-out modes that work with display glasses like those made by Xreal and others. It would be a great bonus to have this work on a new Nintendo Switch 2 and could even hint at Nintendo making some glasses-like accessory of its own. That’s speculation on my part, but considering Nintendo had its own cardboard VR kit for the Switch and a remote-controlled AR race car, not impossible.

There’s also a headphone jack again, and a rear handle-shaped kickstand bends all the way back to rest the Switch 2 at a variety of angles for tabletop play, similar to the Switch OLED model.

Joy-Cons updates: Magnetic, more buttons, and also doubling as mice?

The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons are similar-looking but definitely new and bigger. The beefier controllers snap more easily onto the Switch body and external controller adapters, and the Joy-Con side edges look to have an extra set of shoulder buttons. It looks like the triggers are improved, and an extra button below the right Joy-Con stick has appeared too. 

We didn’t get hard confirmation, but these controllers look magnetic. One report from game controller manufacturer Mobapad goes into detail on the magnetic system as well as extra buttons on the controllers.

Will that allow for new accessories as well? I’m curious how modular the next Switch successor could be. The current Switch doesn’t have other accessories that slot into the side rails to replace the Joy-Cons, but might there be peripheral surprises with the next version? We’ll see. There’s a stick-out pin connector inside that looks like a new type of interface.

The biggest wildcard is that the new Joy-Cons may have optical sensors that turn them into mice. This was reported earlier, but the teaser trailer shows the Joy-Cons sliding along a table in exactly that type of mouse-like way, and a recent patent filing looks like a pretty strong confirmation.

Graphics should get a big boost to play more current-gen games

Reports going back to 2023 and earlier have pegged the next Switch as having revamped graphics capable of handling current-gen console games that the current Switch can’t. Think of games like Death Stranding or Elden Ring or Madden NFL. The next Nintendo console should still be a combo console with handheld and TV-docking modes, especially since that model is one the rest of the industry is slowly drifting toward (see the Steam Deck and a wave of PC gaming handhelds). 

How high-end will the TV docking graphics feel compared with the handheld mode? It’s possible that TV docking could flex 4K gaming, but handheld modes could reduce frame rates and be limited to what’s been reported to be a 1080p LCD screen. That makes sense: The Steam Deck, in comparison, still has only a 1,200×800-pixel resolution display, and it looks just fine for most games.

According to Digital Foundry and others, an Nvidia T239 processor looks to be the likely chip inside the next console. This chipset’s notable features include ray tracing and PlayStation 4-level or better graphics, along with the possibilities of faster load times, added AI capability and the ability to upscale to 4K or downscale as needed for more efficient handheld gaming modes.

More recent reports of what could show leaked internals of the Switch 2 motherboard suggest even more details: 12GB of RAM, 256GB of onboard storage and an ability to auto-upscale games to higher 4K resolutions on a TV using AI.

Nintendo hasn’t revealed any performance specs yet, but expect a big boost that could make this feel a lot more up to date for current third-party games. And AI upscaling should be a big part of the Switch 2’s feature set.

Expect other surprises

One thing I feel personally confident about, knowing Nintendo, is to expect the unexpected. Nintendo loves a good, weird surprise. No matter how seemingly normal the reported Switch 2 design leaks seem, history says Nintendo will throw curveballs.

This fall already prepped us: We got a surprise Nintendo alarm clock (!) and a streaming Nintendo music service. In the past, who could have predicted Nintendo Labo or Mario Kart Live or, going back further, the Wii’s odd controller design, the Nintendo DS’s dual-screen design or even the Nintendo 3DS’ glasses-free 3D? Whimsy is Nintendo’s calling card.

Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, said as much in an interview with the AP in 2023: «One of the things we look at always is how can we surprise and delight. How can we introduce new, unique ways of playing. That’s always in front of our mind.» 

The current-gen Switch had its own surprises baked in, like its infrared camera on one of the Joy-Cons that can measure heart rate and track finger movement. Will the Switch 2 have a new standout feature that’s equally whimsical and surprising? I’d be surprised if it didn’t.

That possible optical sensor on the Switch 2 could be one of the surprises. The optical sensor could turn one of the Joy-Cons into a mouse, similar to what Lenovo’s Legion Go has. It’s a clever idea, but for what exactly?

I’m still even more curious about what extra accessories the Switch 2 could support, either via its extra USB-C port or those new side Joy-Con slots.

We’ll know more April 2

The news is almost here, and we expect a lot. Besides the Direct April 2, through April and May Nintendo will be demoing the Switch 2 at a series of hands-on experiences around the world. I’d expect that Nintendo announces preorder information April 2 at 9am ET and then makes the Switch 2 available to buy before summer breaks kick in. May or June would allow Nintendo to have a head start getting supplies in order for the holidays (hopefully).

Right now, hold off on buying a new Switch, but buying Switch games should be fine. We’ll update with more news when we hear it, but for now consider the Switch 2 a very real and overdue upgrade from the Switches we’ve been playing for years.

Technologies

The Duskbloods Is New FromSoftware Gaming Action Coming to Switch 2 in 2026

Talk about a surprise for the new Switch.

FromSoftware had a big day with the Switch 2 Direct. The company revealed a new game called The Duskbloods and confirmed that its smash-hit action RPG Elden Ring is coming to the new console, which launches on June 5 for $450. 

The Duskbloods is exclusive to the Switch 2, which was a surprise announcement during the Switch 2 Direct. According to FromSoftware, the game is a player vs. player vs. enemy, or PvPvE, online multiplayer game similar to the developer’s upcoming Elden Ring: Nightreign. 

Players will be part of the Bloodsworn, which is a group that has «transcended human strength thanks to their special blood.» Each individual will be playing against each other as well as taking on other foes. 

The game features some mainstays for FromSoftware games, with a gothic tone and a focus on gore, like its popular Bloodborne game for the PS4. It does appear that characters have a few more abilities than seen in previous games from the cult developer.  

The Duskbloods will release sometime in It will be released in 2026.

The Switch 2 will launch on June 5 and preorders will start on April 9 at retailers. The new console will feature plenty of third-party support, with major games like Borderlands 4, Madden and Civilization 7 coming from other publishers.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, April 3

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 3.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Today’s NYT Mini Crossword has two similar clues, 5-Across and 6-Across. They both play off the same idea — using the first part of two words to make one, all food-related. I didn’t get that at first, so I struggled with those two clues. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Hit the ___ (go to bed)
Answer: SACK

5A clue: Misleading name for a sub/shish kebab restaurant?
Answer: SUSHI

6A clue: Misleading name for a taco/pasta restaurant?
Answer: TAPAS

7A clue: Certain sports bets
Answer: OVERS

8A clue: Cooped (up)
Answer: PENT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Almost *too* sophisticated and charming
Answer: SUAVE

2D clue: Upscale Colorado skiing destination
Answer: ASPEN

3D clue: Word after bar or pie
Answer: CHART

4D clue: Smooch
Answer: KISS

5D clue: Word on an eight-sided traffic sign
Answer: STOP

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

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Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know About the Console, New Games, Release Date

The $450 console will get Mario Kart World at launch, 4K gaming when docked, Switch 2 Edition game enhancements and new mouse controls.

The Nintendo Switch 2 console’s biggest reveal yet arrived Wednesday morning as part of the company’s Nintendo Direct event. This teed up a day of Switch 2 reveals that include its June 5 release date, a $450 price, its specs, and its initial game lineup that extends from launch into 2026

The console will be further buoyed by having Mario Kart World as a launch title, which will go on sale in either a $500 bundle with the Switch 2 or on its own for $80 — making the open-world racing game one of Nintendo’s most expensive yet. Other games announced, such as Donkey Kong Bananza, are being priced around $70, which matches the cost of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That Zelda game and Breath of the Wild are among the original Switch titles that will get enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, a premium upgrade allowing players to get new features, modes and graphical enhancements that take advantage of the newer system’s capabilities. 

Here are the top highlights from Nintendo’s console event, all of the games we’ve heard about so far (including new titles, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition titles and GameCube games coming to Nintendo Switch Online) and all of our coverage so far. You can also check out our Nintendo Switch 2 live blog for even more updates about the Switch 2 as we learn them. 

Nintendo Switch 2 console

The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs saw a noticeable technical bump over the Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch, 1080p resolution LCD that supports a 120Hz refresh rate — matching what we now see on most Android phones. When the Switch 2 is docked, compatible games can run in 4K resolution. The new dock also includes a cooling fan. 

The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, and the new Switch 2 Game Cards will load games faster. For digital libraries, however, the Switch 2 will only work with microSD Express cards, which are different from the microSD cards that are compatible with the prior Nintendo Switch. Nintendo will have a Software Transfer feature available to help move games and data from the original Switch to the Switch 2.

The new Joy-Con for the controllers will support mouse controls, and a new C button will be part of a new GameChat communication feature that allows both voice and video chat. There’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing players to see each other.

The Switch 2 also adds a second USB-C port to the top of the system, which Nintendo says can help connect its new camera accessory or charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. Nintendo also revealed a new Switch 2 Pro Controller with the C button and customizable GL and GR buttons on the back.

Following the presentation, Nintendo unveiled the system’s price of $450 in the US. It will also sell the Switch 2 bundled with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500.

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World removes its traditional boundaries and lets drivers roam freely across an entire world of race courses. The game will get its own Nintendo Direct later this month, where we’ll see additional details, but we already know it’ll include traditional races and a Free Roam mode, much like in the Forza Horizon series. 

Getting the game bundled for an extra $50 on the cost of the Switch 2 might be the move if you are interested in the game, because Nintendo announced on its website that standalone copies of Mario Kart World will cost $80

Joy-Con 2 C button and GameChat

Nintendo’s rolling out its new C button across several new Switch 2 controllers. The button will be used for the new GameChat communication features without a headset. The button will be used alongside a microphone on the console itself, which Nintendo says can be used whether it’s docked to a TV or in handheld mode. 

In its teaser video, Nintendo promises the microphone will be able to cancel out loud background noises. GameChat will also work with a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing video chat and various camera-based game modes in supported titles. GameChat will be free at launch through March 31, 2026.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games upgrade titles

The Nintendo Switch 2 will play three types of games: original Switch games, Switch 2 games and Switch 2 Edition games that will receive substantial enhancements. For many of these Switch 2 Edition games, you’ll need to buy an upgrade pack if you own the original for Switch. Many of them will get more than just enhanced graphics in the upgrade; for example, Super Mario Party Jamboree will get new games that support the new Joy-Cons’ mouse controls, audio recognition and video camera gameplay options through the Switch 2 Camera. 

Other Nintendo Switch games that are getting Switch 2 Edition options include The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Enhancements vary: The Zelda games will start working with a companion phone app for maps and sending schematics to friends, while Kirby will get a new story that’s exclusive to the Switch 2 Edition. On the third-party side, Civilization 7 will get mouse controls.

Nintendo did not announce what upgrade packs will cost. However, some Switch games will get free updates that will improve performance or enhance features when playing them on the Switch 2. The Switch games getting these updates include:

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new game set in the world of Zelda that tells the story that leads into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This appears to be similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity told the story of a war that led to the events of Breath of the Wild. The teaser shows Zelda discovering that she’s arrived in the past of Hyrule, and the game will expand on how she gets involved in the corresponding Imprisonment War.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Several other first- and third-party games were spotlighted during the Switch 2 Direct. These include Donkey Bananza, one of the first 3D platforming games featuring DK since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Kirby will also return to the racing genre in Kirby Air Riders, which comes more than 20 years after the GameCube racer Kirby’s Air Ride. DragXDrive will use mouse controls to control a futuristic wheelchair basketball game in which players will simulate push and pull motions to control their character.

An onslaught of Switch 2 third-party games were quickly shuffled through during the Direct, which I list below. An unnamed James Bond game is in development at Hitman studio IO Interactive, as is a darker title from Elden Ring creator FromSoftware called The Duskbloods, which will be exclusive to the Switch 2. 

The full list of announced Nintendo Switch 2 games includes:

  • Borderlands 4
  • Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
  • Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
  • Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
  • Deltarune
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Drag x Drive
  • EA Sports FC
  • EA Sports Madden NFL
  • Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
  • Enter the Gungeon 2
  • Fast Fusion
  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
  • Fortnite
  • Hades 2
  • Hitman World of Assassination — Signature Edition
  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
  • Kirby Air Riders
  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World
  • Kunitsu-Gai: Path of the Goddess
  • Mario Kart World
  • Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • NBA 2K
  • Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
  • Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
  • Pokemon Legends: Z-A — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • Project 007
  • Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
  • Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • Split Fiction
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
  • Street Fighter 6
  • Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Jamboree TV
  • Survival Kids
  • The Duskbloods
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4
  • WWE 2K
  • Yakuza 0 Definitive Edition

Among these titles, you can see the full list of June 5 Switch 2 launch day games here.

Nintendo GameCube library coming to Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch Online game library will add GameCube games to the Switch 2. On launch day, these games will initially include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur 2 and F-Zero GX, with each game getting enhanced graphics. Online multiplayer will also be added to certain titles. Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Strikers and Luigi’s Mansion are among the games set to arrive later. At launch, Nintendo will also sell a GameCube controller, which will be wireless and include a C button for GameChat.

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