Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

And will it even be called the Switch 2? Nintendo usually rebrands its console with each release (with the exception of the SNES and the Wii U), so are we in for a whole new name?

Let's take a look at everything we know about the successor to the Switch.

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When will the Nintendo Switch 2 release? Our speculation

Nintendo has all but confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will not be released before April 2025.

Speaking to investors in May 2024 as part of an earnings call (translated by GamesIndustry.biz), Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said that its forecast for the current financial year (April 2024 to March 2025) does not include sales of any new console. He also noted that Nintendo "[hasn't] yet discussed launch timing" for the Switch successor.

Before this, the Japanese games maker stated on 7th May 2024 (via X) that a further announcement would come "within this fiscal year" regarding a successor to the Nintendo Switch. While this doesn't answer any questions about the hardware itself, we now have a timeframe.

What has been reported by several outlets – such as Eurogamer and Bloomberg – is that the next Nintendo console was aiming for a 2024 release date before being delayed internally. A 2025 release is now expected.

Taking this into account and its financial call comments, we'd expect the Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in 2025.

April would be the very earliest, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it in the second half of the year instead.

Nintendo Switch 2 rumours and leaks

All of the latest Nintendo Switch successor rumours and leaks point towards the new console potentially being a full new console and not a "Pro" version - essentially, the Switch 2.

It was reported by Eurogamer in September 2023 that Nintendo secretly demoed the Switch 2 behind closed doors at Gamescom 2024 to a select few. The lucky few Nintendo partners got to see a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running on the new console's "beefier target specs", and that development kits are "now in the hands of some key partners".

Expanding on Eurogamer's report, a Nate the Hate podcast (via Nintendo Life) detailed that the Breath of the Wild tech demo was running at 4K 60fps, and that "load times had been erased". This could be pointing towards SSD integration in the new Nintendo console.

It was also claimed that the tech demo showcasing the targeted system specs is capable of running The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 demo at a similar level to PS5 and Xbox Series X. The console is said to be using DLSS 3.5, too.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

With no official release date, there's no confirmed price for the Nintendo Switch 2 either.

The best way to figure out the future is often to look to the past. Nintendo's latest model is the Nintendo Switch OLED, which arrived for £309.99/$349.99 in October 2021. This was an increase from the standard Nintendo Switch's price of £279.99/$299.99 back in March 2017.

With at least three years passing before the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives, it's fair to assume another price increase will take place.

A prediction from analyst Matthew Kanterman (via Bloomberg) in 2021 pointed to the Nintendo Switch 2 being closer to the $400 mark. "I still think Nintendo can drive strong demand even at $399.99," he said at the time.

Considering a PlayStation 5 costs £479.99/$499.99 and Sony recently released the souped-up PS5 Pro for £699.99/$699.99, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Nintendo to enter the £400 bracket.

While the hardware will certainly be less powerful than any type of PS5, it will still be an upgrade from the current Nintendo Switch models, and this always means higher manufacturing prices which then go on to the consumer.

So, with that, we could see a Nintendo Switch 2 for £399.99/$399.99. Still, until anything is announced, this is purely speculation.

Nintendo Switch 2 specs and features rumours

Rumoured tech specs

There have been several reports and rumours surrounding what to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2. Everything from 4K resolution to better battery life to bigger storage to a fix on Joy-Con drift, as well as an LCD and OLED screen, have been mentioned at some point.

The Nintendo Switch 2 specs listed mention an 8-inch screen (up from the original's 6-inch), 12GB RAM (up from 4GB) as well as 256GB storage (up from 32GB). It will have support for HDMI 2.1, USB-C ports and magnetic Joy Cons. One source who spoke to VGC backed up these specs, stating that this is what Nintendo has told its partners.

It appears that an LCD screen has been opted for over an OLED screen, with Nintendo likely to release an OLED model at a later date. The Switch 2 is expected to support 1080p in handheld mode and 4K resolution when docked.

There's been a bunch more rumours and reports over the years, which you can find below.

One report from Android Authority in May 2024 put together all of the supposed leaks surrounding the Switch 2's specs at the time. This includes one from Famiboards user LIC that analysed the shipments and data between Nintendo, NVIDIA and other companies.

Based on all this stuff in the rumour mill, the following specifications were then established:

• 12GB RAM - 7,500MT/s transfer (up from 4GB RAM on the Switch OLED)
• 6GB LPDDR5X modules x2
• 256GB UFS 3.1 Storage (up from 64GB on the Switch OLED)

Without claiming to be tech geniuses, those uplifts from the Switch OLED specs — with the new console reportedly more than doubling the RAM and the storage space of its predecessor — sound like seriously juicy upgrades to us.

If we assume that there are similar uplifts happening across the board, it's easy to fantasise that the Switch 2 will be able to run much more powerful games with better graphics than the previous Switch. That is, of course, if these rumours are proven right and our hopes all come true.

Some further details then were shared by known leaker CentroLeaks, stating that the Nintendo Switch 2 may have an eight-inch display (one inch bigger than the Switch OLED) with a fan-made mock-up shared to social media.

The user then shared additional details via Brazilian streamer TvPH, so naturally take this all with a pinch of salt.

A known data miner, who goes by OatmealDone, found evidence of a new Switch dock that will support 4K visuals. That rumour seems to be backed up by Animal Crossing World, a fan-run website that spotted some recent Animal Crossing screenshots, posted by Nintendo, that appeared to be taken in 4K resolution.

4K could feasibly be possible by utilising Nvidia’s DLSS, using machine learning to upscale from a lower internal resolution to a UHD output. That is if Nintendo sticks with Nvidia - but they most likely will.

The current Switch has 32GB storage, while the OLED has 64GB. The battery life has already been improved on the Switch from 6.5 hours to nine in the last update, too. Could the Switch 2 perhaps get us to 10 hours? We can only hope.

The new console is expected to keep the dual-gaming function that the Switch is famous for, allowing you to play games on your TV or in a handheld fashion.

Backwards compatibility

Rumours have also pointed towards the Switch 2 sticking with cartridges and being backwards compatible, and we can now confirm that the next Nintendo console will be compatible with the previous generation of games. Read more about that now.

The general assumption is that the Nintendo Switch 2 will work better and faster than its predecessor, whichever mode you choose to play your games in. Some fans are hoping that extra-speedy SSD storage might be included, allowing the console to cut down dramatically on loading times.

What will the Switch 2 look like?

The most recent 'leak' happened in September, when images of what is supposed to be the new Switch successor appeared on Reddit after being sourced from a social media site in China.

It was then later discovered that the originator of the images was a 3D design and model enthusiast (via Eurogamer), casting doubt on its authenticity. That said, they're still worth looking at.

Rumours of a second screen being attached to the top of the Switch 2, similar to how the Nintendo DS looks, have also been mentioned. There's less on this idea, but it would be pretty outlandish and yet very much within Nintendo's remit to advance the handheld aspect.

A mockup by Aiden L from California was picked as the "best conceptualisation" of what the Switch 2 could look like in a competition on Freelancer.com.

Also seemingly on the cards is a fitness tracker, much like you get on your smartphones, and this would indicate that the hugely popular Ring Fit Adventure franchise will remain a top priority for Nintendo going forward - something that does not surprise us.

It was reported by Bloomberg in January 2024 that the new console will possess an LCD display at launch, rather than an OLED display. This could potentially result in a strange situation where the visuals of the next-gen Switch could look worse than the Switch OLED in handheld.

What games will be available?

One thing we know for sure is that the next Nintendo console will make use of the Nintendo Account, with president Shuntaro Furukawa aiming "to make a smooth transition for customers from Nintendo Switch to the next-generation console by using the Nintendo Account" (via Genki_JPN).

Fingers crossed this means the list of retro games on Switch Online carry on over to the new console and continue to expand.

Should I wait to buy a Nintendo Switch 2?

Should you buy a Nintendo Switch today, or wait for the Switch 2? Well, that depends on how soon you want to start playing the best Nintendo Switch games that the console has to offer.

With the Switch 2 likely launching sometime from April 2025 onwards, are you happy waiting until then? There is a chance the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with all Switch games, so if that's true, you won't be missing out.

It's also worth noting that Nintendo doesn't drop the price of its hardware, like, ever - so you won't be saving any major money if you buy the Switch 2 on launch or in three years. This goes for the current Switch, which is still available for £279.99/$299.99, as it was in 2017.

Thankfully, some decent offers do throw in a game or two. And some retailers occasionally do knock the price down a little bit. If you are itching to play Tears of the Kingdom or you can't hold out to play Princess Peach Showtime, you may be better off just picking up a current-gen Switch now.

If not, there's probably less than a year until the Switch 2 hits store shelves.

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