After no less than two years of hypothesis, the Nintendo Change 2 was lastly unveiled earlier this month. During the last couple of weeks, Nintendo has confirmed many particulars for its upcoming console, and we’ll endeavor to compile all of them on this article.
Launch date and pricing
On April 2, 2025, a devoted Nintendo Direct stream revealed that the Nintendo Change 2 would launch on June 5, 2025. The pricing was not talked about in any respect in the course of the one-hour present, nevertheless it was communicated instantly afterward within the press releases and on the official web site.
The brand new console is priced at $449.99 in america, $629.99 in Canada, $699 in Australia, €469.99 in Europe, and £395.99 in the UK. Japan will get an solely cheaper model at ¥49,980 (round $330), however this model is region-locked. A region-free model will solely be bought within the nation by way of Nintendo’s on-line retailer.
Pre-orders opened in most international locations on April 9. Nonetheless, they have been delayed in america and Canada because of the looming risk of Donald Trump’s US tariffs. Analysts and clients alike have been very fearful that Nintendo can be compelled to extend the worth of the Nintendo Change 2, which was already increased than the rumors had advised previous to the announcement.
Fortunately, earlier as we speak, Nintendo confirmed that there can be no value will increase for the {hardware}. The identical will not apply to equipment, although, which all acquired a value bump.
{Hardware} Specs
The Nintendo Change 2 follows carefully within the design footsteps of the predecessor. It wasn’t for the reason that Tremendous Nintendo that the Japanese firm selected an iterative relatively than progressive design.
The brand new console will nonetheless be a hybrid of handheld and residential console, powered by NVIDIA Tegra know-how. Its display is now significantly bigger, has increased decision (Full HD), helps Excessive Dynamic Vary, and has an NVIDIA G-SYNC-powered Variable Refresh Fee that goes as much as 120 Hz. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if VRR can also be obtainable in docked mode as a result of Nintendo eliminated that particular element from a number of official web sites. When docked, the Nintendo Change 2 can attain 4K decision at 60Hz, and the dock features a cooling fan to assist preserve temperatures secure.
The combination of NVIDIA DLSS Tremendous Decision upscaling know-how (although different upscaling choices are additionally obtainable to builders) will undoubtedly be invaluable in reaching secure body charges on this mode. The console technically helps ray tracing, too, however at this stage, it seems unlikely that the majority builders will benefit from it, as it could weigh closely on the {hardware}’s capabilities.
The Pleasure-Con 2 controllers additionally return with enhancements. They now connect magnetically to the console, which is certain to be a fan-favorite change. Whereas the joysticks don’t assist Corridor Impact sensors (regardless of rumors on the contrary), Nintendo stated they’re smoother and in addition extra dependable. The SL and SR buttons have been enlarged and can be simpler to press, however the greatest addition is that the Pleasure-Con 2 controllers can be utilized like a pc mouse in video games that assist the function by sliding them on their aspect.
Furthermore, there’s now a C button that prompts the model new Recreation Chat function, which permits as much as 12 customers to hitch a voice chat whereas enjoying video games (even completely different ones). Gamers can even share their display in actual time, and when connecting the USB-C digital camera accent (bought individually), they will see one another in video chat. GameChat is being provided by Nintendo totally free till March 31, 2026; afterward, customers will want an energetic Nintendo Change On-line subscription to make use of it.
| Dimension | Roughly 116mm x 272mm x 13.9mm (with Pleasure-Con 2 hooked up) The utmost thickness from the tip of the Management Sticks to the protruding components of the ZL / ZR Buttons is 30.7mm. |
| Weight | Roughly 401g (With Pleasure-Con 2 controllers hooked up: approx. 534g) |
| Display screen | Capacitive contact display / 7.9-inch extensive color gamut LCD display / 1920×1080 decision / HDR10 assist / VRR as much as 120 Hz |
| CPU/GPU | Customized processor made by NVIDIA |
| System reminiscence | 256 GB (UFS) |
| Communication options | Wi-fi LAN (Wi-Fi 6) / Bluetooth In TV mode, it is also potential to make use of a wired LAN connection. |
| Video output | Most decision: 3840×2160, 60 fps Helps 120 fps when 1920×1080/2560×1440 resolutions are chosen Please notice: output by way of HDMI cable in TV mode. In tabletop mode and handheld mode, the utmost decision is 1920×1080, which matches the display decision. Helps HDR10 |
| Audio output | Helps linear PCM 5.1ch Please notice: output by way of HDMI cable in TV mode. Encompass sound impact will be utilized when outputting to headphones or to the built-in speaker (encompass sound impact when outputting to the built-in speaker requires a system replace). |
| Audio system | Stereo The unbiased enclosure construction offers pure, clear sound high quality. |
| Microphone | Constructed-in microphone (monaural) Noise cancellation, echo cancellation and auto achieve management present a extra comfy voice chat expertise. |
| Buttons | POWER Button / Quantity buttons |
| USB ports | 2 USB Kind-C ports The port on the underside is used for charging or for connecting to the Nintendo Change 2 dock. The port on the highest is used to attach equipment or for charging. |
| Audio jack | 4 pole stereo 3.5mm mini plug (CTIA normal) |
| Recreation card slot | Each Nintendo Change 2 and Nintendo Change recreation playing cards will be inserted. |
| microSD Categorical card slot | Suitable with microSD Categorical playing cards solely (as much as 2 TB) Please notice: a system replace by way of an web connection is required to make use of microSD Categorical playing cards. Common microSD playing cards can solely be used to repeat screenshots and movies from Nintendo Change. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, and mouse sensor positioned in every Pleasure-Con 2 controller. Brightness sensor positioned within the console. |
| Working atmosphere | Temperature: 5 – 35°C / Humidity: 20 – 80% |
| Inside battery | Lithium ion battery (capability 5220 mA) |
| Battery life | Roughly 2 – 6.5 hours |
| Charging time | Roughly 3 hours (whereas the console is in sleep mode) |
| Dimension | Approx. 115mm x 201mm x 51.2mm The peak contains the 2mm added by the toes on the underside of the dock. |
| Weight | Approx. 383g |
| Connectors |
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Nintendo Change 2 Confirmed Video games
Being a recreation console, the first objective of the {hardware} is to play videogames. Proper from the reveal day, it was clear that the Nintendo Change 2 would function much more third-party assist than its predecessor did in its early years, with builders and publishers like 2K, Bandai Namco, CAPCOM, CD Projekt, Digital Arts, FromSoftware, IO Interactive, Koei Tecmo, KONAMI, Marvelous, SEGA, Sq. Enix, THQ Nordic, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. all saying video games. Here is the complete checklist of recognized Change 2 video games:
- Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
- Bestiario
- Borderlands 4
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
- Cyberpunk 2027: Final Version
- Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion
- Deltarune Chapters 1-4
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Drag x Drive
- The Duskbloods
- Elden Ring Tarnished Version
- Enter the Gungeon 2
- FAST Fusion
- Closing Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
- Fortnite
- Fur Squadron Phoenix
- Goodnight Universe
- Hades 2
- Hitman: World of Assassination
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Hole Knight: Silksong
- Human Fall Flat 2
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- Inazuma Eleven: Victory Street
- Kirby Air Riders
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Mario Kart World
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion
- Mouse Work
- My Time at Evershine
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Full Version
- No Sleep For Kaname Date
- Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
- Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
- Raidou Remastered: The Thriller of the Soulless Military
- Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Avenue Fighter 6
- Cut up Fiction
- Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Survival Children
- Synth Beasts
- Reanimal
- Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3+4
- Two Level Museum
- Wild Hearts S
- Witchbrook
- Yazuka 0 Director’s Reduce
- Yooka-Replaylee
One barely controversial tidbit was the pricing of sure video games, resembling Nintendo’s personal Mario Kart World (priced at $80). In choose circumstances, house owners of a recreation on the unique Change will be capable to improve to the improved Change 2 model for $10. These are referred to as ‘Nintendo Change 2 Version Video games’, and there is presently twelve of them.
Recreation Share
The Nintendo Change 2 console permits customers to share suitable video games by way of the brand new Recreation Share function as a way to play with family and friends who don’t personal a particular recreation. Apparently, whereas solely a Change 2 console can provoke the sharing, a Change 1 console can obtain the sharing. This works regionally and in addition on-line (albeit not with all video games) by way of the aforementioned GameChat.
Here is the present checklist of titles with confirmed Recreation Share assist:
| Tremendous Mario Occasion Jamboree – Nintendo Change 2 Version + Jamboree TV | Sure | No |
| Huge Mind Academy: Mind vs. Mind | Sure | Sure |
| Tremendous Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | Sure | Sure |
| 51 Worldwide Video games | Sure | Sure |
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Sure | Sure |
| Tremendous Mario Odyssey | Sure | Sure |
Backward Compatibility
As beforehand confirmed, the Nintendo Change 2 helps Change video games, with a single exception on the time being: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Package. Not all video games could run flawlessly, although. There’s an official web site the place customers can observe the backward compatibility standing.
Nintendo Change Pleasure-Con and Professional Controllers can be ahead suitable with the console, too.
First Impressions
Wccftech was invited by Nintendo to attend the press-exclusive hands-on occasion that occurred on the identical day as the general public reveal. Here is an excerpt from Nathan Birch’s first impressions article concerning the new console:
Should you’re one of many sizable variety of of us who’ve affection for his or her trusty Switches, it appears fairly doubtless you’ll benefit from the Change 2. The system seems higher, feels higher, the Pleasure-Cons are sturdier and extra versatile, and enjoying Nintendo video games with some first rate {hardware} grunt behind them is a pleasant change of tempo. Whether or not the Change 2 reaches the business heights of the OG Change will largely depend upon its library of video games, however titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza present Nintendo can nonetheless ship enjoyable, and typically sudden, experiences with their long-running franchises. Whereas I would like extra time with the Change 2 to render a last verdict, it feels just like the items are there for an additional hybrid hit.