The Nintendo Switch 2 is weeks away. After months of leaks, a formal reveal, and a Direct presentation that confirmed the hardware in detail, the console is launching this April with a launch price that has been the subject of considerable debate. Here is a full summary of where things stand heading into launch.

The Hardware

The Switch 2 uses a larger OLED display than the original Switch OLED model, running at 1080p in handheld mode and up to 4K when docked. The processor is a custom Nvidia chip, widely believed to be based on an Ampere-class architecture with DLSS support, which is the technology doing the heavy lifting on the 4K output claims.

The dock has been redesigned with a USB-C port on the side for table-top gaming without removing the console from its dock cradle. The kickstand is now full-width and adjustable, addressing one of the most consistent complaints about the original Switch design.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically rather than via the original rail system. They are larger, have improved analogue sticks, and include a new ‘C button’ that connects to Nintendo’s new Game Chat feature. Mouse functionality is built into the right Joy-Con, activated by placing it on a flat surface: useful for certain game types, a potential gimmick for others.

The Price

This is where it has gotten contentious. The Switch 2 is launching at £395 for the standard console package in the UK. Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title, is priced at £74.99 on a physical cartridge.

Both prices are higher than many expected. The Switch 2 is more expensive than the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition at its current retail price, which is a comparison Nintendo would probably prefer you did not make. The justification is the hardware, the screen quality, and the portability premium that Nintendo has always charged.

Pre-orders sold out rapidly at most UK retailers within the first hour of going live. GAME, Argos, Amazon, and Smyths all reported stock exhaustion quickly. A second wave of pre-order allocation is expected but has not been confirmed with specific dates by any major retailer as of publication.

The Launch Lineup

Mario Kart World is the anchor title. It includes 24 drivers, 32 tracks at launch (with free updates planned), and an open-world mode between races called Free Roam. The visuals are a clear step above Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The price is harder to swallow.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a free pack-in experience that demonstrates the hardware’s features, including the Joy-Con mouse functionality and the C button. It is not a game in any meaningful sense but serves as a technical showcase.

Donkey Kong Bananza is confirmed as a launch-window title for June, not a day-one release. Early footage looks like a proper DK platformer built for the hardware rather than a port, which is encouraging.

The third-party launch lineup includes a version of Cyberpunk 2077 (the full game with its Phantom Liberty expansion), Hogwarts Legacy, and several other current-generation ports. These are not launch exclusives but their presence signals that the Switch 2 will get better third-party support than its predecessor.

Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are both playable on Switch 2 via backwards compatibility. Nintendo confirmed that original Switch cartridges work in the new console.

Backwards Compatibility

Original Switch game cartridges are compatible. However, Nintendo has introduced a paid upgrade path called ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’ for certain first-party games, offering improved performance and additional features on the new hardware. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example, has an upgrade available for £15 that adds Switch 2-specific features.

This has been criticised in some quarters as double-dipping. Nintendo’s counter-position is that the upgrade is optional and the original game runs fine without it.

Game Chat

The C button opens Nintendo’s new voice and video chat system, which works over Wi-Fi without requiring a phone app. This is a direct response to the criticisms of the original Switch’s Nintendo Switch Online app approach. Whether the implementation is actually good will depend on player adoption, but the hardware infrastructure at least removes the main obstacle.

The Verdict Before Launch

The Switch 2 is the most capable Nintendo hardware in the company’s history and the launch lineup, while not exceptional beyond Mario Kart World, is functional. The price is a legitimate concern, particularly in the UK where the pound-to-yen conversion has not been kind.

If you have been a Switch owner and enjoyed it, the Switch 2 is a meaningful upgrade. If you are new to Nintendo hardware, the entry cost is substantial. Mario Kart World is going to sell the console regardless. That is Nintendo’s plan, and it tends to work.

Launch is this April. Expect review coverage here as soon as embargo lifts.