Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have officially kicked off in the U.S. and Canada, locking in the long-rumored $450 price just ahead of its June 5 release. Despite inflation chatter and tariff concerns, the price didn’t budge, though some accessories weren’t as lucky.
Nintendo Switch 2 brings sharper screens and stronger guts
The new model keeps the hybrid format that made the original a breakout hit, but this time it comes with sharper teeth. A 7.9-inch LCD screen delivers 1080p resolution, HDR, and a snappy 120Hz refresh rate. Under the shell, a custom Nvidia chip handles ray tracing and AI-driven upscaling, promising visuals that trounce the first-gen Switch.
Physical design hasn’t changed much, dock it or take it on the go, but the performance leap is hard to miss.
Joy-Con 2: new tricks, same click
Joy-Con 2 controllers are chunkier and connect via magnets now. There’s a “mouse mode” baked in, giving more finesse to precision-heavy games like real-time strategy titles or shooters. Nintendo ditched Hall effect sensors again, but claims these sticks hold up better over time.
They’re not just bigger, they’re smarter. A new C button on the right Joy-Con 2 unlocks GameChat, a built-in voice feature that lets friends share screens and solve puzzles together—if you’re paying for Nintendo Switch Online, that is.
Nintendo Switch 2 docked and loaded for 4K
Plug it into the dock, and the Switch 2 outputs full 4K HDR to your TV. You’ll get 60 fps at 4K and up to 120 fps at 1440p. The dock adds USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet ports, plus two USB-A slots up front for extras. More horsepower, more ports, less hassle.
Storage jumps, old microSDs get left behind
Out of the box, you’ll get 256GB of internal storage, eight times more than the original. But forget your old microSD cards. The new model supports microSD Express only, meaning older cards won’t cut it. Game cartridges are still physical, now in red, and you can slide them in just like before.
Nintendo Switch 2 preorder rules and launch times
Preorders opened at midnight Eastern on April 24. Retailers like GameStop, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are all in on it. GameStop even guarantees midnight pickups at every store on launch night.
Walmart sweetens the deal with a “before 9 am” delivery promise if you order by 8 am Eastern on June 4. GameStop’s trade-in program is live, too, offering credit if your old Switch still has some life left in it.
Old games stick around, plus GameCube classics
Most first-party Switch games will work on the new system, Nintendo confirmed. And for those still holding onto Melee dreams, the Switch 2 adds GameCube titles to its library, though only through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. If that’s your nostalgia lane, now’s your shot.
A bold refresh with familiar buttons
Switch 2 doesn’t rewrite the playbook, but it definitely updates the specs. Think of it as a sharper, stronger version of what worked the first time, except now it talks back, shows up in 4K, and keeps your save files in the cloud. The line between console and handheld keeps blurring, and Nintendo seems just fine with that.
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