Live Blog in Progress:
Excitement is palpable as we are 2 minutes away from the live stream starting!
Nintendo opens up with a New Nintendo Direct logo slowly coming together and fades into the new Mario Kart Trailer. It shows off player count, improved graphics, and classic gameplay elements with new features like grinding and taking control of trucks etc. The game is titled Mario Kart World! Seems like a much larger scale that we haven’t seen before.
The game is set in different regions across the world, has a day-night cycle, and weather effects and is almost an open world like we have seen on Forza Horizon. A new mode called “Knockout Tour” is where you can drive all over the world in a battle royale-style game. Think Cruisin USA. The entire world is explorable in free-roam mode. Will be a launch title.
Next up we see some Switch 2 features: The Joycon 2. The C button is for “Gamechat” a feature that opens up a discord-type interface for chatting. It uses a microphone on the system and features AI noise clarity. No additional hardware is required. You can also share your game screen. It looks choppy when screen sharing, but that could be intentional. The C button directly pulls up the chat interface. There is an additional camera peripheral; allowing you to video chat without a green screen while playing your game. Camera sold separately.
The Switch 2 also features a game share similar to the Nintendo DS, meaning you can play a game locally with just one game card. Only for compatible games, but a few Switch Classics were displayed.
Now they are showing us the meat and potatoes of the hardware. It has a 7.9-inch screen and has a 1080p screen and supports 120fps. Vivid LCD, HDR compatibility. The joycons attach magnetically. They are strong and require a release button to be pressed. Buttons are larger, both joycons can be used as a mouse, and the console features a much better sound system. As mentioned before, the mic is built in with noise-cancelling tech. Supports 3D Audio. The stand is sturdier and allows for better viewing angles. It also features 2 USB-C ports on the system. 256 gig internal storage. The new dock is 4K and HDR for compatible games. Locked at 60fps in 4K mode. Features a meatier fan and an improved cooling system. Backwards compatible.
New game is the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour where you can virtually walk around on top of your console and explore the features. It has built-in games to showcase the mouse and joycon features. Will be a paid title.
Nintendo Switch 2 Game Cards will be coloured red, and the console will use Micro SD express cards. Standard Micro SD cards will not be compatible. Switch 2 pro controller has a C button and new GL and GR buttons as well as an audio jack by default.
LAUNCH DATE IS JUNE 5TH!
Can play 3 different types of games. Switch 2 games, compatible Switch 1 games, and Switch 2 Edition games which are upgraded Switch 1 games. Super Mario Party Jamboree will have an upgrade that adds mouse controls, audio recognition, and gameplay that uses the camera. You will need to purchase an upgrade pack.
More Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will be both Breath of the Wild and TEars of the Kingdom which upgrades the graphics and framerates while adding Zelda Notes, which will add game guides to the app and tie into the game. It allows you to share QR codes for creations.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land will also have an upgrade that adds “Star Crossed World” adding more levels and gameplay features.
MMetroid 4 Prime Beyond will have a Nintendo Switch2 Edition. It will be 4K at 60 frames or 120 fps at 1080. You can use the mouse as an aimer.
Polemon ZA also features upgraded graphics and framerates. No pricing on upgrade packs.
A new Wheelchair sports game that uses mice as controls called “Drag X Drive” looks almost like a wheelchair Rocket League. You can wave the joycon to signal to other players and dunk.
3rd Party games confirmed – Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6 includes year 1 and 2 fighters as well as new Street Fighter Amiibos, Daemon X Machina a mech fighting game. Split Fiction is coming to Switch 2 as a launch title. EA Sports FC, and Madden NFL both coming too. Hogwarts Legacy coming to Switch 2 and has mouse control support, will be a launch title. Tony Hawks Skater 3+4. Hitman World of Assassination will be a launch title, Eidos is bringing a James Bond title to Switch 2 called “Project 007”. Square Enix shows up and announces Bravely Default 1 HD will be a launch title. Yakuza 0 directors Cut announced as a launch title.
More 3rd party games: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment announced! Features Tears of the Kingdom characters and serves as a prequel title, will be released around Xmas.
NSO confirmed for Switch 2, Expansion pack members enjoy a new benefit of Gamecube Games! Confirmed Titles on Launch – Wind Waker, Soul Calibur 2, F-Zero GX with 4-player online multiplayer. All games have higher resolution and save point features. Other titles were teased like Pokemon. Dedicated Gamecube Controls will be sold separately.
More 3rd Party games – Deltarune 1-4 launch title. Borderlands 4 is coming! Civilization 7 will get a Switch 2 Edition that supports mouse controls and will be an upgrade pack. WWE2k and NBA2k will be coming to Switch 2. Survival Kids announced. Enter the Gungeon 2. Starseeker: Astroneer expedition with 4-player co-op. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition is a Launch title.
Square Enix announces Final Fantasy Remake Integrade. Hollow Knight Silkson, Story of Seasons, Goodnight Universe, Two Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, Witchbrook, Puyo Puto Tetris, Rune Factory, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Star Wards Outlaws, Nobungas Ambition, Fast Fusion, Shadow Labyrinth, Reanimal, Fortnite, Ridge Racer, Prof Layton, Tamagotchi, Human Fall Flat 2, and a final announcement in the form of The DuskBloods, a brand new game by FROM Software game coming 2026.
End Reveal is a new Kirby Air Ride game called Kirby Air Riders made by Sakurai.
Real Final Reveal is…. a new 3D Donkey Kong game! It features destructible terrain, and throwbacks to the SNES games. Donkey Kong Bonanza is coming Mid-July.
