Nintendo Switch 2 Direct kicks off at 9:00 (EST), 6:00 (PT), 15:00 (CET) on April 2, 2025

[Rainy.Nights]

Hollow Knight Silksong! I have been waiting for years! They only showed it for a few seconds but release confirmed. That was the main highlight for me. Anyway I already figured I would likely not be that interested in the Switch 2. It sounds like a very nice console but I feel satisfied enough with my Switch and PC for now. Many of the games mentioned are available on PC. Pokemon ZA will be available on the regular Switch. I probably would consider getting one if there is a Switch 2 exclusive main Pokemon game and by then hopefully there is a smaller version of the console available.

 

[DarthGohan1]

Oh boy.

I had already assumed that the price of the console would be higher, both because of the technical improvements and because of the tariffs that Trump has been imposing. I wasn't expecting that they'd raise prices on the games to $80 for digital and $90 for physical. The Switch 2's price itself is fine, but those individual game prices are pretty yikes. That's in the ballpark of approaching the sorts of prices some limited edition pre-order games have asked.

I was originally planning to get the Switch 2 to be able to play Pokémon Legends: Z-A with the better graphics, framerate and performance and in anticipation of future games that would interest me. But at $90 a pop, and with an original Switch version available, I might just not bother. I need to upgrade my PC this year, so I might just put Nintendo on the back burner and get to it later down the road.

It's cool to see that Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is one of the games that will eventually be available via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GameCube emulator so that more people can play it. It's a shame, though, that it's paywalled in that way. I've never gotten the Expansion Pass on the original Switch and definitely have no intention of doing so here.

Mario Kart World looks cool. People are rightfully excited about playable Moo Moo, but I noticed someone else who I'm also excited for:
View attachment 616420

I've never been good at platforming games and haven't played a whole lot of mainline Mario, but I definitely played some Super Mario 64 in my childhood and have fond memories of those penguins.

Also, King Boo is looking dapper. If I get the Switch 2 and this game, I'll definitely have to unlock this costume:
View attachment 616417

You know who isn't looking dapper though? Donkey Kong. Look how they massacred my boy.

Spoiler: Warning: Graphic

View attachment 616418

#NotMyDonkeyKong

I know that's not new, we've seen his new look in a previous Mario Kart teaser, but I really dislike his movie tie-in design change. I'm used to the way he's looked for decades.

---

Overall feel kind of bleh about this Nintendo Direct. The game price hike really took the wind out of my sails.

I feel very similar to you. Lots of really exciting things about Switch 2. But the 50% increase in price per game is unbelievable. What is Nintendo thinking? This is so unlike them. I'm not buying a Switch 2 if games are $90

 

[Yoshi155]

Omg @Xara look


Anyway, overall I was content with the direct. Mario Kart World looks interesting, it seems like they just took the gimmick of Tour but made it into a fully fleshed out console game. If I was more into Mario Kart, it would probably be on my wishlist, but as of now I might get it but probably not. A lot of the features and playable characters look nice.

The actual Switch 2 looks good imo. I wasn’t expecting the Switch 2 edition thing at all, because knowing Nintendo I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years that they would put in that much effort. At the very least, I never would have expected them to actually add new content to older games like that. But it’s an idea that I definitely like, and I get why they would do that because it would convince people to buy the console. You know what doesn’t make sense though? A paid tech demo. It’s wild to me that they think people are going to spend money to test features for a console (which… they probably will let’s be honest). I also didn’t foresee 120 fps considering a normal Switch would probably catch on fire doing 60 for too long with the right game.

I hope they make the console more creative than the Switch 1, since that was one of the biggest and most complained about issues, at least by possibly adding themes, but I feel like that probably won’t happen. I get that they want to appeal to more people, like hardcore gamers and don’t want to be seen as childish, but I feel like there has to be a better solution if they’re really that concerned about the issue. Besides, the Switch 1’s design still looks pretty “childish” compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, mainly with how colorful it is, and yet it’s still a popular console, so I really don’t think most people care about it because it’s not that deep. Besides, themes are a completely optional feature and it’s not even like they would have to be in your face, they could just be hidden away in an options menu where only people that want to use them would find them. It’s not that hard, Nintendo.

I thought them saying you can now see each others’ faces in Mario Party Jamboree while only showing people being happy instead of being viscerally angry and frothing at the mouth was hilarious because it’s Mario Party

GameCube games are also hype! I have to wonder if DS or maybe… Wii games will ever come to the console. The prices would start getting even more crazy but I would like to at least see DS games be on the console some day.

I skipped over most of the third party games because I didn’t care, and if I did I’d probably get them somewhere else, but I did watch the part about Elden Ring. I know two friends I’m going to tell about that game being on the console.

HAL Laboratory is still the goat because they actually know how to hype things up. Especially with how they casually dropped that Sakurai was going to be working on it. I think most of us Kirby fans were tweaking out over there not being a game in 2 years after the yearly releases, so it’s even more hype when it’s a sequel to arguably the most popular one-shot spin-off game in the series and Sakurai is coming back for it (most likely a similar reaction to the average Hollow Knight fan right now). Gamefreak could learn a lot from them. The Forgotten Land extension is also exciting. Is it going to have any lore drops?

Oh, and the DK design is still cursed. Like, I’m not saying it’s an abomination or disgrace or anything because I personally don’t feel like it should be taken that seriously, but his old design was much better, and it feels wrong to see a new one. Maybe it will feel normal someday but as of now, I prefer the old one.

I think that’s everything I thought worth noting. Overall, while I am excited for the future of the console, I still don’t think I would have it at launch, especially if games are really going to cost $90 and not change drastically enough in quality to justify the price. I’m not excited for the future of video games in general and how much more expensive they’ll get and how much scummier companies will, however.

 

[LittleMissPanda]

I'm done getting new systems and games. I'm happy with what I already have: my GameCube and my Wii, my GBA games and GBA Player, Pokémon games from the golden age.... I have a little bit of just about everything. I'm going to stick to my ACNH Switch. It took forever to find one on sale at a retailer. I can't imagine the Switch 2 at launch day. At least, the people who are ready to shell out more than $500, plus nearly $100 on the games themselves?? *blows raspberry*

Speaking of names, what a missed opportunity. They should have called it "Nintendo Switch it Up" or they could call the next one "Nintendo Switch it Up Already" lmao

 

[OswinOswald]

I thought the mouse feature actually seemed pretty smart; while originally the Wii and Switch were innovative in terms of different motion controls and such, I think being able to use voice commands and something like a mouse will allow games originally made for desktops to be ported over to switch eventually

I don't know why, but I guess I'm surprised at the number of titles on development that they announced! There were quite a few!! Unfortunately I'm not really interested in any of them, not enough to buy a new console for. Maybe when a new mainline Animal Crossing or Zelda comes out, I'll get it.

I was pleased to see a new Layton game, but I can wait for that one.

Voice chat isn't really something I plan to use much, but I appreciate that they've built that in

Overall, it does seem like a great update to the Switch, but it doesnt seem to be different enough to buy a new one when you already have an original Switch and lots of greats games available for it!

 

[cornimer]

I want to play Mario Kart World, but $630 CAD for the console is crazy I might wait until they announce more games I'm interested in before deciding to buy it

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

Normally I'm disappointed I hear about the battery life. Now I'm priced out of it. I was going to see if the new joycons have drift anyway.

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

8:00 This guy mentions a special Japanese Switch 2, region locked, but $100 cheaper?

 

[nightglow]

Does anyone have any insight as to why a nintendo digital game should be priced at $80?
I know games are not easy to make and stuff. Is Japan's economy hurting and workers needing better wages? (I don't live there)

Ok, so this kind of answers this question..

Video Game Chronicles asked Nintendo some questions while in Paris about the Switch 2 and published it approx 17 hours ago.

The Nintendo spokesperson is unnamed. I am not sure if that is a red flag, or if this website is trustworthy. I would imagine the spokesperson would normally be named?? I don't know. Also, I don't follow this website for game news or anything. So if anyone has thoughts or insight on that, please share.

Source: VGC Switch2 Q&A

I find this answer still unsatisfactory, but I guess it could be saying a lot that is unsaid?
The rest of the Q&A is short. Answers weren't very detailed or referred VGC to speak to publishers/developers about their questions.
However, one question was if Nintendo is considering launching region locked consoles outside of Japan and they said they have nothing to announce on this topic.

It got me thinking, I wonder if it is possible to bring the price down a little bit if the consoles were say, manufactured and sold in Europe to Europeans and it was a region locked console to Europe? Idk. Japan's region locked console I heard was only $300. I assumed it was because Nintendo is from Japan and it was something nice for the Japanese speaking populace.
But even if Nintendo decided to go that route, I'd imagine they would only do it in a few select areas??

Thoughts?

I know for myself, I have more of an issue with digital game prices. Region locking consoles won't help that. Lol. But saving $100 or even $80 could allow you one more game from your wallet?

 

[Airysuit]

8:00 This guy mentions a special Japanese Switch 2, region locked, but $100 cheaper?

Sounds fair to me. The yen is really weak at the moment, so if they priced the console the same as in other countries, it would end up being insanely expensive for people in Japan. Instead, they chose a price that better matches the local cost of living, which makes it about $100 cheaper for us, but relatively the same for them.

However, if they didn’t lock the Japanese version behind region/language restrictions, people outside Japan could buy them all up or resell them at a profit (scalping), which would again make it harder for local Japanese gamers to get one.

Economically, this actually seems pretty fair to me, and my dad’s an economist, so I like to think I picked up a bit of that perspective.

Edit: i also lived/worked a year in japan recently, and know by experience that 10'000yen may convert to 60 euros, but the cost of living makes it you can approximately buy the same amount for 10'000 yen in japan, compared to 100 euros in europe.

 

[LoyalDragonfly]

I'm at a place in my life where I'm not particularly interested in trying new games anymore for the most part, and would rather replay old favorites. So with that in mind, nothing in this direct really reached out to me. I was hoping for a Super Smash Bros. related announcement, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I love Super Mario Party Jamboree, and I was sort of hoping that the Switch 2 version would include more retro boards or minigames from past Mario Party games, but instead we got more gimmicky side stuff that I have zero interest in. It works for me because I would rather not have to pay extra for an updated version of a game I already own, but I probably would have been happy to buy the Switch 2 version if they had only added new party boards.

Right now, the game I have the most interest in is Pokemon Z-A, which seems rather promising from what I've heard of it so far. I like that the focus seems to be on battling, and the real-time battle system seems like it could be interesting. I probably won't buy the new system right away, but will instead wait until Z-A comes out and get them both at once. Surely the Switch 2 version will have better performance and FPS... right? I know it's unlikely with Gamefreak, but I can always hope!