Following much speculation among fans online, Nintendo provided an official first look at Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming successor to its hybrid video game system.
The company released a “first-look trailer” for the Nintendo Switch 2 on Jan, 16 which confirms a few key details about the ninth-generation console, while leaving questions about other details of the new release unanswered.
The trailer, approximately two minutes in length, confirms that Switch 2 will continue the hybrid format of its predecessor – allowing gamers to play in either handheld mode, or a docked mode allowing them to use the system on a full screen – which was widely expected.
Nintendo released the video on a dedicated webpage for the new system linked to in an announcement on its homepage, as well as on YouTube – where became the top trending video as of the time of publication, already racking up over 16 million views.
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Both the trailer and an accompanying announcement from the company also tout the backwards compatibility of the Switch 2 while leaving some ambiguity about how extensive its ability to play Switch titles would be. “Nintendo Switch 2 plays Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games, as well as both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2,” the company wrote in its announcement, while noting it would share further details at a later date.
“Nintendo Switch is being played by many consumers, and we decided that the best direction to take would be for consumers to be able to play their already purchased Nintendo Switch software on the successor to Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told Marketing Daily.
The trailer also confirms the Switch 2 will be released this year, while seemingly dispelling rumors of a March release date The trailer concludes by announcing an April 2, 2025 date for a Nintendo Direct presentation about the new system, which some fans seem to have confused with a release date announcement.
The company also revealed an upcoming international experiential activation open to Nintendo Account holders. Entitled “Nintendo Switch 2 Experience,” the series kicks off with an event in New York and Paris from April 4-6; followed by Los Angeles and London, from April 11-13; and Dallas, Toronto, Berlin, and Milan, from April 25-27.