Nintendo Switch 2

GameChat Enables New Ways to Play Socially, All Together
 
With the new online feature GameChat, people can play games and talk like everyone is in the same room, even if they are miles apart. Whether sharing a victory or just waving hello, GameChat makes it feel like online friends around the world are on the same couch. Once GameChat is up, players can start a chat with friends anytime by pressing the C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. The console’s built-in mic can be used to voice chat while playing games with up to 12 people in different locations. Up to four friends can share their screen, and if they connect a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), they can also video chat, seeing each other’s faces as they cheer, shout, or laugh while playing. Additional friends can join the chat via audio only. Until the end of March 2026, GameChat can be used without the need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required.
 
When initiating a GameChat session, the user invites people from their friend list. Safety features are in place to help players have a safe and secure chat experience, such as the ability to report a person while in a chat session. In addition, Nintendo recognises the important role parents and guardians play in their children’s online experiences, so children under the age of 16 will need their parent or guardian to approve their use of GameChat with an updated version of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App.

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A Multitude of New Features and Experiences
 
A large, vivid screen that allows smooth motion expression
Nintendo Switch 2 has a large 7.9-inch built-in LCD screen that displays in full HD at 1080p while maintaining the same thickness of Nintendo Switch. Even while on the go, Nintendo Switch 2 offers vivid, detailed game experiences, as well as smooth graphics showcasing character movements and their rich facial expressions.
 
Joy-Con 2 controllers attach to the console with a “snap”
Joy-Con 2, the newly designed Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, magnetically attach to the Nintendo Switch 2 console. In addition, either Joy-Con 2 controller can be operated like a mouse by sliding it on a surface like a table or on a pair of trousers. They can be used in multiple ways, including for games that require aiming.
 
A new freely adjustable stand and a new USB-C port
The angle of the new stable stand on the back of the Nintendo Switch 2 console can be adjusted freely so that players can find their preferred viewing angle. While Nintendo Switch has one USB-C port on the bottom of the console, Nintendo Switch 2 has a port on the top as well, which makes it possible for players to use the included AC adapter to charge the console while playing in tabletop mode. It is also possible to connect a compatible USB-C camera, like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, to enjoy video chat on GameChat.
 
Powerful processing speed and graphical performance
Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly improved CPU and GPU performance over Nintendo Switch, resulting in faster processing speed and enabling new visually advanced gameplay. It also makes it possible to achieve more detailed graphics and faster loading times.
 
Crisp audio quality and spatial 3D sound
On Nintendo Switch 2, the sound quality is more natural and clearer with an even more balanced sound range. When playing in handheld mode or tabletop mode, players will be able to experience games with even more immersive, three-dimensional sound.
 
Internal storage of 256 GB
The internal storage of Nintendo Switch 2, where digital games and save data are stored, is 256 GB, which is 8 times the storage capacity of Nintendo Switch. For additional storage, Nintendo Switch 2 only uses microSD Express cards, which have faster data reading speeds than previous microSD models.

Nintendo Switch games are also playable on Nintendo Switch 2
In addition to Nintendo Switch 2 games, Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch. Some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers and peripherals, such as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, will also be usable on Nintendo Switch 2 by connecting them wirelessly to the console. For more information on the compatibility with Nintendo Switch games and accessories, please visit the Nintendo website.
 
The new Nintendo Switch 2 dock
By connecting the Nintendo Switch 2 dock to a TV, users can output video at up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120 fps via compatible games and TVs.
 
Multiple people can play one title with GameShare
With GameShare, a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature, players can share and play the same game with others who do not have the game. If one person has a Nintendo Switch 2 console and a game compatible with GameShare, that person can invite others to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch console. Between Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, GameShare can also be used along with GameChat for online play, so that players can chat with others while all of them play the same game.
 
Virtual game cards add benefits to digital games
With virtual game cards, players can easily manage all their purchased digital games, play games on two different consoles, or even lend or borrow games. The virtual game card menu shows all the digital games purchased with a user’s Nintendo Account, making it easy to access the games and load them on the console. Once a virtual game card is loaded onto a console, it can be played even if the console is not connected to the Internet, and other users who are on that console can also play the game. Additionally, digital games can be lent and borrowed among members of the same Nintendo Account family group in the form of virtual game cards via local wireless communication.
 
Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online will be available on Nintendo Switch 2. On Nintendo Switch 2, players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be able to use features like GameChat along with existing online features. For a limited time, all Nintendo Switch 2 owners can access GameChat without a Nintendo Switch Online membership through the GameChat Welcome Offer period, which lasts until 31st March, 2026.  After that time, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat. In addition, for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics will be released right at the console’s launch. Players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and a Nintendo Switch 2 console will be able to access a growing collection of Nintendo GameCube games with clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases. The classic game lineup available at release will be F-ZERO GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and SOULCALIBUR II. Along with the classic games, a dedicated wireless controller designed after the original Nintendo GameCube controller will be available for purchase by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.
 
Variety of accessibility features
In addition to existing accessibility features on Nintendo Switch, to support players’ wide range of gameplay styles, Nintendo Switch 2 offers a variety of new accessibility options including the ability to adjust font size, enable screen reader, and speech-to-text features within GameChat.
 
Safe and secure game experience on Nintendo Switch 2
With the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app, parents can easily support their children’s gameplay by using their smart device to check what kind of games their children play or set limits on how long the console can be used daily. As for GameChat, children under the age of 16 will need the parent’s or guardian’s approval on the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app to start a chat, which makes it possible for parents and guardians to manage their children’s chat experience securely.