Mario Kart World Direct: Live Nintendo Switch 2 News

As players burn rubber, ride rivers and explore the seas in Mario Kart World's free roam mode, they'll come across P-switches that unlock new secrets across the map.

Some of the highlighted secrets in the Direct included a blue coin collection challenge and hidden character medallions. It's unclear if these secrets unlock anything special on a meta-progression level -- there's no sign whether a new kart or racer could be hidden behind this content -- but it seems like compulsive gaming completers will have more to do in Mario Kart World than any other game in the series.

Charge Jump and Rewind driving techniques are being added to Mario Kart World, and they'll fundamentally change the way you interact with Mario Kart courses.

Players are able to Charge Jump by holding down the drift button while driving straight. When you release a Charge Jump, you're able to leap over obstacles, grind on powerlines or other razor-thin parts of the course and ride the walls to get a leg up over your opponents.

If you fail to navigate the course according to plan, you're now able to initiate a Rewind to a past position (though your opponents will continue advancing normally as you're dragged backwards). It's unclear if players will be able to start a Rewind at any time and if there's a minimum amount of time you're forced to backtrack to use the feature.

I'd imagine more advanced players will try to use this new feature to avoid Blue Shells and other scary items if there are no guardrails in place with this feature, so we'll have to see more about how it works as the Switch 2 -- and Mario Kart World -- get closer to release.

Mario Kart has always thrived on party game chaos. Traditionally, players lagging behind in a race earn game-changing items from item boxes while players at the front of the pack are limited to bananas, coins and other low-impact items.

The Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct confirmed this will still occur in the newest game -- "the lower your placement, the more likely you are to find items that will turn the tables."

When you nab an item block in Mario Kart World, you might find it contains an item you aren't familiar with.

The Coin Shell creates a line of coins for players to collect when thrown, speeding them up during a race. There are offensive options, too: The Ice Flower lets you freeze out and slow down competitors, the Hammer lets you use a Hammer Bro attack on the go to spin out opposing racers and the Mega Mushroom makes you huge (and fast, for some reason) and lets you squash anyone you touch.

If an opponent threatens you with any of these items, the new Feather lets you get some airtime to avoid taking a hit. Finally, the Kamek transforms other racers into different characters -- but it's unclear whether this will provide a tangible advantage.

One of the most iconic Mario Kart courses is making a return, but you'll have to work hard if you want to race on it this time around. The Nintendo Direct teased that players can make a "certain colorful course appear" if they conquer all of the Grand Prix cups in Mario Kart World.

There are seven Grand Prix cups confirmed to be in the game, with each one composed of four courses scattered across Mario Kart World's open world.

There's been a lot of buzz around the ability to play as Cow in Mario Kart World -- an entire segment of the last Nintendo Treehouse stream was dedicated to a Cow race LAN party. But the adorable bovine isn't the only new character players can use in Mario Kart World.

Classic Mario enemies Goomba and Spike are also joining the packed Mario Kart World roster to zip around the competition.

Nintendo has confirmed that tomorrow's Mario Kart World Direct won't be nearly as long as the previous Switch 2 showcases. The next showcase for the game will last for 15 minutes -- which makes sense, considering how much Mario Kart World content we've seen already between Nintendo Direct and Treehouse streams.

The Mario Kart World Direct begins on April 17 at 9 a.m. ET. Here's when you can catch the stream in your time zone:

ET: April 17 at 9 a.m.

CT: April 17 at 8 a.m.

MT: April 17 at 7 a.m.

PT: April 17 at 6 a.m.

It seems like Nintendo's assessment of "the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions" could be coming to an end -- at least for our northern neighbors. Switch 2 preorders might begin in Canada on April 23, according to Wario64.

Preorders for the new iteration of Nintendo's console are live now in the UK, and there are rumors that we'll hear new information about preorders here in the US very soon.

Hori's officially-licensed Piranha Plant camera for Switch 2 Game Chat is cheaper than Nintendo's camera peripheral, but there's a catch.

Whereas Nintendo's Switch 2 camera performs at 1080p video resolution, the Hori Piranha Plant camera can only achieve 480p video resolution. I suppose Hori is trying to deliver the authentic experience of being trapped within a Piranha Plant's maw.

The Piranha Plant camera has a bendable neck, letting you make adjustments to camera angle and height. The mouth also opens and closes to allow players to cover the camera lens when they aren't using Game Chat, which is a neat privacy feature.

Switch 2 game cards are just built differently -- from the original Switch game cards, that is. We now know that Switch 2 game cards have an additional notch that differentiates them from existing games. It's unlikely that the new game cards won't fit into the original Switch console, but the first Switch still won't be able to run Switch 2 games.

There's no need to fear upgrading, though, because your Switch game cards will still slot into the Switch 2. One of the key features of the new console is backward compatibility, though some of your original Switch games might suffer from some start up issues on release.

While CNET's Scott Stein and Bridget Carey both got early access to the Switch 2, lucky fans in New York who won an event lottery are about to get to play the Switch 2 for the very first time at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience. It's unclear what they'll get to play, beyond Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, as Nintendo's post on X shows will be on-site. 

But so much has been swirling around the console already -- console and game prices, tariffs, preorders -- that how it actually feels to play these upcoming games feels like a more distant concern.

With the second Treehouse Live reveal stream coming to a close, that's all we're hearing from Nintendo on the Switch 2 and games coming to the console, at least for now. The company will have further streams, including an April 17 Nintendo Direct going into more detail about Mario Kart World, before the console's launch in June.

But we'll keep dropping news here as the Switch 2 preorder delay situation progresses. For now, so long.

Hear me out: Yes, you can play Drag x Drive on your legs, running them up and down your thighs if need be (and you're wearing long pants). But do you really want to play a strategy game like Civilization 7 or minigames in Mario Party Jamboree on your jeans? No, you'll need a flat surface -- and assuming you want to game on your couch, you'll need a lap desk to play Switch 2 as comfortably as possible.

Every Treehouse demonstration we've seen so far has been at a desk. And lap desks can be found as cheaply as $40, which is pretty affordable considering extra Joy-Cons are $90. Plus, those lap desks can be used to hold plates or laptops any other time you're on the couch. All I'm saying is that if Nintendo thinks this mouse functionality will work well on your legs, I'll wait to see the proof.

Games retailer GameStop responded on X to Nintendo's decision to delay preorders for the Switch 2 by repeating the company's statement and adding its own inconclusive comment:

"GameStop will continue to work closely with Nintendo and provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further details."

In what is probably (has to be) (please let it be) the last segment of Treehouse previews, all the presenters from the last two days of Switch 2 gameplay previews have gathered to watch one last race of the Knockout Tour mode... where all four racers are playing cows.

Moove over Mario; the cow is obviously the star of Mario Kart World. Yes, you can play as the Mother Penguin from Super Mario 64, but clearly, you'd only pick that if the cow was unavailable. Nintendo had to have known this would make races udderly ridiculous. Dairy say this is the best Mario Kart yet? Wait -- I'm getting told to make higher-heifert posts. The cowlvalcade must stop. I'm getting put out to pasture, folks. 

The nonstop "drop the price" spam has continued to fill the chat in Nintendo's Twitch channel, a sentiment carrying over from yesterday's Treehouse presentation. But slow mode got turned on during the middle of today's stream, giving viewers a chance to actually read the chat (if you're masochistic enough to want to see what's being said).

The YouTube stream still has a completely unrestricted chat -- and viewers are still chanting "drop the price" at breakneck speed over yonder.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Street Fighter 6 has a mode to burn "in-game calories." Naturally -- well, this isn't natural at all for Street Fighter -- it's adding a ton of motion controls to basic movements, leading players to wave, flip and yank their Joy-Cons around, which will apparently burn calories. 

Remember the first time you picked up a controller as a kid and pulled it left and right, as if that would somehow eke out a bit more from your jump to land on a platform? Nintendo and Capcom believe this will help you burn a bit more juice than you would get sitting on the couch. Me, I'll stick with my Ring Fit Adventure (which, yes, still works with the Switch 2 -- but you'll have to use your old Switch 1 Joy-Cons while playing).

Between the Switch 2 camera peripheral and the Joy-Con gyroscope, Switch 2 games will still have modes that make use of motion controls.

During the Treehouse presentation today, we've seen Super Mario Party Jamboree get a dedicated movement-based mode in Bowser Live -- players interact with these minigames using only their camera and mic.

We've also seen a new Calorie Contest mode for Street Fighter 6, which encourages players to go wild shaking the Joy-Cons as they battle another player. It's a bit out there for a fighting game, but it isn't that absurd compared to what Jamboree has going on.

The new set of levels for Kirby and the Forgotten Land will look familiar to returning players. The Star-Crossed World level warps stages from the base game after a meteor crashes into the Forgotten Land.

The crystalline fragments have altered the landscape, introducing even more powerups, alien creatures to save and environmental challenges that can be found in new parts of the level.

Kirby gets new transformation abilities in these refreshed stages. One such power is unlocked when Kirby inhales a spring and enters Mouthful Mode, allowing him to jump much higher than before.

The Switch 2 Edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land will also run at 60 frames per second with 1080p resolution in handheld mode. While docked, the game will run in 1440p.

Breaking news: Nintendo has delayed preorders in the US due to the tariffs imposed on Japan this week, the company announced Friday. No new preorder date has been set. The launch date of June 5 is unchanged, however, and preorders outside the US seem unaffected.

Listen, we've enjoyed all the music from classic Nintendo games, but the Wii Shop channel brings us back. So many evenings scanning the NES and SNES games added to the catalogue, some of which hadn't been (legally) playable in years. Always celebrate update day.

That's right. The new Bowser Live mode for Super Mario Party Jamboree ditches the Joy-Cons in favor of a more versatile controller: you. Every minigame in Bowser Live mode is controllable through movement and voice controls using the Switch 2 Camera, a new sold-separately peripheral.

The games pit players against each other in teams of two to see who can stack more goombas on their heads, punch the most coin blocks and more.

Notably, one of the Treehouse presenters, Kindra, had a hard time playing the coin block game. Her hands were connecting with the block, but the mini-game didn't seem to register her interactions. The whole mode feels like a blast from the past, reminding me of the Xbox Kinect: The gimmicky games could be fun at parties, but it also looks frustrating to keep things consistently working correctly.

The new Jamboree TV mode for Super Mario Party Jamboree frames the action as part of a game show -- and plops you into the middle of the action. Exclusive to the Switch 2 Edition of the game, the new mode is compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory, which lets players appear alongside their chosen character.

There are more than 20 new minigames that make use of the Joy-Cons' new hardware features. Rumble, movement and mouse controls will drive new games that range from dragging blocks around to creating the tallest tower to who can sort the most shuffled cards on a table within the constraints of the time limit.

All 110 minigames present in the original Super Mario Party Jamboree will also return for the Switch 2 version of the game.

Nintendo's second Treehouse stream showing off Switch 2 games is about to start, and we'll see -- you guessed it -- even more gameplay from Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza. But we'll also get looks at how original Switch games like Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land will play on the Switch 2. 

After four hours, the first Treehouse for Switch 2 games is over -- with another one slated for tomorrow. This preview marathon gave longer looks at Switch 2-only games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza and Drag x Drive, as well as looks at what kind of "remastered" updates the console's players will see with original Switch games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Lastly, the showcase delved into the new GameChat feature as well as GameCube games for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers who pay extra for the Expansion Pack.

Stay tuned for more Switch 2 updates we find as more news drops from Nintendo, partners and third-party studios and publishers. And come back at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) on April 4 for the second and final Treehouse games dive.

The Treehouse stream showed off some Switch 2 gameplay for classic GameCube games today, including The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and SoulCalibur 2. Wind Waker plays in a 4:3 aspect ratio and SoulCalibur 2 has widescreen support, so these games have been tinkered with to support more modern hardware.

These games will be made more accessible than they were 20-odd years ago by adding suspend points. At any point, you can open the pause menu and create a checkpoint to rewind to if you get stuck or make a mistake.

We also discovered that you can buy a wire for the wireless GameCube controller, enabling you to pair it directly with your Switch 2 console.

GameChat, the new Switch 2 Discord analog, will be compatible with any software or game you can play on the console. Parallel-play enjoyers out there will be stoked to hear that you don't even need to be playing the same game as your friends to link up with GameChat and share your screen.

The frame rate for screen share certainly isn't fantastic, but it could potentially be a real help for anyone playing co-op games on Nintendo Switch Online.

Or at the very least, you'll probably have to frequently pause the game to use your phone.

I still believe the Nintendo Switch app feature has the potential to revolutionize the way players engage with Tears of the Kingdom's Autobuild feature, but the Treehouse's Zelda Notes presentation didn't leave me feeling confident about a use case for most of the other odds and ends.

The in-game GPS and navigation features will require you to move back and forth between your phone and the Switch 2. That might not seem so bad when there's another person with you to do it, like on this stream, but trying to use Zelda Notes solo could be an unwieldy experience.

The application's item-sharing function also seems cumbersome -- it took the presenters several tries to get weapons from one person's item box to another's. They even had to spend a moment troubleshooting their in-game inventories. Imagine how it'll feel trying to work this out between your Switch 2 and your phone when you're trying to do this at home with a friend.

Donkey Kong Bonanza returned to the Treehouse presentation, with a showcase that featured some aboveground destruction this time around. We know now that the game's levels are different layers of the planet -- Donkey Kong appears to be plumbing the hollow Earth the same way King Kong does.

One of the more interesting features connected to the persistent level alterations is the dynamic map. As players crash through mountain walls and cave floors, the map will reflect these changes and show the different routes that they've carved away. Donkey Kong Bonanza literally lets you leave your mark on the world.

The next gameplay demo was for Drag x Drive, which feels like the Arms of the Switch 2: a competitive game built to show off the console's new motion control functionality. In this case, Drag x Drive teaches players how to use both Joy-Cons in mouse mode (with sides flat on a surface).

Teachable moments aside, Drag x Drive looks fun, as it simulates wheelchair basketball: 3v3 gameplay where players wheel themselves around the court, passing the ball to teammates and shooting baskets. Players get bonus points for the "trickiness" of their shots, adding for difficulty or doing dunks (the game will slow as they wheel up the ramps near the basket). 

Drag x Drive probably won't inspire a huge following, but it looks like a fun launch game teaching players how to use their new console's controllers (and encouraging developers to build that functionality into future games). Best of all, the game spotlights a cool sport played by disabled athletes, which is a visibility win. 

Before the Treehouse stream, there was already outrage over the fact that Welcome Tour isn't a pack-in experience for the Switch 2 console. While Nintendo hasn't released an American price for Welcome Tour, we know that it will retail for 990 yen in Japan -- which roughly converts to a little under $7.

Now we've seen more of the content that's actually in the game. Players can explore a fictional convention on top of massive Switch 2 Joy-Cons, learning trivia about specific parts of the controllers. There are targeted tech demos like maraca shaking and minigames like a pseudo-safecracking rumble finder. For any Switch 2 owner who takes Welcome Tour seriously, this will be a great way to get acquainted with the hardware features in the new console.

Figuring out who this is for, however, is a bit of a head-scratcher. Even with a low price, kids won't be nagging their parents for the Switch 2 tech demo -- and more hard-core adult gamers are upset that this experience isn't a free value-add for the console. (See "Drop the price" below.)

Welcome Tour has a high level of polish, that's for sure. But will players derive as much fun from this as they would Astro's Playroom, the free PlayStation 5 tech demo? What about a similarly priced indie game? Ultimately, it seems like a misstep that Welcome Tour isn't a pack-in title for the Switch 2.

As was rumored, Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 has a custom Nvidia processor in the Switch 2 specs sheet, but didn't offer any other details. In a company blog post, Nvidia itself didn't clarify any further on which GPU is in the new console, but did confirm a few features. Namely, its new RT cores add real-time ray tracing for realistic lighting effects, while Tensor Cores enable AI-powered face tracking and removing backgrounds during video chat. 

Those Tensor Cores also enable Deep Learning Super Sampling, an AI-powered graphics upscaling technology that Nvidia debuted on its 2000 series of GeForce RTX graphics cards and continues to use to sharpen and improve resolution for PC gaming. This could be how the handheld manages to run more graphically intense games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, as well as output its games in 4K to a monitor when docked. 

All of this gives the Switch 2 "10x the graphics performance of the Nintendo Switch," per the post. And while the AI-powered features boost graphics "while keeping power consumption efficient," its magic has limits. The console may have a battery that's around 1,000 mAh larger than the original Switch's, but the Switch 2's estimated battery life has been reduced to 2-6.5 hours (down from the 4-9 hours of the first Switch). 

The next big mode in Mario Kart World is a massive transcontinental knockout race that supports up to 24 players at once.

The Knockout Tour pits players head-to-head in different races composed of six separate Mario Kart World courses. Each race connects these courses seamlessly, with the four players lagging in the back at the completion of every course getting eliminated as the rest of the racers continue speeding onward with the hopes of being the sole winner.

The mode can be played at different speeds, including 50cc, 100cc and 150cc.

"Competitiveness in a field full of this many cars reaches total absurdity," Scott wrote of this mode in his Switch 2 hands-on playtime. He may have been salty that he finished 16th.

The Treehouse presentation jumped into the beginning of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, featuring our heroine Samus descending to a battlefield to aid the Federation against her old enemy, the Space Pirates. There's plenty of classic Metroid Prime gameplay that we haven't seen since Metroid Prime 3 in 2007: moving and shooting, scanning the environment for clues and tucking into a morph ball to get around obstacles. At least in this intro area, it's exactly what Metroid Prime fans have been waiting for.

Drag x Drive isn't the only game using the new hardware capabilities of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. Metroid Prime 4 Beyond will let players make a seamlessly switch between using both Joy-Cons together as a traditional controller and mouse controls.

While in mouse control mode, the right Joy-Con gives players precise control over their aim while the left Joy-Con helps keep you moving. This feature will help more traditional FPS players who aren't a fan of Metroid Prime's visor auto-lock dive into the game.

It remains to be seen how much fluidity and speed can be achieved by a skilled player with the Joy-Con mouse controls, but this is a good sign that Metroid Prime 4 Beyond will be a serious shooter in Nintendo's catalog.

Anyone tuning into the Treehouse is seeing a lot of new gameplay -- and one recurring refrain in chat: DROP THE PRICE. Nintendo made the odd decision to not include the price in yesterday's April 2 Nintendo Direct, with speculation that the company hadn't settled on a price for the console. Later announced in a press release, it ended up being $450. That's a steep increase over the $300 Switch 1 launch price in 2017. (That would be $390 in 2025 dollars, accounting for inflation.)

But in the day since the Nintendo Direct, gamers have seemed as incensed, if not angrier, at Mario Kart World's $80 price tag, concerned that this would set a more expensive baseline for the console's games to come. Not all games announced will be $80 -- Donkey Kong Bonanza will be $70, as will Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. But still: We're an hour into this Nintendo Treehouse and the fans have one refrain.

CNET Editor-at-Large Scott Stein was mysteriously silent all day yesterday -- because he was playing the Switch 2 at a hands-on event. He got to try out the hardware and play a handful of games, including the new wheelchair action game Drag x Drive, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bonanza. He also got to see the upgrade bumps that come with last-gen Switch games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, as well as Cyberpunk 2077 and Split Fiction. His early thoughts:

"So here's the question: Is this more fun than the existing Switch and its games? I'd say the Switch 2 is a better piece of hardware, no doubt, but the upgrade proposition feels pretty uncertain until Nintendo shows many more games that make it worth it."

Read Scott's full Switch 2 preview here.

In what could end up being one of the more interesting experiments in player freedom in the Switch 2's initial lineup, Donkey Kong Bonanza gives players total control when it comes to punching, slamming and blowing up levels throughout the world.

Environments are highly destructible, and players are encouraged to create their own pathways by altering the level geometry. Hidden alcoves containing collectible "Bananium gems" reward players who bash their way off the beaten path, and slamming the ground works as a form of sonar so that you have a chance to figure out any in-game secrets on your own.

Bonanza's main gameplay loop will revolve around this destruction, showcasing the power of the Switch 2.

After Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was announced for Switch 2, we wondered how you could fit such a massive game on the console -- and it turns out, in a 64GB cartridge, as CD Projekt Red VP of business development Jan Rosner posted on BlueSky. 

While these days, the PC version of the game needs around 62GB to install, that's a huge amount given original Switch's cartridges topped out at 32GB. For the previous console, larger games got around this limit by having 32GB on the cartridge and downloading the rest on-device. We could still see that solution, as the new Switch 2 will have 256GB of onboard storage -- which it will need for games that have very little data on cartridge as they use the Game-Key Card system.

Player freedom isn't limited to driving between courses in Mario Kart World. Instead, the entire map opens up for you to drive around. Free roam has a day-and-night cycle, and players exploring the map will be able to run into other Mario Kart World characters as they zip around with their own agendas. This is definitely supposed to feel like a living, interconnected world -- Nintendo is trying to pull off something like Forza on a smaller scale.

We also know that water driving sections exist, as off-roading into the great blue will transform the player's kart into a watercraft form.

New gameplay from the Nintendo Treehouse stream shows a mix of major new features and Mario Kart quality-of-life upgrades.

The new rail and wall riding will be a large part of the game's courses -- in the train station course, Whistlestop Summit, players will be able to jump between up to three rails before touching the ground.

Some of the new free roam feature is on display even when you're racing friends, because you'll be physically driving between the different courses included in a Prix. Finding food items between courses can let you swap your racer's costume out for something more thematically appropriate for that part of the world.

Smaller features like the ability to hold items behind your kart without holding the button will also greatly improve the player experience.

As we launch into the first Switch 2 Nintendo Treehouse stream, we can expect information about Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Drag x Drive, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and the Switch 2 editions for Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom and Metroid Prime 4 Beyond.

We expect the stream will run for roughly four hours as we get our first deep dives on these new games.

Nintendo has historically focused on baking unique hardware features into its consoles to differentiate them from the rest of the market. The hybrid handheld-and-dock design of the original Switch was slightly conservative by the company's standards. Apart from a handful of new features, the Switch 2 does very little to differentiate itself from the first Switch console, and that's a purposeful decision, according to Kouichi Kawamoto, producer of the Switch 2 console.

"Just like we did with Switch, we've made having unique hardware features less of a priority for this console," said Kawamoto in an interview on the company's website. "After considering various new ideas, we decided it would be best to keep the Switch console's design and not make any 'changes for change's sake.'"

The director for the Switch 2, Takuhiro Dohta, said that he thinks game development has changed since the launch of the original Switch console.

"Rather than leveraging hardware features to create something unique, developers can now choose which software technologies they want to incorporate to make their games stand out," Dohta said. "So with Switch 2 we improved its processing speed in the hope that it'll become a dedicated game platform with a strong and solid foundation that allows software developers to create what they want."

If you want to pick up a Nintendo Switch straight from the company itself, you'll need to get in line -- but if you own a Nintendo Switch and have played several dozen hours of games on it, you'll get closer to the front as a reward for loyal customers. 

Nintendo's new plan to fight scalpers is pretty simple: first, you'll have to go to its official website and register your interest to buy a Switch 2, choosing either the standalone console for $450 or the bundle with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500. The catch is that you must have a Nintendo Switch Online membership in your name and had a subscription for at least 12 months, then share your gameplay data with the company to prove you have at least 50 combined hours playing on the original Nintendo Switch as of today, April 2.

This puts loyal fans front and center for the first wave of Switch 2 consoles. Everyone else can preorder the Switch 2 at other retailers, including Best Buy, which says its preorders will open on April 9.

Nintendo threw a lot of games at players in its hour-long Nintendo Direct presentation, but it was hard to keep track of when they're coming out -- and which would be playable the day the Switch 2 comes out on June 5. Fear not: CNET writer Oscar Gonzalez gathered up a list of the the Switch 2 launch games:

• Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
• Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
• Civilization 7 (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Deltarune
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Street Fighter 6
• Survival Kids
• Split Fiction
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut

If you want to nab the Switch 2 on launch day, mark your calendars for April 9. A week from today, you'll be able to preorder the new console on the Best Buy website and mobile app. 

Assuming you're lucky enough to secure a preorder, you can take part in the time-honored tradition of waiting in line for a midnight release. The retail giant revealed that "most stores" will open at midnight on June 5 to move the first Switch 2 consoles out of the door.

What's that? You want to register to preorder and buy a Switch 2 straight from Nintendo? So do we, but Nintendo hasn't released that information yet. We'll pass that along once the company announces how to preorder and purchase it directly from them. For now, you can register your interest to buy a Switch 2 from Nintendo -- and presumably, they'll be in touch about how to get the upcoming console.

If you're a proponent of preserving physical copies of games, Nintendo's game-key cards are a serious concern. One of the more unsavory bits of news to come out after the Direct is that certain physical cartridges won't actually contain downloadable game data, and will instead unlock the ability for you to download a game online.

Game-key cards will let people physically share or resell cartridges for digital games -- though you won't be able to access the game without having the cartridge on hand. You'll still need to pop the cartridge into the Switch 2 any time you want to play.

The downside to the game-key cards is the same as any other digital game: If and when the online storefront shuts down and you can't access your digital game, it seems as though this cartridge would become an expensive paperweight.

The Switch 2 is heralding some surprising quality-of-life improvements for how Nintendo's consoles work with its mobile apps. Now, screenshots and videos taken on the new console go straight to the Nintendo Switch app, according to an official Nintendo webpage. You don't even need a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Note the fine print -- only the latest 100 screenshots or videos from the last 30 days are viewable in the app -- but otherwise, this is a huge upgrade.

Nintendo's got a new way for parents to set ground rules for their kids' playtime on the Switch 2, and they can easily access it on their phone. The free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app lets adults set limits on how long kids can play, with little notifications popping up midgame when that time is up -- or they've gone over, which is also sent to the app. Parents can set it to automatically suspend the game when the time limit is reached.

Playtime can be adjusted day by day (more on the weekends, for instance), and a bedtime set for the latest they can play. Parents will also get a monthly report of playtime broken down day by day, as well as a ranked list of which games kids played most. 

There are also the usual controls, like restricting games by age rating and granting permissions for who kids can talk to with the new GameChat feature. 

Blink and we all missed it: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Team Cherry's beloved 2D dark action game Hollow Knight, is coming out in 2025. Just before the 47-minute mark in the hour-long Nintendo Direct, around five seconds of the game -- titled Hollow Knight: Silksong -- was shown within a long string of games coming to the Switch 2. 

To put this in context, Silksong was first announced in 2019 and fans hadn't heard anything about Silksong for years. This is an ignominious debut for the game, but it's coming all the same -- and fans are losing their minds.

While Switch 2 Edition games are set to get noticeable upgrades on their Switch 1 versions (and charge you for the privilege), at least a dozen games are getting free updates on the new console anyway. It's not clear how big these will be, but Switch 2 players will at least see updates that "may improve performance or add support for features such as GameShare," according to a page on Nintendo's website. The games getting free updates include:

• Super Mario Odyssey
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Arms
• Super Mario 3D World
• The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening
• New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe
• Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet (just as we predicted would benefit from the new console's performance)

Today's Nintendo Direct introduced Mario Kart World, an open-world entry into the arcade racer series. Post-stream, Nintendo's Mario Kart World web page revealed that the game is going to retail at $80.

It's unclear how many Switch 2 games will be sold at this price, but we know that it won't be all of them. Donkey Kong Bonanza, a new 3D action platformer revealed during the Direct, is going for $70.

Keep an eye out for pricing information on first-party games during this console generation, because we'll apparently be seeing variations depending on the size and scope of different titles.

Well, Nintendo didn't announce it during its Nintendo Direct, but the Switch 2 price is $450, per a press release from the company. The console bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart World is $500. Both the standalone console and Mario Kart World console bundle will be available on the Switch 2 release date of June 5.

Just before the end of the stream, Nintendo blitzed past all the games that will be coming to the Switch 2. It's holding not one but two Treehouse streams tomorrow, April 3, and Friday, April 4, at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. UK) on its YouTube and Twitch channels. It's unclear how long these will be, but two days of gaming deep-dives is quite something.

That's right -- Nintendo held a whole Switch 2 reveal stream, including the release date of June 5, and didn't say how much the Switch 2 will cost. Rumors had it anywhere from $350 to $500, with most bets on $400. Apparently, those bets will continue to be placed. 

On the Switch 2's release date of June 5, the console will be sold alone and in a bundle with a digital version of Mario Kart World.

A new open world-looking Donkey Kong game is coming to the Switch 2 in Donkey Kong Bonanza, coming July 17. Our favorite ape returns with a big adventure and lots of new faces (seriously, where's King K. Rool?). Punch, roll, punch some more -- plus some 2D and rail-riding action. More details are coming in the future.

Kirby Air Ride, a racing game starring everyone's favorite pink balloon lad, was originally released for the GameCube over 20 years ago, and is getting refreshed for the Switch 2 as Kirby Air Riders. Very specific GameCube fans, your ship will arrive later in 2025.

A FromSoftware game? On my Nintendo console?? The trailer for The Duskbloods, which is coming in 2026, gives off major Bloodborne vibes -- though there's a Victorian city and steampunk vibe (and Tommy gun on the back of one character), too. It also feels like the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign battle royale -- but all we have are teasing hints as to what this game will be about. It is coming to Switch 2, though.

Borderlands 4 is also coming to the Switch 2 when it launches on Sept. 23.

Welp, perhaps all us fans got too excited -- the Twitch and YouTube streams froze for a good minute. Congrats on that hype, Nintendo, you earned it. 

Already out on the underpowered Switch, Civilization 7 seems like a much better fit for the Switch 2. A beefy turn-based strategy game seems like a fantastic test of the new console's mouse controls, and indeed they're supported. If you already own Civ 7 on Switch, however, you'll have to pay for an upgrade to get the mouse features.

Sorry, original Switch owners -- only Switch 2 players will get to play GameCube games. Switch Online subscribers with Expansion Pack will get to play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur 2 (with Link!) and F-Zero GX, with more to be added in the future. Multiplayer is supported for up to four players locally or online. 

And a dedicated Switch online GameCube controller is coming too -- with its own C-button!

Just as the original Hyrule Warriors game was a prequel to Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors 2: Age of Imprisonment tells of the battles leading up to Tears of the Kingdom.

Players will get to engage in high-octane hack-and-slash battles as they learn more about the events between the two hit Legend of Zelda mainline titles in this Switch 2 game.

Sorry fans, it's just a teaser for now (no gameplay), but Hitman developer IO Interactive confirmed a 007 game is coming, currently (if unimaginatively) titled Project 007. When, and how much it will hit like GoldenEye 007 did when we were kids, is yet to be seen.

You wanted Switch 2 games? You got 'em: Street Fighter 6, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Elden Ring, Madden, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4, the co-op Split Fiction, Hogwarts Legacy and more. Not all of these will be launch titles, but some are coming out this summer.

Now we can see the Switch 2's mouse functionality with DragXDrive, a game about wheelchair basketball where players move both Joy-Cons to move and dunk basketballs. It looks pretty seamless, though there are motion controls slipped in there as well.

Switch 2 Editions rev up older Switch games with better graphics, just like anticipated. Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and more are included. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 has its own Pro Controller, which has a C-button for that chat goodness, a headphone jack and two paddle buttons on the underside of the gamepad. 

Nintendo Welcome Tour is a paid game available on Switch 2 launch day and it aims to familiarize players with their new console.

Much like 1, 2 Switch got players comfortable with motion controls and the built-in Joy-Con IR camera, Nintendo Welcome Tour will have minigames based around the new Joy-Cons' magnetic circuit and their ability to be used as a mouse.

The featured minigame from today's Nintendo Direct shows Joy-Cons being used to putt a golf ball -- but we'll inevitably learn more about Nintendo Welcome Tour before the Switch 2's launch.

There it is: the Switch 2 is launching on June 5. Everyone's summer just got more exciting. This also comes before Summer Game Fest -- we'll see if there's anything cooking at the new E3 with all these Nintendo games.

Those Smash Bros. sessions where you got the short end of the stick are over: You'll never have to play a game with a single JoyCon controller on the Switch 2 if you have your own console.

The new GameShare feature allows multiple Nintendo Switch 2 consoles to connect with one another to play a compatible game, even if that game requires multiple different screens. The GameShare feature connects with up to three other Nintendo Switch systems locally or online, assuming every player has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

The GameChat feature will also pair with users GameSharing their Nintendo Switch gaming experience.

Finally, specs for the Switch 2: Nintendo's newest console will have a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen with HDR, topping out at 120 frames per second. It's 13.9mm thick. As rumored, the Joy-Cons attach magnetically to the side of the console. They also have bigger side (SR/SL) buttons and larger thumbsticks sticks.

The Switch 2 launches with 256GB of internal storage. The new dock supports up to 4K resolution "for compatible games" and HDR is supported in TV mode. The dock has a built-in fan to cool the Switch 2 as well. 

The mystery is revealed: the C-button is for communication, chat, calls, what have you. Tap it to pull up a menu to start chatting with friends, watch your friends playing games and more. It listens through the mic at the top of the Nintendo Switch 2, which seems to have noise canceling to drown out sounds around you in favor of your voice. 

GameChat, as the feature is called, has a bunch of interaction with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which launches with the Switch 2. GameChat requires a Nintendo account, though that'll be waived for the first year. 

Mario Kart World is the newest of the series and the Switch 2's first launch game, where "you can drive everywhere" -- driving to the next course as part of the campaign, but you can also drive around the whole world, including going off-road. It's unclear how big this game's, er, world really is. 24 drivers, weather conditions changing every race and more are shown in the stream. 

More info is coming on Mario Kart World in a Nintendo Direct on April 17.

The Nintendo Direct has started -- let's get into Nintendo's first console in eight years...

Geoff Keighley, founder of Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards, has another tip for Switch 2 fans via a post on X (formerly Twitter): watch the Nintendo Direct on YouTube as it's the first streamed in 4K (change the quality by clicking the settings cog in the bottom right of the video). Nintendo's Twitch stream, while generally ahead of YouTube, caps out at HD (2K) resolution. 

The clock has ticked down to under 15 minutes before we get an hour of details on the Switch 2, and here's how to watch the Nintendo Direct -- your best options are the Nintendo YouTube channel, which lets you scroll backwards in case you missed something, or on the Nintendo Twitch channel, which has been a bit ahead of the other streams in the past.  

With minutes until the Switch 2 is fully revealed in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct, the President of Nintendo of America has a simple question he posted on X (formerly Twitter) for everyone up this early: "Are you ready?!" Yes, Doug. Eight years since the original Switch, thirteen since the Wii U, nearly 20 since the Wii, and so on -- we're ready for whatever Nintendo has to show us. (And please -- tell us what the C-button does already!!!)

With the advent of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans are understandably curious if their existing Switch Joy-Con controllers will work with the new console. There's no concrete answer just yet whether both Joy-Con controllers and the Pro Controller will indeed be compatible, though from the looks of the initial trailer for the Switch 2, the new console sure looks bigger, suggesting its Joy-Cons will be as well. That's no guarantee that the old can't be used with the new, though.

While Nintendo is expected to introduce a new, slightly updated Joy-Con design, your trusty original controllers may still be able to connect wirelessly to the Switch 2. Perhaps they won't be able to slide on and off (rumors suggest the new Joy-Cons will magnetically attach to the sides of the new console), but we'll wait for Nintendo to tell us they're incompatible before assuming. If original Switch owners can still use them with the Switch 2, multiplayer gaming (and swapping out dead controllers for charged ones) easy and accessible. 

However, accessories built specifically around the current Switch hardware, like Nintendo Labo builds and the Ring Fit Adventure peripheral, probably won't make the transition smoothly to work with the new Joy-Cons, or at all. Nintendo Labo relies heavily on precise console dimensions and the original Joy-Con sensors, so changes to size or controller features could mean the playful cardboard creations won't fit or function properly with the Switch 2's larger controllers.

Similarly, the Ring-Con and leg strap from Ring Fit Adventure are tailored to the shape and sensor features of the current Joy-Con controllers, making them unlikely to work with the redesigned tech expected for the new system. At the same time, Nintendo could still make concessions for these popular games, and there may be a way to get everything to work in harmony just yet. 

We'll find out more about exact compatibility details during Nintendo's official Direct presentation. Until then, it's possible that standard controllers could transition just fine, but specialty peripherals might be stuck on the original Switch.

One of my favorite parts of the original Switch were the different joy-con color options. For the original launch there were gray ones, but also the now iconic neon blue and red joy-cons. The neon colors were a punk-like in-your-face not-your-father's-Oldsmobile statement against the boring black and white Xbox and Playstation consoles at the time. The colorful joy-cons captured the playful fun that defined the experience of playing games on the original Switch. I hope we see Nintendo launch a couple of joy-con color options for the Switch 2, but I also hope that the joy-cons don't suffer the same joy-con drift that the original ones did, too.

The Switch 2 looks a lot like the Switch, which may not be a bad thing at all considering the competition still hasn't caught up to Nintendo's innovative detachable controllers and included dock system. But evolving PC handhelds and even the PlayStation Portal show where Nintendo could improve.

The Steam Deck's generous set of buttons and excellent analog triggers make it feel like the Switch needs to play catch-up on controls. I have high hopes that the new Joy-Cons could feel better and sturdier than before.

The PlayStation Portal's larger 1080p screen shows how useful that extra size is for detailed RPGs and games that are optimized for larger TVs – the sort of games the Switch 2 might be more compatible with. The PlayStation Portal's force-feedback triggers and haptics also feel a step above, giving a greater sense of immersion. The Portal's also pretty great at streaming games (with a good connection speed), which it needs to be since that it's only function. Will Nintendo focus on any game streaming on the Switch 2?

The Switch 2 still has a lot of surprises up its sleeve, and Nintendo tradition suggests that weird stuff could be a wild card. Everything we've seen of the Switch 2, so far, has been pretty straightforward: a Switch-like design, larger screen, new kickstand, some Joy-Con changes…but is anything going to make us feel as much shock as the cow-milking 1-2 Switch demo did in 2017?

At least one weird game showing off the Switch 2's new features should be on tap. Whether it's the expected mouse-like functions of the Joy-Cons, or whatever that new C button does…something celebrating the uniqueness of the Switch 2 would line up with similar surprises from the Switch. Don't forget midstream Switch wildcards like Labo and Mario Kart Live, too.

If the Switch 2 ends up being as straightforward as the early looks have made it seem, that would truly be the biggest surprise of all.

So far, only a new Mario Kart has been confirmed, as it was featured in the Switch 2 teaser from January. Other games have yet to be confirmed, but we can take some guesses at what will come out. 

To start, it's very likely that all the upcoming games for the Switch that were revealed last week during a Nintendo Direct stream should be playable on the Switch 2. This includes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Nintendo also understands how important its games are, so expect some big titles coming from them. Usually, a Legend of Zelda or 3D Mario game launches with every Nintendo console, and it could be that both could be Switch 2 launch titles as well. Maybe there will also be a new Kirby or Fire Emblem game? 

What will be interesting is to see the third-party support for the Switch 2. Since the console will have more power, it's likely that many AAA games could see a port to the console. Maybe we'll see a Switch 2 version of Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, or Baldur's Gate 3. 

The new games for the Switch 2 will be a big part of the Nintendo Direct Switch 2 reveal -- here's how to watch. 

Some of Nintendo's flagship franchises have historically struggled with the Switch's hardware constraints, and we can think of a few that would benefit most from graphical upgrades with the likely higher-performance Switch 2. 

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Kirby and the Forgotten Land are just a few examples of first-party games that have pushed the original Switch to its limits, often resulting in stuttering frame rates and muddied graphical fidelity.

We know that the Switch 2 will feature backward compatibility with Switch game cartridges, but it would make the most sense for Nintendo to invest in its largest franchises with Switch 2 editions that upscale graphics and optimize these games for more powerful software.

It would be great to see games that have been locked to 30 frames per second on the Switch reach the industry-standard 60 FPS as they benefit from the move to the new console, as well as all the texture and resolution upgrades that a beefier Nintendo console may be capable of.

With a new console comes new features, and the Switch 2 appears to have its share. We'll likely see more during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, but some have already been revealed or hinted at. 

A confirmed feature, and one many Switch owners are thrilled about, is backward compatibility. Nintendo stated the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with the original Switch games. Another feature we know about, but don't have specifics yet, is the improved graphics power. On the one game shown, Mario Kart, there was a noticeable improvement in fidelity, but it's hard to tell by how much. 

The Joy-Cons have been upgraded in their own way with a secondary function similar to a mouse. How this will work is unclear as of now. The Switch 2 also has some under-the-hood features such as Wi-Fi 6, an NFC chip, and two USB-C ports.

One new function that could be an interesting feature is the mysterious C-button. Is this a new Capture button? Maybe the "C" is for "Community?" We just don't know yet. 

The Switch 2 price, release date, games and new features are all going to be revealed during the Nintendo Direct stream on Wednesday. 

Nintendo appears to be gearing up for a new Switch Pro controller for the new Switch 2 console, judging from a fresh filing with the US Federal Communications Commission. Eagle-eyed members of the Famiboards forum first spotted the listing, which carries the FCC ID BKEBEE008 and was filed under Nintendo's usual grantee code. The documentation labels the device simply as a "game controller," and the included diagrams show a layout very similar to the current Switch Pro controller, fueling speculation that this is a next-gen version of Nintendo's popular gamepad.

Though the filing doesn't outright confirm any new features, it does note standard capabilities like Bluetooth and NFC wireless support, which the current Pro controller already offers. However, based on the images provided, fans speculate that the new controller might finally include a built-in headphone jack, a long-requested feature absent on the original Pro pad. However, nothing concrete can be confirmed from the FCC documents alone.

Either way, the existence of this official filing strongly suggests that a successor controller is indeed in development for Nintendo's next system. It's not official until Nintendo announces it, but at this point, insiders and fans alike anticipate that an announcement may come sooner rather than later, likely during the Nintendo Direct event introducing the Switch 2. 

A day ahead of its Nintendo Direct livestream, Nintendo dropped a pair of posts on X (formerly Twitter) confirming two big things: First, that the reveal stream on April 2 will be a full hour long, and second, that there will be a pair of livestreams on each of the following days (April 3 and 4) revealing games coming to the Switch 2.

Sixty minutes is a long time for a single console, especially if Nintendo clarifies that its game presentations will come on the following days. Beyond going over how the new console compares to the original Switch, what the company will cover is open to speculation -- perhaps Nintendo will go over its new features in detail, or it will clarify how games and data can be transferred from your old console to the new one.

Nintendo's second X post is more exciting, as "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games" means we should get detailed looks at upcoming games for the new console. Nintendo's Treehouse streams are often deeper dives into titles, and though we don't know how long these streams will be, having two consecutive days planned to go through some or all of the Switch 2's launch lineup is promising.

Thanks to a recent leak, we have a good idea of when the Switch 2 may hit store shelves. 

Leaked documents from a US retailer showed the Switch 2 would reportedly be released in June. This makes sense when you consider the big picture. The company is putting on a worldwide tour for the console called the Switch 2 Experience, with the first stop happening on April 4 in New York City. The last stop is in Seoul, Korea, from May 31 to June 1. 

Another point to keep in mind is the "GTA 6 Effect." Nobody wants to compete with GTA 6, including Nintendo. GTA 6 is set for a fall release date, so releasing a console months before would be a smart move by Nintendo. 

The Switch 2's exact release date will likely be answered during the Nintendo Direct. 

There are a lot of questions we have about the Nintendo Switch 2, and how much it will cost is a big one. Unlike Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo doesn't release hardware with big price tags, but the Switch 2 could be its most expensive console. 

What is the likely price for the Switch 2? The most probable price is $399, or $100 more than the original Switch's starting price. Why? It looks like it has a larger screen than the original, will almost certainly have a more powerful processor, and very likely, more RAM -- plus, it's been eight years since the first Switch launched.

Could the Switch 2 come down to $349? It can, but that's pushing it. The Switch OLED version is $349, so having a new console with a bigger screen for the same price seems unlikely. There is a chance the Switch 2 could also be $449 or more, but that doesn't seem like a move Nintendo would go for, especially as that encroaches on the prices for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We'll have to wait and see what the price will be during the Nintendo Direct. 

What will be revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct? This is the big question, and only Nintendo has the answer. The company's two-minute teaser trailer in January showed everything on the outside of the console, so we expect the upcoming Nintendo Direct to detail what's on the inside.

Why is that important? The original Switch was a design marvel, but its small size made it underpowered compared to its Xbox and PlayStation rivals. Will Nintendo's next console be powerful enough to run new AAA games on launch day? Will it be capable of higher resolutions and framerates than the original Switch? This could decide how Nintendo decides to compete with its contemporaries, including other high-performance handhelds like the Steam Deck that have launched in recent years.

But Nintendo could also simply stick to its strengths by providing the kind of unique gaming experience you won't get anywhere else -- not just having the console-exclusive Mario, Zelda, Splatoon and Metroid experiences, but also releasing fascinatingly strange add-ons like Nintendo Labo. We'll have to wait for the Nintendo Direct to see whether Nintendo zigs back to mainstream gaming or continues to zag in its own direction.