Photo // Nintendo
LET’S-A GO. Nintendo announced the long-awaited Switch 2 with a sleek new design on Jan. 16.
By: Cienna King
Photographer & Staff-Writer
In 2017, Nintendo introduced a revolutionary new console called the Switch. It allowed gamers to play both at home and on the go with its unique handheld and portable design. Eight years later on a random Thursday in January, Nintendo announced the Switch’s successor: the Nintendo Switch 2. Here’s what we know so far.
Appearance-wise, the Switch 2 looks a lot like the original Switch. It has a slightly bigger tablet screen, an extra button on the right Joy-Con and a new kickstand design. It sports a darker design with red-and-blue accents, contrary to the fully red-and-blue Joy-Cons from the previous model. It also looks like Nintendo has made the switch from Joy-Cons that you can slide into place to ones that snap. Perhaps a name change is in order?
Another feature that will be very important to gamers is backwards compatibility. I am happy to report that the Switch 2 is, in fact, backwards compatible. In layman’s terms, this means that your physical Switch games will also work in the Switch 2. The new console also has a USB-C port.
We don’t yet know when the Switch 2 will be released or the price tag it will come with. This, likely along with more information, will be announced in the April 2 Nintendo Direct. It is, however, confirmed that it will be released this year. In Nintendo’s first-look trailer, we also caught a glimpse of a new Mario Kart game, which appears to have a 24-player mode.
That’s really all we know about this console so far. It has received mixed reviews online, with some upset that it’s so similar to its predecessor and others excited to have an upgraded version of a very successful gaming system. Will you be making the switch?