Incredibly realistic Switch 2 replicas have surfaced online and at CES, prompting speculation that Nintendo is about to unveil its eagerly awaited new console.
The flurry of leaks aligned with what we have been hearing over the past year: the new gaming device will be a bigger and more powerful version of the bestselling Switch, with all the right upgrades.
On the heels of a vivid 3D render of the upcoming console, a dummy unit surfaced at the CES technology show in early January. Created by separate Switch accessory makers, both mockups point to a larger handheld that can also connect to TVs, with a slightly thicker build, an eight-inch screen and magnetic controller attachments.
Where are all these clones coming from? A high-profile leaker, who goes by the name of Kang online, has suggested that the official console itself is being sold on the Chinese black market.
For its part, Nintendo downplayed the CES leak, branding it as “unofficial”. But, the fuse has well and truly been lit. With new info trickling out almost every day, the pressure is on Nintendo to announce something (anything).
Notably, we are hearing that could happen very soon. Nintendo will reportedly reveal the Switch 2 on Thursday January 16, according to video game industry podcast Nate the Hate.
Here’s what we know about the Switch 2, including its rumoured release date, specs and games.
A mock-up of the Nintendo Switch 2 inside a case that Dbrand says is based on a 3D scan of the actual console
Nintendo
So, when will the new console be for sale? Well, last May Nintendo told the world to expect an announcement by March 31, 2025. It later reiterated that date on an investor call in November, Reuters reported.
Others have waded in with their own predictions. The latest came from podcast Nate the Hate, which has learned that Switch 2 will be revealed on Thursday January 16.
“I’ve heard that the reveal itself is going to focus almost exclusively on the console itself,” Nate the Hate said. “There is not going to be any presence of games. There could be a game shown running on the screen, depending on how the trailer is put together, but software is not going to be a focus.”
A Switch 2 dummy unit from accessory maker Genki
Genki
The same release date was mentioned in an earlier report from Japanese newspaper Nikkei. However, according to Gamesindustry.biz, game developers have apparently been told not to expect the Switch 2 to arrive before April 2025.
Switch 2 design and features
As mentioned above, various computer-generated images and display models have provided a clearer picture of the Switch 2’s design.
Canadian accessory maker Dbrand got the ball rolling last December with an in-motion render that it claimed was based on a 3D scan of the actual console. Based on its measurements, the Switch 2 will be 270mm wide, 116mm tall and 14mm thick, making it both larger and taller than Nintendo’s Switch OLED and the base Switch.
The console’s screen will apparently measure eight inches, with a subsequent render from Onleaks and 91 Mobiles suggesting it will be an OLED display, resulting in deeper blacks and far greater contrast.
In addition, gaming analyst James McWhirter from research firm Omdia told the Standard that the Switch 2’s larger screen could make it roughly the same height as the Steam Deck OLED, despite its eight-inch, 16:9 display.
Numerous sources have mentioned that the Joy-Cons will attach magnetically to either side of the device instead of sliding in as they currently do. Interestingly, the renders show that the controllers will be mostly black with a splash of colour (blue or orange based on the Joy-Con) on the thumbsticks and along the top panels that contain the shoulder button.
A similar design popped up in January for a Switch 2 Joy-Con with a dab of bright blue. McWhirter told the Standard that the new controllers will probably come with improvements such as increased durability and analogue triggers for enhanced sensitivity – potentially addressing issues such as Joy-Con drift while adding precision for racers and platformers.
The larger size, combined with reports that it will almost certainly feature a custom Nvidia T239 chip, leads McWhirter to believe that the Switch 2 will require a bigger battery and heftier active cooling.
“There will be more grunt under the hood and we expect it will be more power-hungry,” he said of the new console.
Behind closed doors, Nintendo has reportedly demonstrated the new Switch running some impressive tech that is typically reserved for the latest consoles and PCs.
A leaked image of the Switch 2’s alleged motherboard containing its core hardware.
According to VGC, the device packs Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology, allowing it to boost a game’s visual resolution using AI, meaning it could possibly upscale full HD to 4K quality. It is also said to have ray tracing enabled to allow it to produce incredibly realistic lighting effects.
The new processor in turn will allow the Switch 2 to run more power-hungry games. In a secretive showcase last August, Nintendo apparently fired up The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo – originally released to illustrate the power of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021.
Before you get too excited, that doesn’t mean the new Switch will rival those machines in terms of performance.
Nintendo reportedly showed developers an improved version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild made for its new console
Nintendo
Nintendo also allegedly showed the new console running an enhanced version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could indicate that it will offer next-gen editions of existing games in the vein of the PS5.
Indeed, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will run Switch games and support Switch Online. The latter is a subscription service that lets you play compatible games online and access a library of classic titles.
The Switch 2 might not just be bigger – it could also come with a heftier price tag.
VGC’s sources said the console would use cartridges as well as digital downloads, which could potentially ramp up the cost of Nintendo console games. Similar price hikes have already taken place on Xbox and PS5.
Speaking of which, analyst Serkan Toto suggested the console will be a little more expensive than the current Switch, at $400, which may equate to UK pricing of £350 to £380.
By comparison, a Switch OLED currently costs £309.99 direct from Nintendo.