Unveiled and Experienced
Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 under evaluation: Insight into the 470 Euro gaming console, featuring Mario Kart
Frankfurt/Main/Berlin (dpa/tmn) - Here it is, the console everyone's been talking about? Nintendo debuted their highly anticipated successor to the wildly successful console, the Switch 2, on June 5.
Nintendo is following a trend observed among competitors in the console market: upgrade rather than revolution. The progression could be likened to stepping up from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 15 over a real generational leap, like the one that took place between Nintendo consoles Gamecube and Wii.
The Switch Experience Stays Intact
The core concept remains untouched. The advantage of easily transitioning from handheld to TV console mode via a dock endures. Now, the two Joy-Con controllers connect via magnets, encouraging multiplayer sessions on a console.
Transferring the previous Switch to the new console is a breeze: The menu guides you through the migration process, which took around ten minutes in the test. Games installed on the predecessor were then downloaded in the background. The Switch 2 is nearly fully backward compatible with the Switch 1, and various hardware like the Pro Controller can still be utilized.
upgrade: 4K, 120 fps, and Ray tracing
While the technology has been amped up, a slightly larger LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full-HD) has been fitted. The console is also capable of achieving a 4K resolution in TV mode. Depending on the game, the frame rate can go up to 120 frames per second (FPS), and reflections and lighting effects can be improved with ray tracing.
The larger screen also correlates with larger controllers, a bonus for adult hands who might have found the smaller format of the predecessor cramped.
Many things load faster. Comparative videos demonstrated significantly improved loading times in games. And, to relieve congestion, Nintendo's E-Shop no longer feels like it's struggling against the internet connection.
GameChat: Alone No More
Nintendo seems to have finally embraced the online age with the Switch 2. A key novelty is the so-called Gamechat: Using the new C-button on the controller, players can connect with friends online and open a voice chat that can be transformed into a video chat using a USB-C camera with a separate purchase. To initiate Gamechat, players must register their phone numbers separately. The feature is available for free currently; however, a paid membership with Nintendo Switch Online will be mandatory starting March 31, 2026 (approximately €20 per year).
Video Conference for Gamers
The voice quality is reminiscent of video conferencing tools, with a microphone in the middle of a meeting room table. It's adequate, with minor occasional requests for repetition. Background noises like summer rain hitting a skylight are filtered out. In the test, the automatic transcription worked quite well.
Important: Conversations are recorded and temporarily stored on your own console and that of the conversation partners. If someone reports a conversation for whatever reason, such as insults or hate speech, the recordings will be shared with Nintendo. During the reporting process, you can view a recording of the last three minutes and flag the relevant sections.
The video quality of the Nintendo camera is sufficient for its purpose: The players in the call are isolated and can be placed in front of a blank background or their own gameplay. You essentially become a Twitch streamer for the people in your friend list, albeit with a lower frame rate. The camera sometimes struggles to separate the person from the couch and may show more or less than intended.
Be Aware of the Limitations
It was already clear that the Switch 2 would not be a hardware powerhouse. Its deficiencies are particularly visible in a game like "Cyberpunk 2077", which can be played but falls short of the quality on other platforms.
However, the anticipation remains that over the lifespan of the Switch 2, more major AAA titles like the "Call of Duty" or "EA Sports FC" series will appear on the Nintendo console in full.
"Mario Kart World" as the Big Debut Title
But the main attraction is initially "Mario Kart World". It serves as one of the approximately 25 launch titles, which also include enhanced versions of Switch 1 games like "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom". "Mario Kart World" offers a familiar array of features: fast-paced car racing with Mario characters (including new additions like a penguin and a cow), various gameplay modes for couch or online play, and, most notably, accessible, easy fun.
New is the explorable open world, in which the racetracks are almost seamlessly integrated. This is impressive when driving a long, straight race in the new "Knockout Tour" mode or choosing the next course individually in the "Versus" mode based on your current location on the map. However, there isn't much to discover in this open world beyond what you would see in the races themselves, aside from a few minor coin challenges.
By and large, dedicated fans only might find a compelling reason to jump into the fray at launch. Those who already own a Switch 1 can continue playing without fear of missing out, at least until the next major in-house titles "Donkey Kong Bananza" (July 17) and "Metroid Prime 4 Beyond" (2025) are released.
This is also due to the high price of the console and the games. The console itself costs around €470, and the bundle with "Mario Kart World" is around €510. "Mario Kart World" costs €80 (digital) or €90 (physical). The Pro Controller costs around €90 too. Those who can wait until Christmas are likely to be rewarded with more games and possibly some promotional offers.
- The new Nintendo Switch 2, while following the trend of upgrades rather than revolutions in the console market, boasts advanced technology such as 4K resolution, 120 frames per second, and ray tracing, making it a gadget equipped with modern technology.
- In an effort to foster more social interaction among gamers, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers a feature called Gamechat, allowing players to voice or video chat with friends online, transforming their gaming experience into a more connected one, making it a prime example of how technology is bringing people together through gadgets like consoles.
