Nintendo unveiled new particulars on Wednesday about its massively anticipated Nintendo Change 2 gaming console, which would be the firm’s first new console because the Nintendo Change was launched in 2017.
The Nintendo Change 2 will probably be launched on June 5 and value $450.
At launch, the console will arrive each by itself and as a part of a bundle with Mario Kart World, a brand new sport for the Change 2.
What is going to the Nintendo Change 2 seem like?
As its title suggests, the Change 2 is an improve on the Nintendo Change. It builds upon the present design of the Change, which will be performed each on the go and at dwelling on a TV display screen.
The Change 2 will probably be a bigger console with an even bigger display screen (although there may be nonetheless a bezel on the sides) and heftier Pleasure-Con controllers, which will even connect magnetically to the perimeters of the display screen. The gadget has a 1080p LCD display screen that helps as much as 120fps, in addition to HDR — that might be a disappointment for customers who acquired accustomed to their upgraded OLED Nintendo Switches. The dock will help 4K, nevertheless.
Nintendo Change 2 may have 256 GB of storage, which is 8x extra storage than the earlier mannequin, the place even informal players often had to purchase a microSD card to get extra storage. It would additionally solely help microSD categorical playing cards for added storage, nevertheless, that are a brand new form of microSD card.
The again of the gadget has a sturdier stand for positioning the gadget upright. The physique has USB-C charging ports on the highest and backside of the gadget. (The highest appears supposed for the Nintendo Change Digital camera, however it’s additionally a better-located charging port.)
The basic colorway for the Nintendo Change 2 is matte black with gentle crimson and blue accents on every respective Pleasure-Con, nodding to its earlier design however in a sleeker format. However we’re keen to wager that Nintendo will allow you to purchase as many Pleasure-Cons as you need in each colour you’ll be able to think about — and hopefully, this time round, there’s not a drift concern.
The Pleasure-Cons will even operate like a pc mouse for appropriate video games. With the gyroscope options, gamers can have extra management over movement controls.
To get customers acquainted with the brand new Nintendo Change 2 features, there will probably be a Welcome Tour sport that explains the gadget, and it’ll price cash, which might be higher spent on Mario Kart World.
To sweeten the deal, Nintendo On-line will now enable gamers to revisit GameCube video games, along with its present ports of Nintendo 64 and Recreation Boy video games, together with Hearth Emblem Path of Radiance, Tremendous Mario Strikers, Luigi’s Mansion, Pokémon XD, and others. Some titles will probably be obtainable the day the Change 2 comes out, together with a remade GameCube controller — which, don’t fear, comes with a C button.
What’s the C button on the Nintendo Change 2?
Many followers theorized a few C button that seems on the Pleasure-Cons, which Nintendo confirmed right this moment to be GameChat, a function that lets you talk with associates whereas taking part in the sport.
Your voice is acknowledged by a microphone within the system, supposedly making it potential to listen to folks in the event that they’re in a loud room. Customers also can share their sport screens inside the console, even when they’re taking part in completely different video games. (Be careful, Discord.) Nevertheless, within the demo, the footage of one other participant’s sport display screen appeared a bit uneven.
The suitable Pleasure-Con has one other C button that can be utilized for different chat features, together with muting your microphone if you want to do one thing else.
GameChat will probably be obtainable for all customers till March 31, 2026, however after that, you will want to have a paid on-line membership to make use of it. Nintendo briefly talked about that parental controls will probably be accessible on GameChat, however didn’t present additional particulars.
What {hardware} launches with the Nintendo Change 2?
Nintendo introduced the Nintendo Change Digital camera, which may connect to the console and transpose your face on high of your sport, excellent for GameChat.
Nintendo confirmed an instance of the digital camera by which folks play Mario Occasion collectively, and gamers’ faces seem in speech bubbles subsequent to their characters, displaying their reactions to the video games. These new options will probably be backward-compatible with sure video games, together with Mario Occasion Jamboree.
In fact, there will even be a Nintendo Change 2 Professional Controller, which incorporates the brand new C button.
Which video games will probably be obtainable for Nintendo Change 2?
On the outset, Nintendo already confirmed {that a} new, unique Mario Kart sport will launch on the identical day because the Change 2, known as Mario Kart World.
Mario Kart World looks as if it’s Nintendo’s interpretation of an open-world Mario sport. There’s a big map of varied areas and programs, however in a free drive mode, you’ll be able to drive round wherever you might please — in single or multi-player — with out the specter of a crimson shell lurking round each nook.
The Change 2 will help video games from different builders — some in improvement and others already launched. These embody Hades II, Elden Ring: Tarnished Version, Road Fighter, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Tony Hawk Professional Skater 3+4, Yakuza 0, Borderlands 4, Enter the Gungeon 2, Cyberpunk 2077 Final Version, a Closing Fantasy VII remake, Silksong, and others. Deltarune’s new chapters 3 and 4 will probably be obtainable the day the Change 2 is launched.
There will even be a brand new sport within the Zelda universe known as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which is a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. It’s anticipated to return out this winter.
Kirby followers will rejoice on the information of a Kirby AirRiders, anticipated in 2025, which is a revamp of the unique Kirby Air Experience GameCube sport from 20 years in the past. Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand new Change 2 sport, will launch on July 17, 2025.
FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods is in improvement for Nintendo Change 2, the place it is going to be launched completely in 2026.
The Nintendo Change 2 will enable gamers to buy upgrades to present video games they’ve for the Change, in addition to video games which have a particular Change 2 model, together with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4: Past, Pokémon Legends Z-A, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Mario Occasion Jamboree. Nevertheless, these upgrades will probably be paid.
