Nintendo has revealed that the long-awaited Change 2 console, its successor to the phenomenally profitable Nintendo Change, will launch on June 5 2025, with its key launch sport being Mario Kart World, a brand new open-world entry within the beloved kart racing collection.
Like the unique, the Change 2 stays a hybrid system, able to on-the-go gaming in handheld type, and connecting to a giant display screen TV at residence. Nonetheless, it is bringing a number of key enhancements over its predecessor.
After an preliminary reveal again in January 2025, which itself adopted months of leaks, we now know that the Change 2 will boast a bigger 7.9-inch display screen in handheld mode. Disappointingly, it is a return to an LCD show after the beautiful OLED mannequin for the unique Change, nevertheless it does see a bump in native decision to 1080p and provides HDR for supported video games. It is also able to a body fee as much as 120fps, although it will once more depend upon the sport.
Audio will get a lift too, with improved audio system, help for 3D audio (through headphones, though a system replace is deliberate to supply help for this by the in-built audio system), and a microphone is constructed into the highest of the console. Regardless of the bump in display screen measurement and the addition of that mic, the hand-held stays solely 13.9-mm thick, although no point out was fabricated from its weight.
The console itself additionally boasts two USB-C ports, one on the highest and one on the underside. The latter will connect with the brand new dock—extra on that in a second—whereas the highest one can be utilized to both cost the console when utilized in handheld mode (a small however welcome enchancment for anybody who’s struggled to stability holding the Change with a charger popping out of the bottom) or to attach peripherals.
The controllers are equally revised, with the newly-dubbed Pleasure-Con 2 controllers connecting through “sturdy magnets”, with a launch button to disconnect them. Confirming long-standing rumors, they will additionally be capable of be used as mouse controllers, whereas the SL/SR shoulder buttons included onto them at the moment are bigger and simpler to press when used as a single controller. Thumbsticks are additionally bigger than earlier than.
The fitting-hand Pleasure-Con 2 additionally sees the addition of a “C” button, which can be used to convey up audio controls, permitting customers to entry new GameChat options utilizing the mic. GameChat will permit customers to talk brazenly, with noise cancelling tech slicing out background noise, whereas a brand new digital camera peripheral will permit on-screen group enjoying.
The “C” button will even make an look on a brand new Change 2 Professional controller, a extra “standard” joypad akin to an Xbox or PS5 controller. It is price noting that these GameChat options can be require a Nintendo Change On-line subscription, although. Nintendo will even introduce a devoted, wi-fi GameCube controller to be used with basic video games from that console coming to Nintendo Change On-line (however extra on that in a second).
The Change 2 Dock is not an enormous overhaul at a look, nevertheless it does increase the Change 2’s output when connecting to a tv. Nintendo says it should permit for as much as 4K output and retain HDR help, however does not make clear if that is achieved through upscaling or if it has some added oomph inbuilt. The dock now additionally features a fan, for built-in cooling to enhance system efficiency.
Nintendo was cagey on extra particular specs although. Whereas it confirmed on-board storage would leap to 256GB—eight instances greater than the bottom authentic Change mannequin—and that it could be “quicker” for studying and writing knowledge, no point out was fabricated from the Change 2’s processor, quantity of RAM, or different {hardware} metrics. We’ll convey you extra data on this as quickly as we’ve it.
The one different key {hardware} spec was in relation to Change 2 Recreation Carts—once more, “quicker” than these of Change 1, and now in pink to make them stand aside—and that the console will solely help microSD Specific format playing cards for storage growth. That implies that you will not be capable of swap different MicroSD card codecs immediately out of your authentic Change into the Change 2—you may want to make use of the System Switch instrument.
Whereas it wasn’t talked about in the course of the stream, Nintendo has now confirmed that the Change 2 will retail for $450 within the US. We have reached out to Nintendo for extra worth data in different territories.
This can be a creating story. Please verify again for updates.