Nintendo promises to deliver something extraordinary in gaming history. The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will hit the shelves worldwide on June 5, 2025, offering a new generation of hybrid gaming. With enhanced graphics, groundbreaking control systems, and a digital game-sharing revolution, the Switch 2 is designed to push the limits of what portable and docked gameplay can deliver. But, with worldwide anticipation, certain hurdles cast a shadow, including pre-order delays due to tariffs in North America and India’s ongoing absence from the formal launch.
Nintendo initially had scheduled the opening of preorders for the Switch 2 to April 9, but gamers in the United States and Canada were left disappointed. In light of fresh US tariffs imposed on electronic imports, Nintendo has temporarily suspended preorders in affected nations indefinitely. The company is re-examining the possible implications of these tariffs on the console’s cost and release strategy. Although the launch date on June 5 is unaffected, American and Canadian consumers are left with an unclear preorder schedule.
Meanwhile, preorders are already in full swing elsewhere in Europe. In Ireland, retailer Curry’s is selling the standard console for €469, with a Mario Kart World bundle going for €505. Spain also now accepts pre orders through the My Nintendo Store, but only for those Nintendo Switch Online subscribers who have had at least two years of membership and significant playtime. There, it sells for €449.99, and €509.99 for the bundle.
Even as the interest is increasing and the gaming fan base is thriving, India is conspicuously missing from Nintendo’s official plans. The company has not made any pricing, preorder, or release plans for the Indian market. Currently, Indian gamers’ access is restricted to grey-market imports and third-party sellers, as with the initial Switch.
The Switch 2 has major improvements over the original. The console comes with a 7.9-inch LCD with 1080p resolution in handheld mode, and docked play is now capable of 4K output, providing Nintendo’s most graphically intensive experience yet. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers employ magnetic attachment rather than rails for a more stable, wobble-free connection.
These Joy-Cons also provide mouse-like functionality, and they are best suited for strategy, simulation, and point-and-click games. The console is 10.7 inches wide, and 4.5 inches tall, and weighs only 1.18 pounds, ensuring portability without sacrificing performance.
Every Nintendo Switch 2 box contains:
The console
Two Joy-Con 2 controllers
Switch 2 dock
USB-C charger
AC adapter
Joy-Con grip and straps
High-speed HDMI cable
With these, gamers are ready for both docked and handheld gaming straight out of the box.
One of the standout features is GameShare, a digital lending feature that enables users to lend games digitally between Switch and Switch 2 systems. These Virtual Game Cards can be lent to up to eight family members and utilised for two-week lending cycles before automatically returning to the owner’s account.
Better still, current Switch owners won’t be left out, GameShare will come through as a system update in late April, a first-of-its-kind cross-generation feature in Nintendo’s platform.
Underneath, the Switch 2 houses a next-generation Nvidia chipset, which is predicted to cost around US$150 per unit, a massive increase from the original US$80 chip. New hardware adds a ‘C button’ and an onboard camera, although Nintendo has not yet explained what they will do.
Most importantly, the console is backwards compatible, enabling gamers to bring their existing digital game collections with them. Most current-gen accessories should support all but third-party devices.
Nintendo is supporting the Switch 2 launch with an impressive lineup of first-party exclusives, including:
Mario Kart World
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Drag x Drive, an innovative wheelchair-racing title designed specifically for the new Joy-Con control scheme
Early demo events will also be staged in select regions ahead of the June launch.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is not only a console, it’s a beacon of the gaming future. Its futuristic design, robust hardware, and innovative features, such as GameShare ensure hybrid gaming has never been closer to reaching its full potential. But such anticipation is met with practical realities. In the West, tariffs have shrouded early access, while in India, fans remain in the dark once more, having to resort to grey markets and exorbitant prices.
As June 5 approaches, the gaming community will see Nintendo’s largest launch in years unfold. For millions of enthusiasts, the Switch 2 promises both future-proof gaming and the frustration of being left behind.