Nintendo’s Switch 2 has big shoes to fill – at a much higher price

Nintendo on Wednesday announced the Switch 2, the sequel to its wildly successful hybrid game console from over eight years ago. Now, the video game company must prove that it can follow one blockbuster hit with another, a goal it’s struggled to achieve in the past.

Nintendo on Wednesday announced the Switch 2, the sequel to its wildly successful hybrid game console from over eight years ago. Now, the video game company must prove that it can follow one blockbuster hit with another, a goal it’s struggled to achieve in the past. Nintendo revealed concrete details about the Switch 2 for the first time on Wednesday, including specifics about its hardware. The company had in January only revealed the Switch 2’s design and compatibility with previous-generation games. The Switch 2 will launch on June 5 for $449.99, which is significantly higher than the first-generation model’s $300 price. The first Switch popularized the idea of a game console that can be played on your living room television or on an airplane, prompting a wave of PC gaming brands to follow suit. The Switch 2 is the company’s biggest launch since the first generation arrived in 2017 — and will likely dictate the next decade for the one of the world’s biggest and most recognizable video game companies. Nintendo will also have to navigate challenges that didn’t exist in 2017: tariffs on Chinese goods that could impact production and shipping costs, increased competition from mobile games and pressure to live up to the pandemic-era highs the gaming industry experienced in 2020. And above all else, it’s making a big bet that Nintendo fans are willing to spend $450 on what is essentially a revamped version of its current console rather than an entirely new take on gaming. “The Switch being so successful is a double-edged sword,” said Mat Piscatella, executive director for video game coverage at market research firm Circana. “On the one hand, a huge, great positive base to build on. On the other hand, a huge target to try to reach in terms of the same level of success.” The Switch 2 iterates on its predecessor with several new features, including a Game Chat function that lets gamers communicate with other players in real time. It also allows users to share certain games with other Switch owners while playing in person even if the other player doesn’t own the title.