After months of anticipation and quiet rumors, Nintendo has officially revealed the Nintendo Switch 2, announcing the worldwide release date of the latest console of June 5th, 2025, at a price point of $449.99. This announcement made quite the surprise during the Nintendo Direct on April 2nd, sending a shock through the Nintendo community, seeing as it was totally uncalled for. Fans and critics alike are now excitedly awaiting the next generation of Nintendo console, hoping the Switch 2 can top the original. Pre-orders are opening soon, adding even more hype to the already crazy discussion.

It’s not very hard to comprehend why the excitement for the Switch 2 is so strong. The original Switch, which was released in 2017, was quite a cultural phenomenon of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Following the somewhat failed era of the Wii U, Nintendo was in the lab for quite a while working on a hit– and they succeeded. A console that mixed home console capabilities with that of a handheld was unheard of, and took the world by storm. With exciting exclusives like Super Mario Odyssey and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Switch quickly claimed its spot among console legends, becoming one of the most successful Nintendo consoles to date.

Now, eight years later, the Nintendo Switch 2 enters the scene with a harder challenge than the Switch had with topping the Wii U’s failure– surpassing the beloved predecessor. However, Nintendo has made it clear that they’re not interested in simply redoing what the Switch did. In the time between the original Switch and now, Nintendo has been very hard at work improving their hardware. With improvements such as an upgraded, larger OLED screen, a stronger internal processor, a better docking mechanism, and more, the higher price point of $449.99 is very justified. Although Nintnedo has not revealed every feature, the Switch 2 announcements that have been made have caught the attention of many fans and has everyone excited.

One of the craziest parts about the announcement of the Switch 2 was the way that it was delivered by Nintendo– randomly during a Nintendo Direct. Nintendo Directs are hour long YouTube live streams that take place every so often to showcase new games, DLC, and more. At the end of a Direct on April 2nd, Nintendo decided to drop a bomb on the gaming world, and announce the Switch 2. Fans who tuned in to this Direct expected a few game trailers, or even some news regarding the future, and a full reveal of the next console was out of the question. An excited fan of the original Switch, King Liang, shared his excitement, stating “As a day one Switch buyer, I still use it lots of the time. When I tuned in to this Direct, I was shocked beyond comprehension. I had no idea this would happen and I’m so excited!” 

In addition, Nintendo YouTuber Nathaniel Bandy showcased his excitement upon finding out about the Switch 2. After he saw the trailer, he was filled with excitement, similar to Liang, stating, “Okay, so that was one of the best Directs I have ever seen in my life. The amount of stuff in this Direct was absolutely bonkers and I can’t wait for the future of Nintendo.” With release being less than two months away already, attention is turning to the smaller things, like what titles will be available at launch, if Switch games will be compatible, and more.

All in all, it’s safe to say that the future of Nintendo is looking bright with the Switch 2 coming sooner than we may realize. No matter what, whether you’re a diehard fan or someone who’s never played a video game, one thing is clear: the hype is undeniable, and the anticipation has never been higher for a Nintendo console than ever before. The next generation of Nintendo console is almost here, and from the looks of it, it’s already going to be a gaming legend.