Nintendo Locks In Switch 2 Direct Date

Nintendo has finally set the stage for its much-anticipated Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2. Mark your calendars for 2 April, when the gaming giant will unveil more details at 9:00 PM GMT+8 (3:00 PM CEST / 2:00 PM GMT / 6:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM ET).

So, what’s on the agenda? A proper release date, for starters, plus a peek at the games coming to the next-gen console.

Join us on April 2nd at 6am PT for #NintendoDirect: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025, where we will share a closer look at #NintendoSwitch2.

? https://t.co/XCecVa9Zid pic.twitter.com/ACu5pZUd0D

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2025

After years of whispers, leaks, and wild speculation, Nintendo officially confirmed the Switch 2 last month—because apparently, we needed more proof beyond the endless internet chatter. Not only that, but they also announced hands-on preview events, where lucky attendees can actually try the console before launch. The tour kicks off in New York and Paris on 4 April, before making its way across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia over the next two months.

As for the console itself? A trailer gave us a two-minute glimpse of the hardware, which, surprise surprise, looks a lot like the original Switch—screen in the middle, Joy-Cons on the sides. But this time, Nintendo has ditched the flimsy rail system in favour of magnets to keep the controllers snugly attached. That means no more Joy-Cons unexpectedly breaking free mid-race in Mario Kart. Speaking of which, the trailer sneakily teases a brand-new Mario Kart game running on the Switch 2.

The Joy-Cons now come in sleek black, with subtle accents under the sticks and at the connection points. Plus, Nintendo has finally addressed the much-maligned kickstand, giving it a wider tilt range, so you don’t have to perform balancing acts just to play on a table.

The best news? Backwards compatibility is confirmed—Nintendo reassures players that the Switch 2 will run both physical and digital Switch games, so your library won’t be collecting dust.

So, there you have it. The Switch 2 is coming, it’s (mostly) familiar, and we’ll know more very soon. Now, all that’s left is for Nintendo to actually get it into our hands before scalpers and eBay resellers do.