From the C-button to the mouse to a 4K dock, the new Switch 2 has a lot to offer
When the Switch successor was first announced, we didn’t know what to expect. Nearly a year later, back in January, we recieved our first actual confirmation that it was the Switch 2. Now, we have the full details about what will set this console apart from the original.
C-Button
The big focus of Nintendo’s presentation today was the infamous and mysterious C-button. The button essentially means “Chat” and will launch a GameChat Menu that will allow a new level of multiplayer game on the platform. A press of the button brings up an overlay that can allow players to share their game screen with friends. It’s more than just watching a stream, though. Up to 12 friends can communicate with a call, and 4 can share a screen and give reactions. The console has a microphone slot on top of it, so no extra mic is needed. It will utilize noise cancellation to filter sounds so that voices are clear, even if the Switch 2 is docked and a few feet away from the player.
Players can watch all the screens at once, change the size and orientation of the screens, and more. The Gamechat service will be free until March 31, 2026, after which a Nintendo Switch Online account will be required.
The built-in audio chat system is big for a company that has notoriously been averse towards communication between friends online. That being said, the video screens aren’t the highest framerate — in fact it looks near stop motion due to the Switch 2’s networking strength. The screen share is a neat idea, although we don’t know how many folks will use it too often, but having something that looked to be around 10 frames per second on a screen isn’t ideal.
Camera
Nintendo will also offer the ability to connect a camera to the Switch 2 for various uses. During GameChat it will overlay the player onto their game screen. For specific games it will use the camera to track player movements. Nintendo will offer up their own USB-C camera for sale, and allow the use of a compatible one.
GameShare
Much like what we remember on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo is bringing a game sharing system to the platform. GameShare will allow players to share compatible games with other players who may not have it, allowing them to download a version that they can play together. GameChat and the screen share will also be possible. The basic GameShare will be compatible with the Switch 2 *and* the original Switch consoles, so that even those who haven’t been able to grab the new platform can play games together with friends who did. That aspect would be for Switch games and not Switch 2 exclusives.
Hardware
The new Switch 2 is a bigger baby. The screen comes in at 7.9 inches, which is roughly double the pixels of the original. It’s an LCD screen, not OLED (likely to help keep the cost down) but will still manage 120fps for games. The screen will even allow HDR. The device is the same thickness as the current Switch. When docked, the Switch 2 will process games at 4K to televisions, a big step for Nintendo. That being said, the dock has a fan built in and will require a new charger. The Switch 2 also has improved speakers and 3D audio when a headset is plugged in.
Joy Con 2
The Joy Con 2 are attached via magnetic connection and can be released with a button on the back. They’ll also have bigger SL and SR buttons and thumb sticks.
One of the more exciting features of the Switch 2 controllers is that the Joy Con 2 can actually be used as mice. Using a built-in sensor, players hold the controllers vertically and can drag them around a table for compatible games.
The NFC reader is back, too, and amiibo can be used through the thumbstick on the right Joy Con again.
Storage
An issue with the original Switch was that it only came with 32GB of on-board storage. The Switch 2 thankfully arrives with 256GB storage built-in, and expandable with MicroSD Express cards. Just a note, though: traditional MicroSD cards (like those in the Switch 1) are not compatible with the Switch 2.
Pro Controller
Nintendo also announced a new Pro Controller is on the way. The controller now has GR & GL buttons on the back to assign button controls, adding to accessibility and preferences for players. An audio jack is also built in.
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