All of the Nintendo Swap 2 Rumors That Got here True, Plus the Many That Didn’t

We’ve been writing about Nintendo Switch 2 rumors for greater than two years  and—by some means—a good chunk of them proved very correct with Nintendo’s full handheld console reveal. It was easy crusing till we hit the top of the highway of Nintendo’s livestream. We needed to wait till after the stream to study you’ll have to pay $450 for Nintendo’s long-awaited sequel to its handheld console, $150 greater than the unique at launch.

Earlier than the April 2 Direct, we had a tough concept of the console’s form since earlier than January, because of leaked dummy models. It’s larger with a 7.9-inch display, and—certainly—the JoyCons at the moment are held on by magnets, reasonably than the older rail-based attachment factors. The Mario Kart 8 sequel, now known as Mario Kart World, is a launch title for the Swap 2, and you may get it in a $500 bundle with the hand-held at launch June 5.

Essentially the most disappointingly rumor we’ve got to discard was the value. Some analysts steered a $500 worth level, whereas others claimed it could be $400. Nintendo can also be forcing gamers to spend cash in the event that they need to attempt a demo sport known as Nintendo Swap 2 Welcome Tour. It’ll supposedly embrace minigames and different tech demos, however think about if Sony compelled prospects to pay for Astro’s Playroom after they already spent $500 on the PlayStation 5?

Discover the brand new system by means of tech demos, minigames, and quizzes with Nintendo Swap 2 Welcome Tour, a paid downloadable launch title for #NintendoSwitch2. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/doZVYS0wjV

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025

Under I’ve damaged it down into the rumors that got here true, people who didn’t, and the stuff that stunned us all.

TRUE: Redesigned JoyCons and Mouse-like Controls for Each Controllers

All us people who anticipated mouse-like controls on the Swap 2 can wave their hats in celebration. Not solely does the right-hand, red-colored JoyCon function like a mouse when on a flat floor, however the left-side controller works as nicely. Nintendo confirmed how this could mix collectively in a sport like Drag X Drive, which makes use of the mouse capabilities to push round a wheelchair and movement controls to throw your basketball right into a basket.

This might be helpful in video games like Civilization VII and CD Projekt Purple has already confirmed the Cyberpunk 2077 Swap 2 port will benefit from each gyroscopic aiming, contact display, and the mouse perform too. It principally confirms a few of these unique Swap capabilities are returning with the brand new console. I assume we may put a Cyberpunk port within the “sudden” class, but it surely additionally proves one thing concerning the console’s anticipated processing energy and help for increased resolutions.

We’ve additionally lengthy identified concerning the magnetically-attached JoyCons because of leaked Swap 2 dummy models, but it surely was somewhat cathartic to listen to Nintendo verify the attachment mechanism in its Wednesday livestream.

TRUE: GameCube Video games for Nintendo On-line Subscribers

A number of rumormongers have been very eager on the thought Nintendo was planning to add GameCube games to its online subscription service. On Wednesday, the corporate totally revealed how we may entry a choose few titles, together with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, solely on Swap 2. There’ll solely be three titles to start out, however you’ll be able to anticipate extra video games arriving to the service later this 12 months. GameCube video games on the Nintendo Swap On-line + Growth Pack ought to launch the identical day the Swap 2 ships, June 5.

TRUE: 1080p Handheld and 4K, 120 Hz When Docked Because of Upscaling

Nintendo has confirmed what earlier patents steered, that the Swap 2 is doing 4K–just a bit totally different than most of us anticipated. There appears to be somewhat reliance on upscaling tech (many more moderen TVs will robotically upscale content material to 4K) however there’s additionally some reliance on good outdated vogue thermal administration. The dock now has a fan it to maintain issues much less toasty. That extra cooling means the processor on the console ought to deal with larger workloads when docked. When hooked as much as a TV, Nintendo says some video games will help 4K resolutions and 120 Hz, that means it’s best to be capable of hit 120 FPS in some video games whenever you put the console within the dock.

We’ll be excited to see which video games make use of this increased decision.

TRUE: Swap 2 Backwards Compatibility

Virtually every single original Switch title is suitable with Swap 2. On a detailed info site, Nintendo describes how the overwhelming majority of video games ought to work nice, and the one fully-incompatible merchandise are the Labo kits. There are additionally some video games with points at startup, together with titles like Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Extremely-popular Fortnite additionally has points on Swap 2 {hardware}, but it surely’s getting its personal Swap 2 model.

FALSE: That $400 MSRP for Swap 2

The pricing rumors pre-announcement have been very conflicting. Some steered it may have a $400 MSRP and a few claimed a $500 asking worth. This can be a FALSE as a result of Nintendo break up the price down the center and provided the console at $450. Whereas a model with a $500 asking worth exists it additionally consists of Mario Kart World. You’ll be able to anticipate to pay $90 for an extra pair of Swap 2 JoyCons, $80 for a Swap 2 Professional controller, or $110 for a brand new Swap 2 dock.

FALSE: Capacity to Use Telephone or Unique Swap as Second Display

Patents revealed within the weeks earlier than the April 2 Nintendo Direct confirmed Nintendo had devised an adjunct to prop up a cellphone or different display to play your video games, Nintendo DS model. Nothing in Nintendo’s announcement video steered this function was accessible to Swap 2 patrons. Positive, that accent might come sooner or later, however for now gamers have the selection of sticking with the hand-held or TV choices.

FALSE: Xbox Video games on Swap

The leaders of Microsoft’s gaming division have made it clear they’d love to stay Sport Go on each Sony and Nintendo’s mainline consoles. Nevertheless, Nintendo isn’t giving anyone a touch whether or not that may ever come to move. Usually-reliable leakers proposed the system would obtain video games like Halo: The Grasp Chief Assortment and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Swap 2. As a substitute, we noticed hints of upcoming full-scale ports of video games like Closing Fantasy VII Remake, which can arrive on launch day June 5 and nonetheless isn’t accessible on Xbox.

NEW: Needing to Pay for ‘Improve Packs’

Some video games are getting “upgrade packs” that may allow you to get extra from the video games you personal. Nintendo states on its website that should you personal both Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom and also you pay for Nintendo Swap On-line + Growth Pack, you may get the upgrades without cost. In any other case, you’ll have to pay more for both.

This shouldn’t come as a giant shock. Sony made customers pay for upgrades to video games like The Final of Us Half II in the event that they needed improved graphical constancy transferring from PS4 to PS5, however PlayStation 5 Professional house owners acquired all of the “Enhanced” editions of standard PS5 video games without cost in the event that they already owned them on the unique console.

Nintendo has loads of precedent for making gamers pay extra to play upgraded video games on Swap 2, however that doesn’t assist those that paid full worth for Tremendous Mario Celebration Jamboree on the tail finish of 2024 and should pay extra to entry all of the touted options, like mouse-exclusive minigames, on Swap 2.

NEW: A Full Voice Chat System and the Capacity to Play Multiplayer with Solely One Copy of a Sport

Rumor-hungry Swap aficionados speculated what the “C” button on the right-side JoyCon would do, but it surely seems it’s all particular for enabling GameChat, whether or not the console is docked or in handheld mode. It additionally has a built-in mic and this combo facilitates GameChat, Nintendo’s new approach of permitting gamers to throw insults at one another and even watch every others’ gameplay footage it doesn’t matter what sport they’re at present working. Nintendo promised it’s best to nonetheless be capable of speak with mates from throughout the room in case your console is docked, however we would wish to check it to search out out its true capabilities.

The perfect function to return from this new system is GameShare. Just one participant must personal a suitable sport, however then all people within the room can play native multiplayer with that major system. It’s akin to wi-fi multiplayer from again on the Nintendo DS. But it surely’s even higher this time round, since if it’ll additionally help the unique Swap and Swap Lite.

NEW: An Official Webcam for Swap

Whereas there have been loads of pre-release equipment promised for the Swap 2, few anticipated Nintendo to create its own webcam. The $50 Nintendo Swap 2 Digital camera connects to your Swap 2 with a press of the “C” button. The digicam additionally features a privateness shutter.

Nintendo talked about {that a} “suitable USB-C digicam” also needs to work with Swap 2, however we would wish to check our personal webcams to see if a few of our favorites are suitable. The Swap 2 stream didn’t supply a good suggestion concerning the digicam’s visible high quality, however we’d hope the official digicam received’t supply too pixelated a view of your mug.

NEW: A Worth Enhance for Video games

We nonetheless don’t know the MSRP for all of the upcoming Swap 2 launch titles, however what we do know makes us fearful about the price of future titles. Mario Kart World will value $80 within the U.S. at launch June 5. Donkey Kong Bonanza, which is about to launch July 17, will value $70. That was the identical worth as Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at launch again in 2023.

Mario Kart may maintain the upper worth to incentivize prospects to purchase the console bundle, however its a positive signal that firms are planning to boost sport costs. Some publishers could also be ready to see if Grand Theft Auto 6 can promote for nearer to $100 earlier than they attempt to do the identical with their very own video games.