Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Live Recap: Preorder Info, Mario Kart World and More

Nintendo has historically focused on baking unique hardware features into their consoles to differentiate them from the rest of the market. The hybrid handheld-and-dock design of the original Switch was slightly conservative by the company's standards. Apart from a handful of new features, Switch 2 does very little to differentiate itself from the first Switch console, and that's a very purposeful decision, according to Kouichi Kawamoto, producer of the Switch 2 console.

"Just like we did with Switch, we've made having unique hardware features less of a priority for this console," said Kawamoto in Nintendo's official Ask the Developer interview. "After considering various new ideas, we decided it would be best to keep the Switch console's design and not make any 'changes for change's sake.'"

The director for the Switch 2, Takuhiro Dohta, said that he thinks game development has changed since the launch of the original Switch console.

"Rather than leveraging hardware features to create something unique, developers can now choose which software technologies they want to incorporate to make their games stand out," Dohta said. "So with Switch 2 we improved its processing speed in the hope that it'll become a dedicated game platform with a strong and solid foundation that allows software developers to create what they want."

If you want to pick up a Nintendo Switch straight from the company itself, you'll need to get in line -- but if you own a Nintendo Switch and have played several dozen hours of games on it, you'll get closer to the front as a reward for loyal customers. 

Nintendo's new plan to fight scalpers is pretty simple: first, you'll have to go to its official website and register your interest to buy a Switch 2, choosing either the standalone console for $450 or the bundle with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500. The catch is that you must have a Nintendo Switch Online membership in your name and had a subscription for at least 12 months, then share your gameplay data with the company to prove you have at least 50 combined hours playing on the original Nintendo Switch as of today, April 2.

This puts loyal fans front and center for the first wave of Switch 2 consoles. Everyone else can preorder the Switch 2 at other retailers, including Best Buy, which says its preorders will open on April 9.

Nintendo threw a lot of games at players in its hour-long Nintendo Direct presentation, but it was hard to keep track of when they're coming out -- and which would be playable the day the Switch 2 comes out on June 5. Fear not: CNET writer Oscar Gonzalez gathered up a list of the the Switch 2 launch games:

• Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
• Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
• Civilization 7 (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Deltarune
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Street Fighter 6
• Survival Kids
• Split Fiction
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut

If you want to nab the Switch 2 on launch day, mark your calendars for April 9. A week from today, you'll be able to preorder the new console on the Best Buy website and mobile app. 

Assuming you're lucky enough to secure a preorder, you can take part in the time-honored tradition of waiting in line for a midnight release. The retail giant revealed that "most stores" will open at midnight on June 5 to move the first Switch 2 consoles out of the door.

What's that? You want to register to preorder and buy a Switch 2 straight from Nintendo? So do we, but Nintendo hasn't released that information yet. We'll pass that along once the company announces how to preorder and purchase it directly from them. For now, you can register your interest to buy a Switch 2 from Nintendo -- and presumably, they'll be in touch about how to get the upcoming console.

If you're a proponent of preserving physical copies of games, Nintendo's game-key cards are a serious concern. One of the more unsavory bits of news to come out after the Direct is that certain physical cartridges won't actually contain downloadable game data, and will instead unlock the ability for you to download a game online.

Game-key cards will let people physically share or resell cartridges for digital games -- though you won't be able to access the game without having the cartridge on hand. You'll still need to pop the cartridge into the Switch 2 any time you want to play.

The downside to the game-key cards is the same as any other digital game: If and when the online storefront shuts down and you can't access your digital game, it seems as though this cartridge would become an expensive paperweight.

The Switch 2 is heralding some surprising quality-of-life improvements for how Nintendo's consoles work with its mobile apps. Now, screenshots and videos taken on the new console go straight to the Nintendo Switch app, according to an official Nintendo webpage. You don't even need a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Note the fine print -- only the latest 100 screenshots or videos from the last 30 days are viewable in the app -- but otherwise, this is a huge upgrade.

Nintendo's got a new way for parents to set ground rules for their kids' playtime on the Switch 2, and they can easily access it on their phone. The free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app lets adults set limits on how long kids can play, with little notifications popping up midgame when that time is up -- or they've gone over, which is also sent to the app. Parents can set it to automatically suspend the game when the time limit is reached.

Playtime can be adjusted day by day (more on the weekends, for instance), and a bedtime set for the latest they can play. Parents will also get a monthly report of playtime broken down day by day, as well as a ranked list of which games kids played most. 

There are also the usual controls, like restricting games by age rating and granting permissions for who kids can talk to with the new GameChat feature. 

Blink and we all missed it: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Team Cherry's beloved 2D dark action game Hollow Knight, is coming out in 2025. Just before the 47-minute mark in the hour-long Nintendo Direct, around five seconds of the game -- titled Hollow Knight: Silksong -- was shown within a long string of games coming to the Switch 2. 

To put this in context, Silksong was first announced in 2019 and fans hadn't heard anything about Silksong for years. This is an ignominious debut for the game, but it's coming all the same -- and fans are losing their minds.

While Switch 2 Edition games are set to get noticeable upgrades on their Switch 1 versions (and charge you for the privilege), at least a dozen games are getting free updates on the new console anyway. It's not clear how big these will be, but Switch 2 players will at least see updates that "may improve performance or add support for features such as GameShare," according to a page on Nintendo's website. The games getting free updates include:

• Super Mario Odyssey
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Arms
• Super Mario 3D World
• The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening
• New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe
• Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet (just as we predicted would benefit from the new console's performance)

Today's Nintendo Direct introduced Mario Kart World, an open-world entry into the arcade racer series. Post-stream, Nintendo's Mario Kart World web page revealed that the game is going to retail at $80.

It's unclear how many Switch 2 games will be sold at this price, but we know that it won't be all of them. Donkey Kong Bonanza, a new 3D action platformer revealed during the Direct, is going for $70.

Keep an eye out for pricing information on first-party games during this console generation, because we'll apparently be seeing variations depending on the size and scope of different titles.

Well, Nintendo didn't announce it during its Nintendo Direct, but the Switch 2 price is $450, per a press release from the company. The console bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart World is $500. Both the standalone console and Mario Kart World console bundle will be available on the Switch 2 release date of June 5.

Just before the end of the stream, Nintendo blitzed past all the games that will be coming to the Switch 2. It's holding not one but two Treehouse streams tomorrow, April 3, and Friday, April 4, at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. UK) on its YouTube and Twitch channels. It's unclear how long these will be, but two days of gaming deep-dives is quite something.

That's right -- Nintendo held a whole Switch 2 reveal stream, including the release date of June 5, and didn't say how much the Switch 2 will cost. Rumors had it anywhere from $350 to $500, with most bets on $400. Apparently, those bets will continue to be placed. 

On the Switch 2's release date of June 5, the console will be sold alone and in a bundle with a digital version of Mario Kart World.

A new open world-looking Donkey Kong game is coming to the Switch 2 in Donkey Kong Bonanza, coming July 17. Our favorite ape returns with a big adventure and lots of new faces (seriously, where's King K. Rool?). Punch, roll, punch some more -- plus some 2D and rail-riding action. More details are coming in the future.

Kirby Air Ride, a racing game starring everyone's favorite pink balloon lad, was originally released for the GameCube over 20 years ago, and is getting refreshed for the Switch 2 as Kirby Air Riders. Very specific GameCube fans, your ship will arrive later in 2025.

A FromSoftware game? On my Nintendo console?? The trailer for The Duskbloods, which is coming in 2026, gives off major Bloodborne vibes -- though there's a Victorian city and steampunk vibe (and Tommy gun on the back of one character), too. It also feels like the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign battle royale -- but all we have are teasing hints as to what this game will be about. It is coming to Switch 2, though.

Borderlands 4 is also coming to the Switch 2 when it launches on Sept. 23.

Welp, perhaps all us fans got too excited -- the Twitch and YouTube streams froze for a good minute. Congrats on that hype, Nintendo, you earned it. 

Already out on the underpowered Switch, Civilization 7 seems like a much better fit for the Switch 2. A beefy turn-based strategy game seems like a fantastic test of the new console's mouse controls, and indeed they're supported. If you already own Civ 7 on Switch, however, you'll have to pay for an upgrade to get the mouse features.

Sorry, original Switch owners -- only Switch 2 players will get to play GameCube games. Switch Online subscribers with Expansion Pack will get to play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur 2 (with Link!) and F-Zero GX, with more to be added in the future. Multiplayer is supported for up to four players locally or online. 

And a dedicated Switch online GameCube controller is coming too -- with its own C-button!

Just as the original Hyrule Warriors game was a prequel to Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors 2: Age of Imprisonment tells of the battles leading up to Tears of the Kingdom.

Players will get to engage in high-octane hack-and-slash battles as they learn more about the events between the two hit Legend of Zelda mainline titles in this Switch 2 game.

Sorry fans, it's just a teaser for now (no gameplay), but Hitman developer IO Interactive confirmed a 007 game is coming, currently (if unimaginatively) titled Project 007. When, and how much it will hit like GoldenEye 007 did when we were kids, is yet to be seen.

You wanted Switch 2 games? You got 'em: Street Fighter 6, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Elden Ring, Madden, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4, the co-op Split Fiction, Hogwarts Legacy and more. Not all of these will be launch titles, but some are coming out this summer.

Now we can see the Switch 2's mouse functionality with DragXDrive, a game about wheelchair basketball where players move both Joy-Cons to move and dunk basketballs. It looks pretty seamless, though there are motion controls slipped in there as well.

Switch 2 Editions rev up older Switch games with better graphics, just like anticipated. Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and more are included. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 has its own Pro Controller, which has a C-button for that chat goodness, a headphone jack and two paddle buttons on the underside of the gamepad. 

Nintendo Welcome Tour is a paid game available on Switch 2 launch day and it aims to familiarize players with their new console.

Much like 1, 2 Switch got players comfortable with motion controls and the built-in Joy-Con IR camera, Nintendo Welcome Tour will have minigames based around the new Joy-Cons' magnetic circuit and their ability to be used as a mouse.

The featured minigame from today's Nintendo Direct shows Joy-Cons being used to putt a golf ball -- but we'll inevitably learn more about Nintendo Welcome Tour before the Switch 2's launch.

There it is: the Switch 2 is launching on June 5. Everyone's summer just got more exciting. This also comes before Summer Game Fest -- we'll see if there's anything cooking at the new E3 with all these Nintendo games.

Those Smash Bros. sessions where you got the short end of the stick are over: You'll never have to play a game with a single JoyCon controller on the Switch 2 if you have your own console.

The new GameShare feature allows multiple Nintendo Switch 2 consoles to connect with one another to play a compatible game, even if that game requires multiple different screens. The GameShare feature connects with up to three other Nintendo Switch systems locally or online, assuming every player has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

The GameChat feature will also pair with users GameSharing their Nintendo Switch gaming experience.

Finally, specs for the Switch 2: Nintendo's newest console will have a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen with HDR, topping out at 120 frames per second. It's 13.9mm thick. As rumored, the Joy-Cons attach magnetically to the side of the console. They also have bigger side (SR/SL) buttons and larger thumbsticks sticks.

The Switch 2 launches with 256GB of internal storage. The new dock supports up to 4K resolution "for compatible games" and HDR is supported in TV mode. The dock has a built-in fan to cool the Switch 2 as well. 

The mystery is revealed: the C-button is for communication, chat, calls, what have you. Tap it to pull up a menu to start chatting with friends, watch your friends playing games and more. It listens through the mic at the top of the Nintendo Switch 2, which seems to have noise canceling to drown out sounds around you in favor of your voice. 

GameChat, as the feature is called, has a bunch of interaction with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which launches with the Switch 2. GameChat requires a Nintendo account, though that'll be waived for the first year. 

Mario Kart World is the newest of the series and the Switch 2's first launch game, where "you can drive everywhere" -- driving to the next course as part of the campaign, but you can also drive around the whole world, including going off-road. It's unclear how big this game's, er, world really is. 24 drivers, weather conditions changing every race and more are shown in the stream. 

More info is coming on Mario Kart World in a Nintendo Direct on April 17.

The Nintendo Direct has started -- let's get into Nintendo's first console in eight years...

Geoff Keighley, founder of Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards, has another tip for Switch 2 fans via a post on X (formerly Twitter): watch the Nintendo Direct on YouTube as it's the first streamed in 4K (change the quality by clicking the settings cog in the bottom right of the video). Nintendo's Twitch stream, while generally ahead of YouTube, caps out at HD (2K) resolution. 

The clock has ticked down to under 15 minutes before we get an hour of details on the Switch 2, and here's how to watch the Nintendo Direct -- your best options are the Nintendo YouTube channel, which lets you scroll backwards in case you missed something, or on the Nintendo Twitch channel, which has been a bit ahead of the other streams in the past.  

With minutes until the Switch 2 is fully revealed in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct, the President of Nintendo of America has a simple question he posted on X (formerly Twitter) for everyone up this early: "Are you ready?!" Yes, Doug. Eight years since the original Switch, thirteen since the Wii U, nearly 20 since the Wii, and so on -- we're ready for whatever Nintendo has to show us. (And please -- tell us what the C-button does already!!!)

With the advent of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans are understandably curious if their existing Switch Joy-Con controllers will work with the new console. There's no concrete answer just yet whether both Joy-Con controllers and the Pro Controller will indeed be compatible, though from the looks of the initial trailer for the Switch 2, the new console sure looks bigger, suggesting its Joy-Cons will be as well. That's no guarantee that the old can't be used with the new, though.

While Nintendo is expected to introduce a new, slightly updated Joy-Con design, your trusty original controllers may still be able to connect wirelessly to the Switch 2. Perhaps they won't be able to slide on and off (rumors suggest the new Joy-Cons will magnetically attach to the sides of the new console), but we'll wait for Nintendo to tell us they're incompatible before assuming. If original Switch owners can still use them with the Switch 2, multiplayer gaming (and swapping out dead controllers for charged ones) easy and accessible. 

However, accessories built specifically around the current Switch hardware, like Nintendo Labo builds and the Ring Fit Adventure peripheral, probably won't make the transition smoothly to work with the new Joy-Cons, or at all. Nintendo Labo relies heavily on precise console dimensions and the original Joy-Con sensors, so changes to size or controller features could mean the playful cardboard creations won't fit or function properly with the Switch 2's larger controllers.

Similarly, the Ring-Con and leg strap from Ring Fit Adventure are tailored to the shape and sensor features of the current Joy-Con controllers, making them unlikely to work with the redesigned tech expected for the new system. At the same time, Nintendo could still make concessions for these popular games, and there may be a way to get everything to work in harmony just yet. 

We'll find out more about exact compatibility details during Nintendo's official Direct presentation. Until then, it's possible that standard controllers could transition just fine, but specialty peripherals might be stuck on the original Switch.

One of my favorite parts of the original Switch were the different joy-con color options. For the original launch there were gray ones, but also the now iconic neon blue and red joy-cons. The neon colors were a punk-like in-your-face not-your-father's-Oldsmobile statement against the boring black and white Xbox and Playstation consoles at the time. The colorful joy-cons captured the playful fun that defined the experience of playing games on the original Switch. I hope we see Nintendo launch a couple of joy-con color options for the Switch 2, but I also hope that the joy-cons don't suffer the same joy-con drift that the original ones did, too.

The Switch 2 looks a lot like the Switch, which may not be a bad thing at all considering the competition still hasn't caught up to Nintendo's innovative detachable controllers and included dock system. But evolving PC handhelds and even the PlayStation Portal show where Nintendo could improve.

The Steam Deck's generous set of buttons and excellent analog triggers make it feel like the Switch needs to play catch-up on controls. I have high hopes that the new Joy-Cons could feel better and sturdier than before.

The PlayStation Portal's larger 1080p screen shows how useful that extra size is for detailed RPGs and games that are optimized for larger TVs – the sort of games the Switch 2 might be more compatible with. The PlayStation Portal's force-feedback triggers and haptics also feel a step above, giving a greater sense of immersion. The Portal's also pretty great at streaming games (with a good connection speed), which it needs to be since that it's only function. Will Nintendo focus on any game streaming on the Switch 2?

The Switch 2 still has a lot of surprises up its sleeve, and Nintendo tradition suggests that weird stuff could be a wild card. Everything we've seen of the Switch 2, so far, has been pretty straightforward: a Switch-like design, larger screen, new kickstand, some Joy-Con changes…but is anything going to make us feel as much shock as the cow-milking 1-2 Switch demo did in 2017?

At least one weird game showing off the Switch 2's new features should be on tap. Whether it's the expected mouse-like functions of the Joy-Cons, or whatever that new C button does…something celebrating the uniqueness of the Switch 2 would line up with similar surprises from the Switch. Don't forget midstream Switch wildcards like Labo and Mario Kart Live, too.

If the Switch 2 ends up being as straightforward as the early looks have made it seem, that would truly be the biggest surprise of all.

So far, only a new Mario Kart has been confirmed, as it was featured in the Switch 2 teaser from January. Other games have yet to be confirmed, but we can take some guesses at what will come out. 

To start, it's very likely that all the upcoming games for the Switch that were revealed last week during a Nintendo Direct stream should be playable on the Switch 2. This includes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Nintendo also understands how important its games are, so expect some big titles coming from them. Usually, a Legend of Zelda or 3D Mario game launches with every Nintendo console, and it could be that both could be Switch 2 launch titles as well. Maybe there will also be a new Kirby or Fire Emblem game? 

What will be interesting is to see the third-party support for the Switch 2. Since the console will have more power, it's likely that many AAA games could see a port to the console. Maybe  we'll see a Switch 2 version of Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, or Baldur's Gate 3. 

The new games for the Switch 2 will be a big part of the Nintendo Direct Switch 2 reveal -- here's how to watch. 

Some of Nintendo's flagship franchises have historically struggled with the Switch's hardware constraints, and we can think of a few that would benefit most from graphical upgrades with the likely higher-performance Switch 2. 

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Kirby and the Forgotten Land are just a few examples of first-party games that have pushed the original Switch to its limits, often resulting in stuttering frame rates and muddied graphical fidelity.

We know that the Switch 2 will feature backward compatibility with Switch game cartridges, but it would make the most sense for Nintendo to invest in its largest franchises with Switch 2 editions that upscale graphics and optimize these games for more powerful software.

It would be great to see games that have been locked to 30 frames per second on the Switch reach the industry-standard 60 FPS as they benefit from the move to the new console, as well as all the texture and resolution upgrades that a beefier Nintendo console may be capable of.

With a new console comes new features, and the Switch 2 appears to have its share. We'll likely see more during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, but some have already been revealed or hinted at. 

A confirmed feature, and one many Switch owners are thrilled about, is backward compatibility. Nintendo stated the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with the original Switch games. Another feature we know about, but don't have specifics yet, is the improved graphics power. On the one game shown, Mario Kart, there was a noticeable improvement in fidelity, but it's hard to tell by how much. 

The Joy-Cons have been upgraded in their own way with a secondary function similar to a mouse. How this will work is unclear as of now. The Switch 2 also has some under-the-hood features such as Wi-Fi 6, an NFC chip, and two USB-C ports.

One new function that could be an interesting feature is the mysterious C-button. Is this a new Capture button? Maybe the "C" is for "Community?" We just don't know yet. 

The Switch 2 price, release date, games and new features are all going to be revealed during the Nintendo Direct stream on Wednesday. 

Nintendo appears to be gearing up for a new Switch Pro controller for the new Switch 2 console, judging from a fresh filing with the US Federal Communications Commission. Eagle-eyed members of the Famiboards forum first spotted the listing, which carries the FCC ID BKEBEE008 and was filed under Nintendo's usual grantee code. The documentation labels the device simply as a "game controller," and the included diagrams show a layout very similar to the current Switch Pro controller, fueling speculation that this is a next-gen version of Nintendo's popular gamepad.

Though the filing doesn't outright confirm any new features, it does note standard capabilities like Bluetooth and NFC wireless support, which the current Pro controller already offers. However, based on the images provided, fans speculate that the new controller might finally include a built-in headphone jack, a long-requested feature absent on the original Pro pad. However, nothing concrete can be confirmed from the FCC documents alone.

Either way, the existence of this official filing strongly suggests that a successor controller is indeed in development for Nintendo's next system. It's not official until Nintendo announces it, but at this point, insiders and fans alike anticipate that an announcement may come sooner rather than later, likely during the Nintendo Direct event introducing the Switch 2. 

A day ahead of its Nintendo Direct livestream, Nintendo dropped a pair of posts on X (formerly Twitter) confirming two big things: First, that the reveal stream on April 2 will be a full hour long, and second, that there will be a pair of livestreams on each of the following days (April 3 and 4) revealing games coming to the Switch 2.

Sixty minutes is a long time for a single console, especially if Nintendo clarifies that its game presentations will come on the following days. Beyond going over how the new console compares to the original Switch, what the company will cover is open to speculation -- perhaps Nintendo will go over its new features in detail, or it will clarify how games and data can be transferred from your old console to the new one.

Nintendo's second X post is more exciting, as "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games" means we should get detailed looks at upcoming games for the new console. Nintendo's Treehouse streams are often deeper dives into titles, and though we don't know how long these streams will be, having two consecutive days planned to go through some or all of the Switch 2's launch lineup is promising.

Thanks to a recent leak, we have a good idea of when the Switch 2 may hit store shelves. 

Leaked documents from a US retailer showed the Switch 2 would reportedly be released in June. This makes sense when you consider the big picture. The company is putting on a worldwide tour for the console called the Switch 2 Experience, with the first stop happening on April 4 in New York City. The last stop is in Seoul, Korea, from May 31 to June 1. 

Another point to keep in mind is the "GTA 6 Effect." Nobody wants to compete with GTA 6, including Nintendo. GTA 6 is set for a fall release date, so releasing a console months before would be a smart move by Nintendo. 

The Switch 2's exact release date will likely be answered during the Nintendo Direct. 

There are a lot of questions we have about the Nintendo Switch 2, and how much it will cost is a big one. Unlike Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo doesn't release hardware with big price tags, but the Switch 2 could be its most expensive console. 

What is the likely price for the Switch 2? The most probable price is $399, or $100 more than the original Switch's starting price. Why? It looks like it has a larger screen than the original, will almost certainly have a more powerful processor, and very likely, more RAM -- plus, it's been eight years since the first Switch launched.

Could the Switch 2 come down to $349? It can, but that's pushing it. The Switch OLED version is $349, so having a new console with a bigger screen for the same price seems unlikely. There is a chance the Switch 2 could also be $449 or more, but that doesn't seem like a move Nintendo would go for, especially as that encroaches on the prices for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We'll have to wait and see what the price will be during the Nintendo Direct. 

What will be revealed during the April 2 Nintendo Direct? This is the big question, and only Nintendo has the answer. The company's two-minute teaser trailer in January showed everything on the outside of the console, so we expect the upcoming Nintendo Direct to detail what's on the inside.

Why is that important? The original Switch was a design marvel, but its small size made it underpowered compared to its Xbox and PlayStation rivals. Will Nintendo's next console be powerful enough to run new AAA games on launch day? Will it be capable of higher resolutions and framerates than the original Switch? This could decide how Nintendo decides to compete with its contemporaries, including other high-performance handhelds like the Steam Deck that have launched in recent years.

But Nintendo could also simply stick to its strengths by providing the kind of unique gaming experience you won't get anywhere else -- not just having the console-exclusive Mario, Zelda, Splatoon and Metroid experiences, but also releasing fascinatingly strange add-ons like Nintendo Labo. We'll have to wait for the Nintendo Direct to see whether Nintendo zigs back to mainstream gaming or continues to zag in its own direction.