Nintendo Switch 2 was fully revealed today in a Nintendo Direct…including its release date of June 5th! 
I’m going to talk about many parts of the Direct that interested me (for better or worse), and at the end I’ll list my Top 3 most-wanted games and my Top 3 biggest disappointments. I won’t be covering every announcement though, so watch the full Direct yourself if you don’t want to miss anything.
Mario Kart World
The first reveal was the Mario Kart game that was previously teased. It’s called Mario Kart World, and it looks beautiful.
It even has a cow riding a scooter. 
One interesting thing is that you can venture off the race tracks and drive just about everywhere. In the Grand Prix mode, you’ll not only race on four tracks in each cup, but you’ll drive to each course as part of the competition. I’m not sure exactly how that factors into the scoring, but I guess we’ll see. There are also 24 drivers in each race, a new record for the series.
A “Free Roam” mode also lets you explore the whole world (with friends, if you wish) and take photos at certain locations. This sounds like a lot of fun. The ability to explore the lands between courses reminds me of my Animal Crossing idea of being able to explore the lands between Animal Crossing towns.
One trivial annoyance is that the game has the same abbreviation (MKW) as a previous game in the series, Mario Kart Wii. I wish they had just called it Mario Kart 9. I don’t know why they even started a numbering system seven games into the series if they were only going to stick with it for two games. 
GameChat
Nintendo unveiled GameChat, a new voice chat feature that uses the system’s built-in microphone. You can also share your screen with friends as you chat together…even if you’re playing different games!
The new C button brings up the chat menu. There’s also a Switch 2 Camera that’s sold separately that allows video chat. You can even let everyone see live video of yourself as you play. I’m not sure who asked for this, but the ability is there. 
As a (very) introverted person, I’m not interested in any of this stuff. But having a separate accessory reminded me a bit of Wii Speak.
The GameChat features will normally require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. But it will be available to try for free through March 31, 2026.
Upgrades of Switch Games
Many Switch games will have upgraded versions that offer improved graphics, GameChat features, stronger rumble, and/or new control methods (each JoyCon 2 can be used as a mouse in certain games). You can even get a virtual GPS for Link in Tears of the Kingdom to guide you towards shrines and Koroks you haven’t found yet.
Upgrade packs generally must be purchased. But Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can upgrade the Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom games for free. (I only have the regular Switch Online account, so that certainly leaves me out.)
Nintendo GameCube Classics
On Switch 2, Expansion Pack subscribers will have access to a selection of Nintendo GameCube games. It includes The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, and F-Zero GX. Multiplayer games will also have online play. Additional games will be added, but there’s no sign of Animal Crossing so far.
EA Sports Returns
I was happy to see that EA Sports is returning to Nintendo for the first time since the Wii days! I haven’t bought many sports games in recent years, but I’ll probably buy a new Madden game for the first time since Madden NFL 12.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Perhaps my biggest surprise of the Direct was Donkey Kong Bananza. It’s a 3D Donkey Kong game, coming out July 17th. I definitely didn’t see this one coming!
Donkey Kong 64 is one of my favorite 3D platformers of all time, and I’ve been waiting a long time for another 3D Donkey Kong game. But from the trailer, it seems to be more fast-paced and action-heavy than the somewhat easygoing exploration of DK64. But we’ll see how it turns out!
I will say that I’m not a fan of the art style of DK himself. The facial expressions are over-the-top cartoony that border on cringey.
The Price
One of the biggest disappointments came after the Direct was over, when the pricing was revealed. The Switch 2 by itself will cost $450 (USD), and the Mario Kart World bundle will cost $500. Nintendo has previously tried to keep their system costs from being super high in the past, but this seems excessive. That’s a whopping 50% higher than the original Switch’s $300 initial price tag!
While it’s true that there are other consoles (such as PS5) in the same ~$450 price range, Switch 2 is not on par with those. Nintendo’s systems (at least in the past 20 years) have been significantly less powerful than their competitors, lagging behind by a generation or two. By all accounts, Switch 2 seems to be about as powerful as a PlayStation 4…a 12-year-old system. I just don’t think we should be paying PS5 money for PS4-level tech.
But perhaps even worse is the price of games: It’s been reported that many Switch 2 games will cost $80 for digital versions, and up to $90 for physical versions! At those prices, I’ll be much less likely to take chances on games I’m not certain about.
For a company that has traditionally tried to provide a good value for consumers, this seems uncharacteristically greedy of Nintendo. This sentiment has certainly soured the mood of this reveal.
My Most Wanted
After today’s announcements and trailers, here are my top 3 most-wanted Switch 2 games.
- Metroid Prime 4. Even though not a lot was shown of it today, it remains the Switch 2 game I want most. But unfortunately, it still doesn’t have a specific release date.
- Mario Kart World. It looks really good, and the large worlds and exploration should provide a lot of replay value.
- Donkey Kong Bananza. Even if it’s not another Donkey Kong 64, it should be a lot of fun. And who knows, maybe it will recapture some of the monkey magic I’m looking for.
Biggest Disappointments
The Direct, and subsequent news, certainly provided some disappointments that kept this reveal from being great. Here are my three biggest disappointments.
- No Animal Crossing. As most of you know, I’m a huge Animal Crossing fan. And I was hoping for something AC related, at least. Nothing was announced, not even a tease of the GameCube game coming to Expansion Pack.
- The price. The cost of hardware and software feels like a punch to the gut. It actually makes me glad that Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Rhythm Heaven Groove are going to be for the original Switch, not Switch 2.
- The lack of first-party games, especially at launch. Mario Kart World is the only real first-party game at launch, and it feels weird to not have a proper Mario or Zelda game at launch. I prefer having a single-player action or adventure game with a new system. As good as Mario Kart may be, it’s not the same.
How about you all? Are you happy with the Direct? Disappointed? Let me know in the comments!