Opinion
The Nintendo Switch 2 is «just» a bigger and more powerful Switch – and that’s a good thing
by Domagoj Belancic
The Switch 2 is the most leaked console of all time – time for an official announcement
8.1.2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Leaks about the successor console to the Nintendo Switch are popping up more and more. By now, we know (almost) everything about the hardware. However, Nintendo remains silent.
Leaks in the tech world are nothing special in themselves. Details and snapshots of unreleased hardware usually circulate on the internet weeks or months before launch. Nevertheless, the extent of the leaks surrounding the successor to the Nintendo Switch is surprising. Case manufacturer Genki reached a preliminary climax by presenting new accessories for the as yet unannounced console at CES 2025.
There’s even a short video on the manufacturer’s website showing the complete console, including controllers and a TV dock with the name Switch 2. The footage also confirms that the Joy-Cons are magnetically attached to the console and that the controllers have a new C-button as well as an integrated optical sensor (?).
Update 09.01.
Update 10.01.
Nintendo has made a statement about the dummies shown. According to an official statement in Sankei Shimbun, the devices shown are «not official».
A veritable avalanche of leaks
The new images and information from CES appear even more credible when compared with numerous leaks over the past few weeks.
Last week, another Redditor published pictures of the Switch 2 motherboard. Based on the leak, experts suspect it’s an Nvidia T239 chip manufactured by Samsung using the 8 nm process. The size of the chip could potentially have a significant impact on the performance and battery life of the device, as Digital Foundry explains in its analysis:
A few days ago, one user published a photo of a Joy-Con controller in black and blue on a Chinese website – similar to Genki’s dummy controller at CES.
The picture also shows an optical sensor, which Genki included in their video too. It’ll be located between the SL and SR buttons. Fans are speculating that the new Joy-Cons can be used as mice. Lenovo offers a similar function with the Legion Go – only here the controller is used vertically, not horizontally.
Please, Nintendo, save us
I think it’s a shame all these surprises are leaked in advance – there’s nothing like a spectacular debut of a new console. I have fond memories of the reveal trailer for the first Switch, which left me sitting in front of my screen mouth agape.
At last year’s investor conference, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa announced that there’d be new information on the successor console before the end of the current financial year – 31 March 2025. I can’t imagine that the Japanese company will wait that long – especially not when leaks from the production chain are mounting ever faster. At the very least, I expect the announcement to be made shortly.
With all these spoiled surprises from leaks, we get at least one small consolation – we know virtually nothing about the software so far. Nobody knows which launch titles Nintendo will present, or how good games will look on the more powerful hardware. One of the Reddit hardware leaks has only revealed that we can expect a game with the number 9 in its name. The actual functions of the mouse sensor and the new C-button also remain a mystery.
In the newest episode of the Tech Affair podcast (podcast in German), we discuss the topic too.
Header image: Shutterstock
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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