After so many leaks that have pretty much shown everything about the Nintendo Switch 2, it has finally been revealed. No build up to the trailer or even a hint it was coming. Except for the leak that said it was. Simply a trailer posted just after 13:00 GMT. Showing the transformation of the Switch into the Switch 2. A neat trailer, that… hold the phone. Mario Kart? Open world Mario Kart? Yeah, I’m excited already.
The information on how the Switch 2 looks isn’t going to be news to those who have seen the various leaks. It’s bigger, features a USB-C port up top, has a kickstand that seems better than the Switch and OLED model. The Joy-Con have mouse functionality, with them seen gliding around on a flat surface. And those Joy-Con attach to the Switch 2 via magnets. With the trailer sounding a snap rather than a click when showing them attach.
The Joy-Con have a bit more of a roundness to them this time. They’re no longer mostly flat-edged. That, plus the larger size, should help when it comes to playing in handheld mode. I was fine with it to start, but longer play sessions did start to bring cramp quickly. It’s one of the reasons I switched to the NYXI Wizard. The Joy-Con are mostly black with this reveal, with just a hint of colour around the sticks and the section that attaches to the Switch 2.
Then, showing off Mario Kart as the Switch 2 is docked. Right from the first few seconds, there’s 24 grid places on that starting line. Double the number of racers from Mario Kart 8. There’s some interesting kart designs, such as Rosalina in some sort of a snowmobile or Daisy on… a jetski on wheels? Bikes and ATVs are also shown in the lineup of vehicles. Mario is driving what I can only assume will be this game’s standard kart, which looks nice.
Then comes the second shot, once the game swaps to the TV. With the camera twisting to follow the races while pulling away from them. Until the highway heading all the way into the distance is seen. A dirt path intersects with it, running left to right. And I can’t help but think this looks too open to be a tightly designed closed circuit track. That is why I feel we’re getting our first open world Mario Kart experience with the Switch 2.
We’ll just have to find out with the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct that was announced during the trailer for 2/April. The only thing we know for sure about the Switch 2 is that it is backwards compatible with all Switch games. Both digital and physical. Which is great in my eyes, as I’ll likely still be wanting to play some Switch games even once the Switch 2 launches. Which will be some time this year.
Also announced during the trailer is the Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-on Experience event. Registering interest for it requires a Nintendo Online account, and groups can only be formed by those within the same Family Plan, but there’s a lot of time to do so before the draw happens, selecting winners to try this console out. For the UK, the event is down in London, at the ExCel.
I’m registering my interest as soon as I can. I was down in London for the Switch hands-on event at Hammersmith Apollo, which was great fun. I want to do the same again for the Switch 2. While the games that will be there won’t be known until closer to the dates, which for London is 11-13/April, it doesn’t matter to me. The experience of playing what’s available, surrounded by fans all enjoying the same things I am, is too good to pass up.
Now, I would speculate about what else might be coming. But I’ll leave that for February, having already done a small bit of such during my Look Ahead To 2025. All I will say is that now the Switch 2 is officially unveiled, it gives third-party developers the chance to now talk about what they’ve got coming for it. So, though we likely won’t be getting any Nintendo announcements until that Direct, plenty of stuff will still be coming.
Those games which hinted they were coming to Nintendo’s successor console, such as Yooka-Replaylee, will now officially reveal as such. Other announced games, such as Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, I could also see now having the Switch 2 attached to the platforms they will release on. And… forgive a bit of speculation. Could Microsoft’s Developer Direct have left a secret game because it’s coming to the Switch 2? Would certainly be interesting if it was.
Images Taken From:
Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look Trailer | Nintendo UK
