The waiting game is over. Nintendo officially announced that preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 24.
Preorders of the popular console were originally planned for April 9, but faced delays to examine the potential impact of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
The price of the base console remains at $449, and the bundle with the newest entry in the “Mario Kart” series, “Mario Kart World,” remains at $499 – the same price as competing consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. However, Nintendo did warn buyers that Switch 2 accessories will experience “price adjustments” due to “changes in market conditions,” per the official statement. A full list of console prices and accessories was also unveiled on the company’s website.
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When the original Switch was released in March 2017, it cost only $299 by comparison. The Switch 2’s significant price increase comes with several technological upgrades, including a more robust online chat system, 4K resolution capability and upgraded controllers.
During the Switch 2 Direct, several major games were revealed — including the previously mentioned “Mario Kart World.”
The most recent series installment, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” is one of the best-selling video games of all time, with over 67 million copies sold. The next entry in the long-running series is poised to rack up huge sales numbers as well.
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Other exclusive games announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 include “Kirby Air Riders,” “Donkey Kong Bonanza” and “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.” Perhaps the biggest surprise was the announcement of a new multiplayer action game called “The Duskbloods,” made by acclaimed developer FromSoftware, best known for critically lauded games “Dark Souls” and “Elden Ring.”
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The Nintendo Switch 2’s upcoming release comes at a turbulent time in the video game industry. Mass layoffs continue to hinder video game developers, and coincide with ballooning budgets for major titles and what some experts call an “oversaturation” of the game market.
The original Switch was unique at the time of its release due to its hybrid nature, being both a mobile device and home console. However, with Valve’s Steam Deck and reports of a future Xbox handheld, Nintendo may face a bigger challenge from competitors this time around.
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