The Nintendo Switch 2[b] is an upcoming hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo, and scheduled for release in most territories on June 5, 2025. The Switch 2 entered development in 2019, with a focus on backwards compatibility with Switch games. Like the original Nintendo Switch, the Switch 2 uses different modes that enables the device to either be used a portable handheld, a tablet-like device, or docked when connected to an external display, using detachable Joy-Con controllers to switch between modes. Switch 2 features enhancements of its predecessor including a larger liquid-crystal display, more internal storage, and updated Joy-Con controllers, dubbed Joy-Con 2, which now attach to the system horizontally. It allows for 1080p resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate in handheld or tabletop mode and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second while docked.
Games will be available through physical game cards and Nintendo's digital eShop. Certain games offer physical versions called Game-Key Cards, which lack any data on the card itself and requires the user to download its contents via the internet. Select Switch games can use the improved Switch 2 performance through either free or paid updates. The Switch 2 also retains the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service required for some multiplayer games, and to provide access to the Nintendo Classics library of emulated games from older consoles; Nintendo GameCube games were announced as exclusive to the Switch 2 under the Expansion Pack tier. The new C-button on the righthand Joy-Con 2 controller enables GameChat, a feature that allows players to chat remotely, share their screens, and include footage from a webcam accessory.