Nintendo Switch 2 Direct April 2025: Every Major Game Reveal, New Features, and Launch Details

Nintendo delivered a blockbuster Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2025, finally offering a deep dive into its next-generation console and a robust slate of upcoming games and features.

The Direct, which streamed globally, set the stage for the Switch 2 ahead of its June 5th, 2025 launch and covered everything from hardware upgrades to major franchise returns and third-party debuts.

Hardware Innovations and Features The Nintendo Switch 2, launching globally on June 5, 2025, promises to advance the hybrid console’s legacy.

The system boasts significantly faster processing speeds, a larger and more vibrant display, and the new Joy-Con 2 controllers featuring magnetic connectors and built-in mouse functionality.

Notably, the Joy-Con 2 introduces the C Button, enabling users to instantly launch the brand-new GameChat feature, allowing gamers to communicate with friends seamlessly during multiplayer sessions. Nintendo also introduced GameShare, a feature enabling owners to temporarily share compatible titles with up to three other consoles—across both Switch 1 and Switch 2 systems—for local multiplayer using a single copy of the game.

This will initially roll out as a free update for Clubhouse Games, with more titles to follow. Hardware flexibility extends to expanded storage: Switch 2 game carts are now marked in red and support faster load times.

However, the system transitions away from standard Micro SD cards, requiring the use of Micro SD Express cards for expanded storage.

The new Switch 2 Pro Controller adds extra programmable rear buttons, a headphone jack, and dedicated GameChat controls. Software Highlights: First-Party and Third-Party Announcements Nintendo opened the Direct with Mario Kart World, slated for release on June 5, 2025.

This ambitious reinvention of the racing franchise introduces an open driving system, a new Knockout Tour mode, and Free Roam exploration with friends. A wealth of enhanced Switch 2 Editions were also unveiled for iconic Nintendo titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Players who already own these titles on Switch 1 can upgrade via an ‘Upgrade Pack’ to unlock improved visuals and Switch 2-specific features. Third-party support is equally robust.

The Direct confirmed titles such as Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Street Fighter 6 (with exclusive party and fitness modes), Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Split Fiction, Borderlands 4, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman: World of Assassination, and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Switch 2.

New entries in beloved series like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Two Point Museum are also on the way, alongside innovative new IPs such as The Duskbloods and Drag x Drive. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on Switch 2 will gain access to a GameCube library at launch, starting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SOULCALIBUR II, and F-Zero GX, each with upgraded visuals and local or online multiplayer capabilities. Additional launch titles include Survival Kids, Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Marvel: Cosmic Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws, and a major Fortnite release scheduled for the console’s debut. Product Pricing and Bundles Nintendo will release the Switch 2 console at an MSRP of $449.99, €469.99, or £395.99.

A launch bundle including Mario Kart World will also be available at $499.99, €509.99, or £429.99. Industry Impact The sheer volume of announcements and the sweeping third-party support underscore a confident step forward for Nintendo.

As stated in the Direct, Switch 2 is poised to deliver new ways to play and connect, both at home and on the move, in a competitive market increasingly defined by innovation and content diversity. 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Nintendo, and with Switch 2’s robust launch slate, long-standing fans and newcomers alike have much to anticipate.

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