The Nintendo Switch 2 launched worldwide on 5 June 2025 as the successor to the wildly successful original Nintendo Switch. Where the original Switch broke the mould by introducing the hybrid home/handheld concept in 2017, the Switch 2 doubles down on that concept with substantially upgraded hardware while preserving the form factor that made the platform a generational success: a dockable tablet that plays equally well on TV or on the go.

The Switch 2 introduces meaningful hardware upgrades across the board. The handheld screen has grown from 6.2 inches to 7.9 inches, the display is now a sharper 1080p LCD (up from 720p), the dock can output up to 4K at 60fps on supported games, the system supports up to 120fps for fast-paced titles, internal storage has jumped from 32GB to 256GB, and the device features HDR10 support, magnetic Joy-Con 2 attachment, and proper VRR (variable refresh rate) in handheld mode. Under the hood the system uses a custom NVIDIA T239 processor that delivers a substantial generational leap in compute and graphics power.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers are the headline peripheral evolution. They attach magnetically rather than via the original Switch’s slide rails, are physically larger and more ergonomic, retain HD Rumble and motion sensors, and add a completely new mouse mode — each Joy-Con 2 can be placed on its edge and slid across a flat surface to function as a desktop mouse. This single feature opens up entirely new genre possibilities on the platform: PC-style RTS games, point-and-click adventures, and FPS titles that historically didn’t work well with controllers can now use precise mouse input. Joy-Con 2 also adds a dedicated “C” button for GameChat voice features and a new shared shoulder design.

The Switch 2 ships with substantial new platform features. GameChat is the system-level voice and video chat layer that works across compatible games — friends can talk and even share screens with each other in real time during play. GameShare lets one Switch 2 owner share certain games wirelessly with up to three other Switch 2 (or even original Switch) consoles nearby, so friends can join in even if they don’t own the game themselves. The optional Nintendo Switch 2 Camera peripheral plugs in via USB and enables face-cam overlays in GameChat sessions.

The most important launch feature for an established Nintendo audience is backwards compatibility. Switch 2 plays the vast majority of original Switch games — both physical and digital — directly, often with framerate, resolution, and load-time improvements. For Mario fans this means the existing 24+ game Switch Mario library that we’ve covered in detail at Super Luigi Bros. continues to work seamlessly on Switch 2 hardware, frequently looking and running better than it did on the original Switch. A subset of Switch games have also received dedicated “Switch 2 Edition” upgrades — enhanced re-releases with new content, modes, and Switch 2-specific features. Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV and Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park are the two flagship Mario Switch 2 Edition releases so far.

On the Mario front specifically, Switch 2 launched with the heaviest possible flagship: Mario Kart World on day one (5 June 2025), the first open-world entry in the Mario Kart franchise and an instant best-seller. Donkey Kong Bananza followed six weeks later (17 July 2025), starring the modern young-DK design alongside Pauline in a 3D destruction-platformer. 2026 has brought new entries including Mario Tennis Fever (the first new Mario Tennis since 2018’s Aces) and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, with more on the horizon.

For Mario fans the takeaway is simple: the Switch 2 is a flat upgrade with no penalty. Every existing Switch Mario investment carries forward, the new exclusives (Mario Kart World, DK Bananza) are landmark releases on their own merits, and Switch 2 Edition versions of select titles deliver genuine enhanced content rather than just a resolution bump. As the Switch 2 library expands through 2026 and beyond, this hub page will grow to cover every new Mario release.