What we learned from the Switch 2 trailer

After much speculation, Nintendo has finally revealed the successor to the Nintendo Switch, aptly named the Nintendo Switch 2. The console was revealed in a nearly two-and-a-half-minute video that showcased the hardware and some of its capabilities.

Though the reveal was short, there still is much to unpack and discuss, along with plenty of questions left unanswered. We will be sharing what we learned about the Switch 2 from Nintendo’s trailer and discussing the possibilities of the hardware and software.

We saw the hardware coming

The Switch 2 trailer gave us a good look at the new hardware. For the most part, the new console doesn’t look too dissimilar to the original Switch, and because of leaks, we already had a pretty good idea of what the console looked like. The general design is the same, just modernized with a new all-black finish. The kickstand has been redesigned in a similar vein to the one found on the Switch OLED. Most of the button placement has remained the same, but the best news of all is that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with most original Switch games. This will give the Switch 2 an already huge library when it launches later this year.

Nintendo has already stated that not all games from the original Switch will be playable on Switch 2. As of right now, no games have been confirmed to be not compatible. There are a few games, however, that may be affected by the new hardware. From the looks of it, neither Joy-Con seems to have an IR camera. This would make certain aspects of games like Brain Training and WarioWare: Move It! unplayable, which is a shame.

Speaking of the Joy-Cons, a lot is going on with them. While design-wise they aren’t much different, there are several new features that we can glimpse from the trailer. For starters, there are new triggers on the back of the controllers. These could be akin to the paddles on the back of the Xbox Elite controllers or the triggers on the back of the Steam Deck. There’s also the mysterious button sitting below the home button. While we don’t know much about this mysterious button, it is strikingly similar to the screenshot button present on the left Joy-Con. Only time will tell what this button’s true purpose is. The rails on the Joy-Con are also quite different, featuring two new buttons, larger shoulder buttons, and a gap for the magnets that help attach it to the console. Most noticeable, however, is the potential optical sensor on the side of the Joy-Con. Many speculated that the new Joy-Cons would include an optical sensor to allow it to function like a mouse. This would offer a whole new way to play games on the Switch 2, and we’ll likely see it utilized early in the console’s life.

The dock and the Joy-Con grip have also been redesigned, though there haven’t been too many significant changes to them that we know of. One interesting addition to the console, however, is the second USB-C port at the top of the system. We don’t know right now whether or not it’s an input and an output or if it will just be an input for charging, but this second port could have a lot of use cases that players can utilize.

Is that a new Mario Kart?

Yes, yes it is. The art style and character designs were noticeably different from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The karts also looked substantially different, indicating a possible new mechanic to be introduced in this new Mario Kart.

This brief look at the next Mario Kart game gave us a look at a brand-new track and some of the characters that will be playable in the next game. Some of the Mario Kart mainstays, such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Daisy, and Yoshi can all be seen driving on this new course. Other prominent characters included Bowser Jr., Baby Mario, and King Boo. Then there were some surprising returns, such as Baby Daisy and Pauline. There are a lot of returning characters in the next Mario Kart, which may mean that it has the largest roster in the entire series. It’s hard to say right now how many characters will truly be playable in the game, but we could be looking at a roster of well over 50 characters.

The most interesting note about this little teaser, however, is the number of racers there are. If you count how many racers are on the track, it comes out to be a lot bigger than 12. Furthermore, if you count the lines of paint at the starting line, there are 24 spots. This indicates that races can be played with up to 24 players. This is a heavy deviation from the usual 12, but it might be a nice change of pace for the series. It also brings up the question of whether or not this will be the standard for the game, if it’s an option you can select before a race, or if it will be its own separate mode.

Switch 2 Direct imminent

At the end of the trailer, Nintendo revealed that there would be a Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2 on April 2. This Direct is where we will likely see some of the launch titles for the system along with other games that will be released this year. The Direct is also probably where we will see the release date for the console along with its pricing.

The Direct will be the biggest source for news about the Switch 2, but until then things will probably quiet down. There won’t be much news coming out from Nintendo between now and April 2, but fans will continue to speculate about the console until then. Once the Direct releases, we should have a clearer picture of what the console can do, and it will only be a matter of time before it releases.

Final thoughts

There’s a lot to be excited about with the Switch 2. We now have a clear picture of what the Switch 2 will look like, we’ve had a look at the first revealed title for the Switch 2, and we know when we’ll get more information about Nintendo’s next console. There’s a lot to look forward to, but there are still many uncertainties and concerns with the console. Only time will tell whether or not these concerns will be alleviated. For now, though, we can sit back and relax while we wait for the imminent arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Are you excited about the Nintendo Switch 2? Will it live up to expectations? Let us know down in the comments and on social media!