NINTENDO Switch 2 – it’s the game console everyone is talking about.
People queued overnight to get hold of the latest gadget and it’s now sold out in many stores.
Mario Kart just got even better[/caption]
New Joy-Con detachment mechanism is a massive improvement[/caption]
Playing with friends using GroupChat on camera adds to the fun[/caption]
Nintendo has revealed that more than 3.5million units have been sold worldwide in the first four days since launch.
This makes it the company’s fastest selling debut ever – but experts say it’s also the fastest selling console of all time too.
As The Sun’s Assistant Technology and Science Editor I had the privilege to get a taster of the Switch 2 weeks before general release in a top secret event – but that experience only scratched the surface.
I received a Switch 2 to review just before general release and have been playing away at it ever since.
And I can wholeheartedly say it is well worth upgrading for.
While there is a lot of familiar elements, the Switch 2 feels like a natural, big, fitting, fresh-faced sibling to the first Switch.
There is nothing radically different about the new console – and rightly so, the Switch is a great piece of kit that deserves evolution over revolution.
Here’s how I found my first week with the Switch 2.
Setting up
Getting started with the Switch 2 is pretty easy even if you already own a Switch.
In fact, you can transfer any games and the save data from your first Switch to the new one, so long as they’re both connected to Wi-Fi and they’re close by.
The user interface looks practically the same, with a few additions like GameChat.
Using GameChat
The ability to chat with friends in video form seems like a natural way forward for Nintendo in the ever-growing world of online gaming.
GameChat makes that possible with supported games – and it can be enjoyed for free without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription by everyone until the end of March 2026.
Nintendo has its own camera accessory which you can buy separately but “typical third-party cameras should also work,” the firm says.
I managed to give it a go on the new Mario Kart World game with a group of other journalists eager to try it all out.
Quality will obviously depend on your broadband connection but in our game of four we took the wild Mario racer title to the next level, with the ability to cheer – or yell – at each other as we competed for that unpredictable finish line.
It adds a whole new layer of excitement to what is already a pretty thrilling game – and it’s amusing to see our heads bobbing around above our cars, as well as giving me a better idea of who I should target with my weapons.
There are lots of pretty tight safety controls for GameChat too, many of which can be accessed in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
No more fiddly sliding on the Joy-Cons[/caption]
Mario Kart World
I don’t want this to descend into a Mario Kart World review, but this is a key launch title after all.
Aside from GameChat I’m loving new features like the ability to free roam, playing loads of mini games along the way, it’s something Nintendo continues to do so well.
Mario Kart World is also an opportunity for me to talk about the graphic and performance improvements too.
There is a noticeable huge boost to the visuals here making everything appear super clear.
The handheld Switch 2 has a larger 1080p screen which looks gorgeous and you can play in up to 4K resolution when docked to a TV with frame rates up to 120 fps.
Joy-Con
Joy-Cons are miles better – but you can still use your old Switch ones[/caption]
The Joy-Cons are arguably the biggest hardware upgrade.
Gone are those fiddly silde-in controllers and now it’s all magnetic.
They snap into place with ease and come off simply by pressing a button on the back.
What’s more, your old Joy-Cons from the first Switch need not gather dust in a draw.
You can connect these too for when you’re playing in groups, as I did with Mario Kart World when I had friends over.
I’m glad Nintendo is making an effort to keep older kit supported where possible, rather than fleecing people out of money to buy new extra Joy-Cons.
You can even use the Joy-Cons as a mouse, with some mini-games to test it on in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and I absolutely loved.
THE DOWNSIDES
For all it’s glory, there are some downsides to the Switch 2 – though some will be addressed soon.
Firstly, the lack of launch title exclusives.
As much as I love Mario Kart World, it was the only big new game to come for the Switch 2 – the other, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, doesn’t really count as it’s a bit of a taster to get used to the console.
The next big title to come is Donkey Kong Bananza in July.
My other gripe is the cost for games now too, with the Mario Kart World coming in at £66.99 for the digital download alone.
And finally, battery.
Nintendo says you can expect to get approximately two to 6.5 hours out of the Switch 2, which aligns with my experience testing the console.
This is a drop from the Switch OLED with approximately 4.5 to nine hours.
Verdict
The shortcomings listed above are pretty limited.
On the whole, the Switch 2 is a worthy successor of an already great console.
Nintendo proves once again that you don’t need fancy graphics and huge cinematic games to make a good console.
Rating: 4.5/5
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
