The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be officially announced on January 16, according to a well-known and generally reliable leaker. An early 2025 reveal would pave the way for the console to hit store shelves in the first half of the year.
The Switch successor has been an open secret for some time now. Reports suggest that mass production of the Switch 2 began around late September or early October 2024, supported by numerous hardware leaks that have emerged online since then. Nintendo has committed to announcing its next console no later than March 31, marking the end of its current fiscal year.
According to NateTheHate, a well-known leaker, the Switch 2 will be revealed on Thursday, January 16, as mentioned during the January 13 episode of his podcast. This aligns with Nintendo's tradition of making major announcements on Thursdays, similar to the original Switch teaser in 2016. Following NateTheHate's podcast, Tom Warren from The Verge reported hearing similar news about the Switch 2 reveal scheduled for this week.
It's uncertain if Nintendo will follow the same strategy as with the original Switch by releasing a teaser on social media before a full reveal event. They might share a glimpse of the console and confirm the reveal date a day in advance. However, given the extensive leaks surrounding the Switch 2, the upcoming reveal may not surprise the most dedicated fans. Nintendo even acknowledged a Switch 2 replica recently, a rare move for the company.
As a recap, the Switch 2 is rumored to be slightly larger than the Switch OLED Model, measuring 270 x 116 x 14mm with an 8-inch LCD screen. Its Joy-Cons are expected to attach magnetically, with the right controller featuring an additional "C" button below the home key. The purpose of this button is unclear, but it might be related to a rumored mouse-like pointer mode for one of the Joy-Cons.
The launch game lineup for the Switch 2 remains a mystery. RPGs like My Time at Evershine and Bestiario have been confirmed for the console, but they are not expected to be available at launch, assuming the Switch successor hits the market in the first half of 2025. Nintendo is likely to leverage at least one or two first-party titles to boost the console's early sales momentum.
Source: Nintendo of America