The Nintendo Switch 2 in docked mode. Image courtesy of Nintendo.The Nintendo Switch – the iconic game company’s first hybrid portable and home console and the phenomenal successor to the 3DS and the Wii U – is no more. On January 16th, after years of rumours, Nintendo released the first-look trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2, teasing a console more evolutionary than revolutionary but still packed with surprises. With the in-depth Nintendo Direct not due until April 2nd and the console itself being released sometime later this year, the two-minute teaser hints at some exciting new features and upgrades from the original Switch. Here’s what you have to look forward to – and, even if you love your Switch, why now might be the time to upgrade.

A Bigger, Better Switch

The Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode. Image courtesy of Nintendo.Size was one of the main focuses of the first-look trailer, with the Nintendo Switch 2 noticeably bigger than its predecessor. While no official specs have been released, the expanded screen will be a welcome inclusion for portable gamers. Supporting this in the trailer is the new built-in stand, replacing the flimsy kickstand on the original. Together, they will make it easier to play the Nintendo Switch 2 as a tabletop console. Also highlighted was a mysterious second USB-C port, joining the original’s docking and power connector – perhaps intended for using wired controllers and other accessories on the go. The model featured in the video boasts a subdued version of the classic red and blue combo of the original: black, with blue and red highlights on the left and right Joy-Cons respectively. Knowing Nintendo there will certainly be plenty of cases, covers and alternative colourways to pick and choose from, but the all-black scheme is certainly a statement. Nintendo may still be all about fun, as the quirky trailer indicates, but now the fun is serious.

Under Control

The Switch 2 Joy-Cons in the new Comfort Grip. Image courtesy of Nintendo.

Anyone who has hunched over a single Joy-Con to play multiplayer games on the original Swich will be glad to see that the Switch 2 controllers will also be bigger. While the control layout looks the same as the original Switch, a lot of changes have been made under the surface. A new plug-in system has replaced the slide-in one used by the original Joy-Cons, which should make connecting and disconnecting them quicker and easier. The new, bigger connectors not only help to increase the size of the Joy-Con controllers, but will make it easier to use the trigger buttons without the wrist-strap accessory. The oversized Joy-Con controllers will also be joined by a bigger version of the Comfort Grip controller dock, which allows you to use both Joy-Cons as a single controller disconnected from the console. The trailer also highlights the coloured surfaces beneath the controllers’ joy sticks – perhaps part of a solution to the dreaded Joy-Con drift?

Game On!

Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch 2. Image courtesy of Nintendo.

Featured at the end of the trailer was exclusive footage of an unnamed new Mario Kart game – the 9th in the series. With more drivers on the track and a wide-open desert vista, this entry in the fan-favourite series looks to be more impressive – and more chaotic – than ever before. While it’s not been confirmed whether this will be a launch title, this sneak peek is a treat for those who feel that Mario Kart 8 in its various repackaged forms has outstayed its welcome. For those who don’t, Nintendo have announced backwards compatibility with most Nintendo Switch games, meaning that your physical collection of game cards won’t gather dust and your digital collection won’t be lost to the void. When it comes to new games, concrete information about exclusives remains scant, but third-party developers including Microsoft and Ubisoft have teased ports of Xbox and PlayStation titles. With ports of console and PC titles often being hit or miss on the Nintendo Switch, this show of confidence from developers could hint at improved hardware for the Switch 2.

Next Level?

While the original Nintendo Switch was able make a space for itself in the market, the Nintendo Switch 2 emerges into a very different world – not only will it be competing with the Xbox and PlayStation, but with the rising tide of handheld gaming PCs. The Switch 2’s first-look trailer shows off some promising new features and exciting upgrades. The console’s greater size, reworked Joy-Cons and the impressed reactions of third-party developers all hint at something bigger – the hardware upgrade so greatly desired by hardcore and casual fans alike. With details under wraps until the Nintendo Direct announcement in April, gamers can only speculate. However, if the promise of a bigger, bolder gaming experience for both new and old Switch games hasn’t got you totally convinced, it should at least grab your attention. The Switch 2 might just be the dream second act for Nintendo’s hybrid console range.