Gamers will not have to wait much longer. Nintendo on Wednesday announced a June 5 launch date for its Switch 2 console, which will mark the debut of interactive chat and screensharing functions.
During its Nintendo Direct presentation, the company revealed a larger screen for the console, which will be rolled out at a suggested retail price of $449.99. A separate bundle that includes the new “Mario Kart World” game will also be available for $499.99.
The updated console will feature a new “C” button on its Joy-Con controller. That will launch a new game chat feature, which can be used through a subscription to Nintendo’s Switch online service. The button will allow customers to “communicate with friends and family while playing a game.”
All Together, Anytime, Anywhere. The #NintendoSwitch2 system launches on June 5, 2025! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/3y3K71m1Hw
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
Gamers will also be able to share screens with other players, and a built-in microphone will allow for chatting.
Up to four friends can share their screen, and if they connect with a compatible camera (sold separately), gamers can also video chat, Nintendo said in a news release.
“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said in a statement. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”
Nintendo’s new “Mario Kart World” game will retail for $80, according to the company’s Mario Kart World web page. Donkey Kong Bonanza, a new 3D action game, will retail for $70 and will arrive on July 17. “Kirby Air Riders,” a racing game from the director of the “Super Smash Bros.” series, is due later this year.
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