We’ve had the Switch 2 in our hands for almost a year now, and somehow it feels like the party’s just getting started. Between leaks confirming one by one, prices making everyone wince, and a Nintendo Direct that could drop any day now — April 2026 is a pivotal month for Nintendo. Here’s everything I know, everything I think, and everything I’m impatiently waiting for.
The Switch 2, One Year Later: Hardware Verdict
Let’s start with the hardware. The Switch 2 is a massive leap over the original:
- SoC: Custom NVIDIA T239, 8-core ARM Cortex-A78C
- GPU: Ampere architecture, 1536 CUDA cores, ~3.07 TFLOPS docked (comparable to an RTX 2050 mobile)
- RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5X (vs. 4 GB on Switch 1 — yeah, 3x more)
- Display: 7.9-inch LCD, 1080p, 120 Hz, HDR
- Storage: 256 GB UFS + microSD
- Battery: 5220 mAh, 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game
- DLSS 3 + Hardware Ray Tracing
- 4K docked via DLSS upscaling
In short? The Switch 2 is 6 to 7.5x more powerful than the original Switch. Zelda BOTW in 4K/60fps, Cyberpunk 2077 running decently in handheld mode… it’s wild.
What I Love
GameChat. Finally, FINALLY, Nintendo built voice and video chat directly into the console. No more of that absurd phone app nonsense. Up to 12 people, screen sharing, USB-C camera support. This is what the Switch 1 should have had on day one.
The Joy-Con 2 Mouse Mode. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I do. Laying a Joy-Con flat and using it as a mouse for Civ VII or strategy games feels weirdly natural. Even Polygon was surprised by how comfortable it is.
Backward compatibility. Nearly 100% of Switch 1 games work on Switch 2. Physical cartridges, digital games, save transfers via cloud or the built-in transfer system. Nintendo didn’t make the same mistake PlayStation made at the PS5 launch.
What Frustrates Me
No OLED. The Switch 1 OLED has a gorgeous screen. The Switch 2 has a decent LCD… but it’s an LCD. In 2026. At $450. I know an OLED revision is probably coming, but still.
The battery. 2 hours on Cyberpunk is rough. I understand the thermal constraints of a handheld form factor, but 2 hours is tight for a train ride.
The price. We’ll get to that.
The Great Price Debate: $80 Games, Really?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Mario Kart World at $79.99. Nintendo raised the standard game price by $10 from the previous generation. And the Welcome Tour — an interactive tutorial that should be free like the PS5’s Astro’s Playroom — is sold for $9.99.
Nintendo’s defense? “Focus on what’s the content, what’s the experience.” OK, Mario Kart World is massive, I’ll give them that. But $80 for a game is testing limits. And when Sony and Microsoft are doing the same with tariff-related price hikes, everyone loses.
The worst part? The Switch 2 is getting a price increase in May 2026 due to Trump tariffs. Yes, you read that right. The console is about to get MORE expensive, not less. If you’re on the fence, now’s the time to buy.
The Nate the Hate Mega-Leak: 9 Games, One Already Confirmed
In March 2026, leaker Nate the Hate shook the community with a massive leak of 9 Switch 2 games planned for 2026-2027. And since then, the leak has been validating progressively:
| Game | Status | Expected Release |
|---|---|---|
| Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake | Leaked → quasi-confirmed | H2 2026 (holidays) |
| Star Fox (new) | Leaked | 2026 |
| Splatoon Raiders | Announced + PEGI rated | Summer 2026 |
| Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave | Announced + PEGI rated | Summer 2026 |
| Rhythm Heaven Groove | CONFIRMED | July 2, 2026 |
| 3D Mario (new) | Leaked | 2027 (not 2026) |
| Kirby Air Riders | Announced | 2026 |
| Mario Kart World | Already released | Launch title |
| Switch 2 Edition upgrades | Ongoing | 2026 |
The key takeaway? Rhythm Heaven Groove was officially dated to July 2 — exactly what the leak said. When one detail gets confirmed, everything else gains credibility.
Zelda OoT Remake: The Dream Becoming Reality
I’m not going to pretend to be objective: this is THE game I’m waiting for. A full remake (not just an HD remaster) of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, with modern visuals, is potentially the biggest launch of 2026.
Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed anything, but at this point, it’s the worst-kept secret in gaming. CBR writes that Nintendo “might as well have” announced the game. French outlets like Switch-Actu call it a “quasi-confirmed” leak.
If Nintendo announces it at the next Direct as the holiday 2026 flagship, it’s a bomb. If they stay silent… fans are going to feel strung along.
3D Mario in 2027: The Right Call, But It Hurts
Nate the Hate is adamant: no 3D Mario in 2026. Nintendo is holding it for 2027. And honestly? It’s probably the right call. The Switch 2 is selling like hotcakes (17.37 million units in a few months), Nintendo doesn’t need to fire their biggest cannon right away.
But emotionally? It hurts. We’ve been waiting for a new 3D Mario since the Switch 1 era. Even a 30-second CG teaser at the April Direct would calm everyone down.
Pokémon Champions: Free, But Is It Good?
Pokémon Champions launched April 8, 2026. Free-to-play, cross-play between Switch 1, Switch 2, and mobile. The concept is solid: competitive Pokémon battles without the barrier to entry.
But the reception is mixed. Ouest-France called it “playable for free, but still too frugal and limited.” The content feels thin at launch. The free Switch 2 upgrade improves visuals but doesn’t solve the underlying problem.
It’s an interesting signal: Nintendo is testing free-to-play on Switch 2. If Champions finds its audience, we could see other franchises adopt the model. If it plateaus, Nintendo will go back to premium.
The April 2026 Direct: What Nintendo MUST Announce
A Nintendo Direct is imminent. Not officially confirmed, but all signals are green: PEGI ratings dropping, validated leaks, an unusually long silence for a first quarter.
Here’s what I demand, what I hope for, and what would be a disappointment:
🔴 The Must-Haves
- Zelda OoT Remake — official announcement. The leak is validated. Just announce it. This would be the hype moment of the year.
- Splatoon Raiders — release date. PEGI rated = ready. Give us the date.
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave — release date. Same thing. RPG fans are starving.
🟡 The Highly Requested
- Star Fox — reveal. It’s been 10 years since Star Fox Zero (which was disappointing). If the game exists, show it.
- 3D Mario — teaser. Even for 2027. 30 seconds. Just so we know it exists.
- Price clarity. Tariffs hit in May. Consumers deserve transparency.
🟢 The Nice-to-Haves
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Switch 2 Edition. We know it’s coming. Tell us when.
- F-Zero. Am I dreaming? Maybe. But the Switch 2 has the hardware for it.
- GameChat improvements. The feature is there, but it needs maturity.
- Retro library expansion. NSO is fine, but Switch 2 could do better.
What Would Ruin Everything
- No Zelda OoT announcement despite the validated leak
- A “quiet” Direct with no major first-party reveals
- Pushing everything to 2027 with nothing concrete for H2 2026
- Raising prices without justifying the value
Switch 2 vs Steam Deck: The Real Matchup
This is the debate that fuels every Reddit thread. I’ve gone through Digital Foundry’s comparisons in detail, and here’s the unfiltered truth:
| Switch 2 | Steam Deck OLED | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $549.00 |
| GPU | Ampere 1536 CUDA, ~3.07 TFLOPS | RDNA 2, 8 CU, ~1.6 TFLOPS |
| RAM | 12 GB LPDDR5X | 16 GB LPDDR5 |
| Display | 7.9″ LCD 1080p/120Hz/HDR | 7.4″ OLED 800p/90Hz |
| Battery | 2-6.5h | 3-12h |
| DLSS | ✅ DLSS 3 | ❌ FSR only |
| Library | Nintendo exclusives + selection | All of Steam (100,000+ games) |
| 4K docked | ✅ | ❌ |
The Switch 2 has more GPU power and DLSS. The Steam Deck has more RAM, an OLED screen, better battery, and access to the entire Steam library.
PC Gamer summed it up well: “A closer battle than I expected.” They’re not the same product. If you want Zelda, Mario, and console simplicity, it’s Switch 2. If you want PC freedom, mods, and your Steam library, it’s the Deck.
Me? I want both. And I’m not the only one.
The Numbers That Matter
- 17.37 million Switch 2 units sold in a few months
- 5.82 million in the first 4 weeks (a record)
- $449.99 current price (before the May increase)
- $79.99 for Mario Kart World (Nintendo’s most expensive game)
- $9.99 for Welcome Tour (the tutorial you pay for)
- 12 GB of RAM (3x the Switch 1)
- ~3.07 TFLOPS docked (6-7.5x the Switch 1)
- 25+ games at launch day one
My Prediction for the April Direct
If I had to bet? Nintendo will announce:
- Zelda OoT Remake as the holiday 2026 flagship
- Splatoon Raiders for July/August
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave for late August/September
- Star Fox teaser for late 2026
- 3D Mario CG teaser for 2027
- A few third-party ports (FF7 Rebirth, Indiana Jones)
That would be the perfect Direct. No need to show everything — just enough to prove 2026 is a massive year for Switch 2.
And if Nintendo doesn’t deliver? Well… they have 17 million consoles sold and a fanbase that’s waiting. They have the luxury of time. But patience has its limits.
The Switch 2 is incredible. The hardware is a generational leap, the exclusives are coming, and the 2026 lineup looks explosive. But Nintendo is walking a tightrope: between rising prices, leaks spoiling surprises, and the wait for 3D Mario, the next Direct needs to deliver.
Fingers crossed. 🤞
Keywords: Nintendo Switch 2, Switch 2 specs, Switch 2 price, Direct April 2026, Zelda Ocarina of Time remake, Star Fox Switch 2, Splatoon Raiders, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave, Mario Kart World, 3D Mario Switch 2, Switch 2 vs Steam Deck, Switch 2 backward compatibility, Pokémon Champions, Switch 2 game prices, Switch 2 leaks 2026