First hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 with The Verge’s video game reporter Ash Parrish. The follow-up to the Switch boasts a larger 7.9-inch screen and redesigned Joy-Con controllers, along with new games like the next Mario Kart World game. It also comes with a new “C” button on the controllers that can also be used to activate a chat menu. Plus, 256GB of internal storage, up from 32GB on the original Switch. The Switch 2 will be available on June 5th, priced starting at $449.99. A separate bundle with the new Mario Kart World game will also be available for $499.99.
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TechTranscript
00:00The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here.
00:08I got to demo the console, testing out a variety of new features with a bunch of games, including
00:12Metroid Prime 4 and Donkey Kong Bonanza.
00:15Switch 2 comes with a ton of upgrades, some of them I love, and others not so much.
00:21Let's get into it.
00:23With the Switch 2, the screen is wider and larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen supporting
00:28a 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR.
00:33On paper, it's a minor spec bump, but you can really see the improvement from the OG
00:37Switch's 720p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate.
00:41Breath of the Wild looks like a completely different game, with the improved lighting
00:45and the crispiest textures and graphics.
00:47It's hard to describe the weight of the Switch 2, because Nintendo had all the consoles
00:52and controllers anchored with anti-theft devices, but the Switch 2 is the same width as the
00:56original, so it still feels good in your hand, unlike chonkier handhelds like the Steam
01:01Deck, which leave me with permanent crab hand after extended play sessions.
01:05Nintendo says the Switch 2 will have a 6.5-hour battery life, but it'll depend on the game
01:10you're playing.
01:11So resource-intensive games like DK Bonanza or Breath of the Wild will probably eat up
01:15more of that time.
01:16So, I know a lot of people have questions about the new C button.
01:19We didn't get a chance to see that in action for the hands-on event, so we'll get into
01:23that in our review to come later.
01:25But basically, what the C button does is bring up a video and voice chat screen that
01:28looks kind of like a Discord call, where you can share your gameplay screen or turn on
01:32your camera to start a video chat.
01:34Chat supports up to 4 people with screen sharing and 12 people with voice chat, but I'm definitely
01:39going to need to beef up my friends list if I'm going to be making use of that.
01:42Nintendo didn't do much with the ergonomics of the Switch 2 controllers.
01:46Both the Joy-Cons and the Pro feel the same in the hands, even with the new programmable
01:50GL and GR buttons on the Switch 2 Pro controller.
01:53You might not even notice them.
01:54I didn't.
01:55Perhaps the biggest innovation with the Nintendo Switch 2 is the Joy-Con mouse controller,
02:00and I gotta be honest, I'm not sold.
02:03For example, Metroid Prime 4 supports three types of control schemes.
02:07You've got basic controller mode, mouse mode, and split Joy-Con mode.
02:11I demoed the game using mouse and split mode, and I just didn't like how either felt.
02:16The profile of the Joy-Con turned on its side feels very awkward in the hand, and after
02:21playing Dragon Drive, the new 3v3 wheelchair basketball game, I could feel my arm cramping
02:26from my wrist up my shoulder.
02:29Folks with minor issues with wrist or shoulder pain are going to feel this, even after short
02:33play sessions.
02:37The developers also understand that most folks don't play with a flat surface directly
02:41in front of them, so you can use your lap for mouse controls, but please make sure you're
02:46wearing pants.
02:47One of the big new flashy features for the Switch 2 is the new camera and microphone.
02:51We got to try out both with the Mario Party Jamboree TV expansion, and seeing it in action,
02:57it's pretty cute.
02:58To start, you have to calibrate the camera with your face by lining it up within a box.
03:02It then captures your full body for some neat visual effects.
03:05The microphone will pick up your voice from a distance, and has some pretty good noise
03:09cancellation to not pick up what's going on in the background.
03:12There were a number of games to try out, and first up is Mario Kart.
03:16Mario Kart World is pretty much the must-own game for the Switch 2.
03:19The first thing I noticed is simply how beautiful the game is.
03:23The game has open world elements where you can just drive around, waiting for a race
03:26to start, and I had a ball motoring about, seeing the sights, and trying new food, which
03:31changes your outfit.
03:32But when it's race time, that's when the game really heats up.
03:36The console retails for $449, and it'll be $499 bundled with Mario Kart World.
03:42If you want the bundle, and you do, you'll save $30 versus buying the game by itself.
03:48Get those pre-orders in, because Nintendo's saying once they're gone, they're gone.
03:51And that's it.
03:52That's our very first, very brief look at this highly-anticipated console.
03:57It's about what you'd expect, quirkiness and creativeness from a company known for
04:01clever solutions and new ideas.
04:03It's not a spec beast, but with the Switch, the experience comes with the games, and they've
04:08announced a lot of them.
04:09Of all the games I've played, Donkey Kong Bonanza was the most fun, and I'm really
04:14excited to see Bloodborne 2, I mean, the Duskbloods.
04:17Should be a fun Switch summer coming this year.
04:19Thanks for watching.
04:21Be sure to hop on over to TheVerge.com to read more about the Switch 2 and how to get
04:25one.
04:26And let us know in the comments what you think.
04:28I personally want to know is who at Nintendo backed the big ol' money truck up to FromSoftware
04:33to get them to make a Switch-exclusive PvPvE game?
04:38The children yearn for Bloodborne.
04:40Just give us Bloodborne.
04:42Nintendo, you have the power to get-