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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Even though there hasn't been an official announcement from Nintendo themselves, we've been hearing rumors and leaks for a long time about Switch 2, the upcoming successor to the Nintendo Switch. Speculation grew at the end of last year, when Gamescom attendees claimed to have seen the new Nintendo console behind closed doors.

Today at Vandal we can share some exclusive details about the upcoming hardware from the Japanese company after hearing non-official information from manufactures that have had a first contact with Switch 2. Our colleague Rubén Mercado has been the one that has had access to these exclusive details during an accessory manufacturer fair, the same way it happened during the pre-launch period of Nintendo Switch OLED.

Some manufacturers have been able to "touch" the new Nintendo console, without the possibility of actually seeing it to avoid leaks. There are no concrete dates for its release, but they all agree that it won't release this year, even though the console is ready. This is just a strategic decision to have a better lineup, and they expect this Christmas period to be the last one for Switch, and Switch 2 to release Early 2025.

The information we've managed to get says the console is a bit bigger than the current Switch models, but still smaller than a Steam Deck. Another change is on the joy-con side, which will trade their current attachment system using rails for a magnetic system.

As of right now we don't have information on the specs of the console itself, but what we can confirm is that the current Pro Controller will be forwards compatible with Switch 2. However, it's possible that the current joycons won't be, whether for the change on how they attach to the console or if they have new functionalities.

Key points via --R on era:

• Accessory manufacturers have been able to touch the console but not see it (i.e. the console was inside of a black box, so they could touch it but not see how it actually looks)
• Every manufacturer agrees the console won't release this year and will release Early 2025.
• A bit bigger than the current Switch models but nowhere close to the Steam Deck's size.
• Joy-cons will change their attachment system from rails to a magnetic system, and the current ones won't be forwards compatible.
• The current Pro Controller will work on Switch 2.

Exclusiva mundial sobre Switch 2: Ya conocemos nuevos detalles de la próxima consola de Nintendo

Más grande que Switch, nuevos Joy-Con magnéticos y posible fecha de lanzamiento: Descubrimos detalles de Switch 2 gracias a fabricantes que ya han tenido acceso a la próxima consola de Nintendo.

vandal.elespanol.com

 

[Punished Miku]

Accessory manufacturers have been able to touch the console but not see it (i.e. the console was inside of a black box, so they could touch it but not see how it actually looks)

Kinky.

 

[mansoor1980]

 

[Hohenheim]

Sounds cool. Steam deck is perfect in size for a handheld, so I hope the "nowhere near the size of a steam deck" part is a bit exaggerated.
Also, glad to hear that those shitty joycons is being left behind. Those things are absolute rubbish. Hopefully the new ones are a lot better.

 

[crackajack]

• Joy-cons will change their attachment system from rails to a magnetic system, and the current ones won't be forwards compatible.

Magnetic? I trust magnets to snap shut the cover of my ebook reader, but strong enough to not drop the main unit while still allowing for easy attach and detach? No idea how that is supposed to work.

 

[Davevil]

that joycon shit again
now magnetic?
OMG

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

The Switch was one of the worst ergonomically designed consoles ever. I'm tired of acting like it's not.

 

[Ozriel]

There was no fucking way it was ever going to be the same size as the existing Switch.

I’m also very skeptical about the magnetism stuff. Needs some sort of physical latch to keep it connected

 

[Hudo]

The Switch 2 will generate its own gravitational field in order to keep the Joycons attached.

 

[balls of snow]

For a kids company, Ninty sure embrace the glory hole culture with aplomb.

 

[kunonabi]

Even bigger means it's definitely never leaving the dock especially if the magnet nonsense is true. The state of Nintendo physical hardware designs is depressing. I bet these analog sticks will rub off and drift too.

 

[Bojji]

What about sticks drift Nintendo? Magnetic technology could be used here...

 

[LordCBH]

The current Pro Controller will work on Switch 2.

Like one of the main things I wanted tbh

 

[Yonyx]

I am glad it is bigger.

 

[Paasei]

No OLED, no buy.

 

[Tommi84]

Magnetic attachment for joycons?

Yeah, I don't buy this. Switch is already quite flimsy and the joy cons move a bit. How strong the magnets need to be?

 

[Robb]

Joy-cons will change their attachment system from rails to a magnetic system, and the current ones won't be forwards compatible.

Attaching by magnets sounds convenient but also unreliable.. It’ll be interesting to see their solution if that’s true.

I would be surprised if the part about compatibility turned out true tbh. I get that they wouldn’t be able to attach to the new system, but I can’t see the functionality being an issue if the current Pro controller is going to work.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Hopefully it’s comfortable to hold.

 

[Bernoulli]

More powerful than RTX 4090 thanks to DLSS 4.1 and AI 2 CONFIRMED

 

[midnightAI]

Magnetic attachment for joycons?

Yeah, I don't buy this. Switch is already quite flimsy and the joy cons move a bit. How strong the magnets need to be?

Yeh, that on its own throws these rumours right out of the window for me.

Kids+held by magnets=trouble

(Unless they can be locked in somehow but then why bother with magnets?)

 

[BlackTron]

The Switch was one of the worst ergonomically designed consoles ever. I'm tired of acting like it's not.

Who ever pretended that the joycons were not terrible? Other than you, apparently lol

Thankfully (mercifully) the "console" itself is just a tablet with rails which wasn't the most unergonomic idea in a tablet ever because it enabled me to alleviate it by using other joycons.

 

[SF Kosmo]

This sure sounds like bullshit to me.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

Who ever pretended that the joycons were not terrible?

Literally everyone who called the Switch good hardware.

 

[Gambit2483]

So they are sitting on a finished console for 9+ months...this is a strange strategy. They better hope their momentum doesn't fall off a cliff and the casuals are still impressed when they finally reveal/launch.

 

[Interfectum]

Kinda crazy they are just chilling with a finished console ready to go... by the time this thing launches Steam Deck 2 is right around the corner.

 

[StereoVsn]

Attaching by magnets sounds convenient but also unreliable.. It’ll be interesting to see their solution if that’s true.

I would be surprised if the part about compatibility turned out true tbh. I get that they wouldn’t be able to attach to the new system, but I can’t see the functionality being an issue if the current Pro controller is going to work.

Should be able to get current Joycons to work wirelessly one would think.

 

[BlackTron]

Literally everyone who called the Switch good hardware.

I think most people who think the switch is "good hardware" are keenly aware of what a bitch the joycon can be. After all, playing it is how you find out. Fueling the demand for the accessory/grip/controller aftermarket. It's not exactly a niche thing, there are alternate officially licensed joycon of various shapes at Target.

I own Playstation consoles even though I absolutely can not stand the stock controller design.

Xbox has my favorite controller but the most jank consoles and software. Go figure

 

[StereoVsn]

Kinda crazy they are just chilling with a finished console ready to go... by the time this thing launches Steam Deck 2 is right around the corner.

Doubt it. Ally 2 and / or Legion Go sure, but Steam Deck 2 is probably late 2025 if that.

Plus it’s Nintendo, they don’t give a crap how outdated their hardware is.

Edit: To above, PS Dual Sense is the most comfortable stock controller ever made! That design is amazing for ergonomics.

 

[Moses85]

Magnetic? I trust magnets to snap shut the cover of my ebook reader, but strong enough to not drop the main unit while still allowing for easy attach and detach? No idea how that is supposed to work.

I guess Nintendo knows how to handle this BUT

It is not their first try to make Hardware

 

[killatopak]

I actually wish it was a bit smaller. It’s already too big for me. I have the OLED. I was hoping somewhere along lite but alas it’s not meant to be.

 

[LordCBH]

The Switch was one of the worst ergonomically designed consoles ever. I'm tired of acting like it's not.

On this we are in total agreement. Damn thing makes my hands hurt when playing it undocked.

 

[Fart Knight]

Footage from Nintendo HQ

 

[reezoo]

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

 

[BlackTron]

For some reason it's easy to see a scenario where Switch 1 remains my portable device packed with as many old games as possible and 2 stays plugged into the TV forever to play modern exclusives. Especially if it's bigger, or wackier.

 

[Tg89]

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

3D Mario seems almost certain. It's been like 6 years since Odyssey? Yeah, they released Wonder, but that doesn't impact the schedule for 3D ones.

 

[Robb]

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

New 3D Mario seems like the most obvious one to me.

But I feel pretty certain they’ll try to get Mario Kart 9 out early on as well. That’d be the real juggernaut. Not to mention a cross-gen version of Metroid Prime 4.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

I think most people who think the switch is "good hardware" are keenly aware of what a bitch the joycon can be. After all, playing it is how you find out. Fueling the demand for the accessory/grip/controller aftermarket. It's not exactly a niche thing, there are alternate officially licensed joycon of various shapes at Target.

I own Playstation consoles even though I absolutely can not stand the stock controller design.

Xbox has my favorite controller but the most jank consoles and software. Go figure

You could be right. I just don't hear its terrible ergonomics talked about enough. I have no idea why that monstrosity got a pass whenever it's brought up. To me, that thing is N64 level controller bad. A true embarrassment coming out of Japan.

 

[LordOcidax]

Vandal sources are gaming forums and the Youtube comments section…

 

[Astray]

Switch joy-cons are a complete pain to deal with if you ever put them on backwards on those small black pieces, so this is likely good news imo.

Not sure how that bodes for them using Hall Effect analog sticks tho. Those are magnetic-based too.

 

[BlackTron]

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

Time is rife for a new 3D Mario, an OOT remake and of course Metroid. If they launch early in the year, it could be a Switch 1 "soft launch" 1-2 punch style strategy again where we have both Mario and Zelda by the end of the year.

Before Wonder there hadn't been a new 2D Mario entry since Mario U, a 2012 game, and there hasn't been a 3D Mario since Odyssey which is 7 years old now.

3D Mario will most assuredly be the bombastic launch game...

 

[BlackTron]

You could be right. I just don't hear its terrible ergonomics talked about enough. I have no idea why that monstrosity got a pass whenever it's brought up. To me, that thing is N64 level controller bad. A true embarrassment coming out of Japan.

Okay. I always notice people on GAF bitching about them. And all my real life friends hate them. By that I mean either they hate using them, or how quickly and easily their kids ruin them. Can't remember one person ever saying they love joycon.

They aren't that bad in the included grip. Sure it's no longer a handheld at that point but at least you can use the thing out of the box without either being a small child or wanting to kill yourself. Player 4!

 

[Ozriel]

Even bigger means it's definitely never leaving the dock especially if the magnet nonsense is true. The state of Nintendo physical hardware designs is depressing. I bet these analog sticks will rub off and drift too.

People carry their Steamdecks and ROG Ally’s around without an issue. You’ll manage

 

[Sethbacca]

I really just wish they'd make a screenless version that attaches to a tv, I used my Switch outside it's dock like once or twice. It was a complete waste to pay for an unneeded screen.

 

[hinch7]

A lot bigger is good. If not for better battery and cooling capacity.. but to actually have an ergonomic shape.

What I'm really hoping for is Hall Effect sensors in their analogues. But this is Nintendo we're talking about.

 

[Woopah]

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

3D Mario, Mario Kart 9, Pokémon Legends Z and some sort of new IP will be the launch window titles I think, alongside third party stuff.

 

[Gaiff]

• Accessory manufacturers have been able to touch the console but not see it (i.e. the console was inside of a black box, so they could touch it but not see how it actually looks)

A console glory hole. Must be a first.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

For some reason it's easy to see a scenario where Switch 1 remains my portable device packed with as many old games as possible and 2 stays plugged into the TV forever to play modern exclusives. Especially if it's bigger, or wackier.

I think most people who think the switch is "good hardware" are keenly aware of what a bitch the joycon can be. After all, playing it is how you find out. Fueling the demand for the accessory/grip/controller aftermarket. It's not exactly a niche thing, there are alternate officially licensed joycon of various shapes at Target.

I own Playstation consoles even though I absolutely can not stand the stock controller design.

Xbox has my favorite controller but the most jank consoles and software. Go figure

The Xbox controller is the worst of the current controllers. I can hear it from down the street and it drives me nuts.

I actually wish it was a bit smaller. It’s already too big for me. I have the OLED. I was hoping somewhere along lite but alas it’s not meant to be.

A slightly bigger (like slightly) Lite would have been the perfect handheld for me.

If Nintendo had fixed their cloud saves earlier then I would have owned both without question. A Lite that could dock would have been more perfect.

Though I was also the guy hoping for a non handheld switch model.

I am really curious what will be the launch title ? TOTK already out, we had a recent release of Mario game, what else?

That’s a good point. I would have to imagine it’s the successor for Odyssey? Way too early for Zelda outside of a WW/TP port (I know it’s hopium, but I don’t care WW is the greatest Zelda game and I won’t stop hoping for it).

 

[Shin-Ra]

Magnets make sense for quick self-alignment, not strong attachment.

 

[Kenpachii]

The Switch was one of the worst ergonomically designed consoles ever. I'm tired of acting like it's not.

Dam right, cramps my hand every fucking day of the week, please make the dam handheld bigger nintendo.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

Magnets make sense for quick self-alignment, not strong attachment.

Maybe the gimmick is that it's a globular screen you toss in the air and have to catch to play or something. I could see a great Mario Beach Ball game killer app based around it.