Everything Shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

Back in March, Nintendo showed their last Direct for the Nintendo Switch. It’s a bittersweet feeling to see support for the Switch die down, but it is not all doom and gloom because Nintendo also showed their first direct for the Nintendo Switch 2. There is a lot to talk about with this, so I’m not going to waste anymore time and just jump right into it.

The biggest announcement from the direct is that Nintendo announced the price of the Switch 2, which will be $450 US. It’s nice to see that Nintendo is not pulling a Sony with this price point and charging $800 for an upgraded Switch. On the other hand, there have been some complaints that while the console is not outrageous in price the games are starting to get really expensive (around $90 to $100). Nintendo also announced a bundle with Mario Kart World for $500 as well.

Nintendo then started the show with a look at some of the new first party titles coming to the Switch 2 and there is a lot of new stuff coming out.

 

Mario Kart World Confirmed to Be a Launch Title

Starting off with the newest Mario Kart game: Mario Kart World. Nintendo confirmed that MKW will be a launch title for the Switch 2 and they showed off a lot of new gameplay. The biggest reveal is the fact that this game has free roam in it a la games like Diddy Kong Racing or Crash Team Racing. The game has also included what’s basically a Battle Royale mode called Knockout Tour. I find it really interesting that Mario Kart is adding a lot of the latest gaming trends in this newest game  and honestly, I’m here for it. There’s also a greater variety of vehicles in this game such as cars, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, and planes. We also saw characters grinding on rails, riding on walls, and more. It’s important to note, however, that Mario Kart World will cost $79.99, which is higher than any base Switch 1 game ever released.

 

Donkey Kong Bananza in July

The other big 1st party reveal that was shown for this direct was for Donkey Kong Bananza. This game is a 3D Open world platformer like Mario Odyssey and it stars Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong is able to smash through objects in the world to unlock new areas and use these objects to attack enemies. There also looks to be plenty of bosses, humor, and even 2D sections. Donkey Kong Bananza will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.

 

Kirby Air Riders Later in 2025

If you’ve been following video game news at all for the past little while, you’ll know that Super Smash Bros Director Masahiro Sakurai has been teasing his next project a lot on social media. Well, that game has finally been revealed and it was honestly surprising. Sakurai has been working on Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the GameCube game Kirby Air Ride. The game got a teaser trailer during the direct and the game is set to release later in 2025.

 

The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 Editions at Launch

While it’s a shame that Nintendo did not announce a new Zelda game for the Switch 2 yet, they did announce the next best thing in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom getting Switch 2 ports, and they’ll be coming out when the console does. These ports are updating the game with smoother frame rates, faster load times, and better graphics. Nintendo also announced a Zelda notes app for NSO subscribers that’s exclusive to these new editions and will help players find shrines, Koroks, and other locations alongside commentary from Princess Zelda that wasn’t part of the original games. This is a cool add-on and it’s nice to see that Nintendo is adding incentives for people to buy and play the same game again, and I for one will probably be falling hook line and sinker for it considering it’s Zelda and Zelda is one of my favorite gaming franchises.

 

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond With Mouse Controls, Quality & Performance Modes

After radio silence for many years now, it’s nice that Nintendo finally remembered that Metroid Prime 4 exists, and it’s also nice that they’re sharing info on it. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition that will feature mouse controls and Quality (4K/60fps/HDR) and Performance (1080p/120fps/HDR) Modes.

 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Brings a New Story to Switch 2

Kirby Air Riders was not the only Kirby-related announcement made at the Direct. Nintendo also announced a new version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land for the Switch 2. It’s not a straight port of the game to Switch 2 as it will also be getting a new story mode called “Star-Crossed World” and new Mouthful abilities for Kirby as well. The game will also get the general performance improvements on Switch 2 and it will be coming out on August 28th of this year.

 

Super Mario Party Jamboree Gets Expanded Version

Mario Party Jamboree is another popular Switch game that will be getting an expanded version on the Switch 2. Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV is the new version of the Switch party game that will add new features and modes that take advantage of the Switch 2. This expanded version will feature minigames that use mouse controls, the built-in mic, and the Nintendo Switch 2 camera alongside a new Bowser Live game-show 2v2 experience.

Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV on July 24, 2025.

Pokemon Legends Z-A’s Features Improved Resolution and Framerate

One of the most anticipated games of the year for Nintendo is Pokemon Legends Z-A. While we already knew that the game would come out on the Switch 1, Nintendo also announced that while the game isn’t due out until the end of the year, it will be getting a Switch 2 version with both improved resolution and framerate.

 

Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour Will Showcase This Much-Anticipated Next Console

Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour looks to be the Switch 2 version of 1-2 Switch. It is meant to serve the same purpose as the latter, as it is meant to show how the console actually works to new players. It will be available as a paid digital title at the launch of Nintendo Switch 2.

Drag x Drive Puts Focus on Mouse Controls

 

Another game that shows off the new tech in the Switch 2 is called Drag x Drive. It is a 3v3 online game that will showcase the Switch 2’s new mouse controls. Players will use their Joy-Con to play basketball and control their wheelchairs, perform tricks, shoot and dunk the ball, and more.

Drag x Drive will be released on Switch 2 this summer.

Nintendo GameCube Games Are Coming Exclusively to Switch 2 via Nintendo Switch Online

Now that was the end of the first party announcements in the Direct but that was not the end of the show. There were many third party announcements made as well, with the first being the announcement that I’m the most excited for.

The Duskbloods Coming Exclusively to Switch 2

This is the most shocking announcement from the direct by far because FromSoftware announced their next game called The Duskbloods would be coming out EXCLUSIVELY for the Switch 2 in 2026. The game received a teaser trailer during the direct and it is looking to be the closest thing we would get to Bloodborne 2 considering the eerie and gothic aesthetic that the game is going for. Always count on Nintendo to come to the rescue when Sony is just sitting on a potential pile of money. This might be the game that has sold the Switch 2 to me more then any other and I look forward to seeing more about it in the coming months.

 

Elden Ring Is Getting Its Own Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 in 2025

The Duskbloods is not the only announcement that FromSoft made during this Direct; they also announced that Elden Ring would be getting a new edition called the Tarnished edition on Switch 2 in 2025 as well. This edition of the game will include the base game of Elden Ring as well as the “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC. The game will also include new weapons, armor, and Torrent appearance customization, and more. If you somehow have not played Elden Ring in the last three years then this would be the best package to jump into the lands between.

 

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a Musou-Style Game That Will Serve as a Prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo and Koei-Tecmo announced the next installment in the Hyrule Warriors series called Age of Imprisonment. While the previous installment served as a prequel to Breath of the Wild, Age of Imprisonment will be a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. This new entry will take us back to Hyrule’s past to learn about the Imprisoning War and let us play as Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and more.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will be released this winter.

 

 

A Growing Library

The Switch 2 is not lacking for third-party support, as a ton of older third party games got announced for the Switch 2 as well. This list will be growing as time goes on and Nintendo announced a whole bunch of games from their global developer partners. The list includes the following:

• EA Sports Madden NFL
• EA Sports FC
• NBA 2K
• WWE 2K
• Split Fiction
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
• Street Fighter 6
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Bravely Default Flyinrg Fairy HD Remaste
• Borderlands 4
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
• Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
• Fortnite
• Enter the Gungeon 2
• Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition
• Project 007
• Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
• Survival Kids
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Silksong
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

There you have it, everything announced during the first Switch 2 Direct. Personally, I’m looking forward to The Duskbloods the most, but the Switch 2 is looking to be a even bigger success than the first. I cannot wait for June 5th.