Nintendo Switch 2: Features, Rumors, and What to Expect Next

Pokémon and Predicting Nintendo’s Console Calendar

One of the best ways to benchmark Nintendo’s calendar in releasing next-gen consoles is the Pokémon franchise, which has arguably been the face of the company’s games over the years. Sure, there’s Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, and Metroid, but Pokémon has been the franchise that gets to release multiple generations of games before Nintendo moves on to come up with another updated console to release to the public.

Over the years, Pokémon games have become so prominent that it has become the flagship of Nintendo console releases – such is the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A coinciding with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, with both coming later in the year.

It does seem that there are at least three Pokémon games released before Nintendo switches to another titular console. For instance, let’s take a look at how Pokémon games have coincided with the release of Nintendo’s consoles one generation after another. Here’s what to look out for

Pokémon and Nintendo Consoles – A Historic Calendar

The Pokémon series has consistently aligned its major generational releases with the launch or early lifecycle of new Nintendo consoles. Each new system has marked the beginning of a fresh Pokémon generation or a major gameplay innovation, reinforcing Pokémon’s role as both a system-seller and a technological showcase for Nintendo's handheld evolution.

This pattern highlights how Pokémon not only adapts to but also helps define each console era in Nintendo’s history. From Game Boy to Switch, each system launch brings a fresh generation or bold leap in Pokémon. New hardware, new adventures — it’s the cycle that keeps fans coming back.

What Do We Know About the Switch 2?

For starters, the Switch 2 is expected to be priced around $449.99, which shows a hefty $150 increase in price compared to the original Switch. One can say that upgrading to the Switch 2 can be quite expensive, especially if you already moved up to the OLED Switch thinking that it is the next update in Nintendo’s consoles.

In its recent showcase last April 2, Nintendo has shown a lot of impressive additions to what the Switch has to offer. For starters, it has exclusive games coming up, and then there’s a Zoom-like video communication tool called the GameChat. It is powered by a video camera and a built-in microphone in the device.

The new C button also adds a promising experience for players as it functions the same as a computer mouse, especially in certain games such as Drag x Drive, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and even Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 – all three different games of varying genres. That says a lot about how great the C button addition is so far.

Breaking Down the Tech Specs

As expected, the Switch 2 is slated to be a next-generation console, and thus it is equipped with bigger peripherals and internal systems. For starters, it is geared with a custom chip from Nvidia (likely with DLSS support), which means major performance gains over the original Switch. Players can expect smoother gameplay, faster loading times, and more demanding games running better than ever.

It also gets a promising display upgrade, going for 7.9" on 1080p at 120Hz. A nearly 8-inch screen is a big jump, making handheld gaming more immersive, and who’s to pass up a 120hz refresh rate that provides buttery-smooth visuals and responsiveness, especially for fast-paced games.

Nintendo Switch 2: Tech Specs

For the first time, 4K gaming is finally arriving on a Nintendo console—huge leap for TV play. 1440p at high frame rates will be great for performance-focused titles, potentially with DLSS upscaling. On top of that, there’s at least 4x more storage than the base Switch, which means more space for digital downloads and larger next-gen games. All of these impressive specs make it a practical upgrade for gamers going all-digital.

The Switch 2 and the Future

It took a lot of years before Nintendo finally moved on from its landmark console that define the future of handheld gaming. The Switch was a generational platform in its own right, and it exceeded expectations when it was least expected to do so after the poor stretch of reviews for handheld consoles before its launch.

Since then, many people have loved the Switch, and it did wonders to elevate the reputation of Nintendo as one of the premier console providers in the world – and not even Sony or any other prominent brand could challenge them at the helm. When the OLED Switch launched, it was well-received yet again.

There are a lot of talks as to how Nintendo actually proved itself to be a generational leader in consoles. We have seen how it has come up with success one year after another, and his kind of impressive design and portability for players have led the Switch to become the second most successful gaming system ever (after the Nintendo DS).

Considering how the Nintendo Switch 2 has been quite prominent over social media since teasers of its features were released in the past few weeks, one can say that this is indeed quite a favorite for many avid gamers now more than ever. It is expected to land the flagship games of Nintendo for more than five years, and it is yet to be determined if it will be there for good – at least for a much longer period of time.