Check out everything Nintendo announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
If you woke up early this morning, you caught the Nintendo Direct pertaining to all things Nintendo Switch 2. If you slept in, we have you covered with everything mentioned. Nintendo started things off with a bang by showing off the newest Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World. New tracks, game modes, and more bring Mario Kart into a new realm. Speed boats, snow mobiles, and planes are new vehicles for this race! It also looks like you'll be able to change your driver's appearance during the race and the costumes are really cool. The time of day and weather will change as well because there are several different locations to race in. A new feature in the game is being able to drive anywhere you want. The trailer showed races grinding on guard rails, jumping on walls, and power sliding on power lines. It will also be interesting to see how the 24 driver races play into things. The mode I'm looking forward to is the Knockout Tour mode,similar to a battle royale with karts. I loved the Koopathlon in Super Mario Party Jamboree and this looks great, as long as Nintendo can keep the hackers from cheating in it. You'll also have the change to just go for a drive with online friends throughout the massive world. Mario Kart World has some big shoes to fill but it looks like it's going to be just as fun as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Next up was the new "C" button on the Joycons and Pro Controller. Nintendo is always looking for new ways to help players talk to people and communicate. This is the Gamechat mode on Nintendo Switch 2. It allows you to chat with friends while you're playing games. You can also share screens so your friends can help in your game or meet up in game. You'll use the Switch 2 mic that's built into the console. The mic has noise cancelling tech so in theory it should pick up your voice clearly. There's also a Nintendo camera coming out with the system that you can connect to the Switch 2 so your friends can see your face in chat. They'll be able to see your smile when you win or your expression when you lose. Games like Super Mario Party Jamboree will receive an update to allow this mode into the game. The Joycons can be used as a mouse for games that use a crosshair to aim or use aiming in general. Mario Party will also add games with mouse controls in the future too. The Nintendo Switch 2 will have all kinds of new features. Much better storage, a better kickstand, and faster operating speeds are big wins for the system.
A new game to teach you the basics of Nintendo Switch 2 is in the works called Nintend Switch 2: Welcome Tour. It will be a game like Wii Sports that taught you the basics of the Wii. That being said, Wii Sports was packed in with the Wii whereas Welcome Tour is a paid digital game. It's an interesting idea to teach you the ins and outs of Switch 2 but I think it should have been packed in with the system. Nintendo also revealed how the games will work on your system. The game cards are the same as the Switch but will be red and have faster data reading speeds. Games on the system will be Nintendo Switch 2 games, compatible Nintendo Switch games, and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will be games that were released on Switch with updates like graphics. Super Mario Party Jamboree will be getting a Switch 2 Edition with a new mode called Jamboree TV. This will add the Switch 2 features mentioned earlier. If you already have the game on Switch, you can buy an Upgrade Pack to update it to the Switch 2 version. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will also get a Switch 2 Edition and can be updated the same way Mario Party can. You can also get your hands on Zelda Notes, a feature for the Nintendo Switch phone app, where you can see the map of Hyrule and be guided to hidden Koroks and shrines. This will only work with the Switch 2 Editions of these games. KIrby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends Z-A will also get Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games so keep an eye out.
Nintendo is also always about coming up with new gameplay experiences. It's time to talk about DragXDrive. This game I think could do a better job to teach people how the mouse feature works in the Joycons. The game is three on three wheelchair basketball with robots and ramps behind the baskets. You'll learn how to new Jouycons work or you'll get left in the dust when the game comes out this summer.
It also looks like the Nintendo Switch 2 will have plenty of third party support when it launches this June. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, Split Fiction, Madden, Hogwarts Legacy, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4, Hitman, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster and Yakuza Zero are just some of the games planned to release on the Nintendo Switch 2. It was also revealed that Nintendo and Koei Tecmo are working on a new Hyrule Warriors game. This game will set the stage for the events of Tears of the Kingdom, the Age of Imprisonment. The library of Nintendo Switch online games will be usable on the Switch 2 as well. If you have the Switch Online Expasion pack, you'll be able to get Game Cube games on Switch 2. Similar to how they handled the Nintendo 64 mode. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur 2, and F-Zero GX to start with more Game Cube games to come.One of the best features is that you can finally change your control setup and set buttons the way you want them!There will also be a Game Cube controller sold by Nintendo but you'll have to be a Nintendo Switch Online member and knowing how hard the N64 and SNES controllers were to get, jump on this when you get the chance.
Deltarune Chapters 1-4, Borderlands 4, Sid Meier's Civilization 7, WWE 2K, Survival Kids, Enter the Gungeon 2, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Ediition, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Integrade,Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Story of Seaons: Grand Bazaar, Goodnight Universe, Two-Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, Witchbrook, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws, Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition, Fast Fusion, Shadow Labyrinth, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, No Sleep for Kaname Date- From AI: The Somnium Files, Reanimal, Fortnite, Arcade Archieves 2 Ridge Racer, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam,Tamagotchi Plaza and Human Fall Flat 2. THIS might just seem like a huge run-on sentence and it is, but these are more games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in its first year. It's appears to have a pretty impressive lineup.
The Duskbloods is a brand new game from FromSoftware, that will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title. You'll be able to play with friends because it's a multiplayer game. I recently beat Dark Souls for the first time on Switch and more FromSoftware games on Nintendo consoles is ok with me. Speaking of "out of right field" news, a brand new Kirby Air Ride game is in the works. Kirby Air Riders will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and is being directed by Kirby daddy, Masahiro Saurai. The last bit of game information pertains to everyone's favorite ape, Donkey Kong. A brand new, open world Donkey Kong game is coming to Switch 2, complete with DK's new design. It's a little more cartoon-like but for this game, called Donkey Kong Bananza, works. DK has more expression to his face and the locations are crazy and colorful so the toonish look feels right.
JUNE 5th release date and two boxed versions. The system with Mario Kart World and the one that doesn't come with Kart. It wasn't revealed during the Direct but the price will be 450 for the system and 500 for the Mario Kart World bundle. It's a fun time to be a Nintendo fan!