Nintendo Announced Switch 2, And My Children Spent The Morning Losing It

The rumors are no longer rumors. The Switch 2 is coming in 2025, and we already have some early reactions from my children and the children of Crossplay readers.

Happy New Year! Did you know a subscription to Crossplay is currently 25% off?This offer will only last until January 17. Please consider supporting this newsletter!

---

When I went to bed last night, I joked about never-ending Switch 2 rumors. When my alarm went off today, the first thing I saw on my phone was Nintendo’s announcement.

Here is the trailer from Nintendo, hot off YouTube:

Yes, Switch 2 is coming. Here are the basic details, as we know it so far:

• The device will be released sometime in 2025. We don’t know how much it’ll cost.

• It’s bigger. Both the display and the Joy-cons are slightly larger.

• It plays most of your old Switch games. We don’t know which ones won’t work yet.

• There’s a new Mario Kart, and it’ll feature (at least) 24 racers simultaneously.

• The Joy-cons now attach to the handheld via magnets, rather than sliding on/off.

• Nintendo showed the Joy-cons being used facing the ground, similar to how you might use a mouse. Nintendo hasn’t announced what this feature actually does.

• On April 2nd, Nintendo will show a “closer look, ”and likely some games.

• Nintendo will be doing hands-on events, starting in early April. (Sadly, it does not appear that an event has been announced for Chicago. My children are upset.)

Not much, but it’s better than rumors! And who isn’t excited for an upgraded Switch?

I asked Crossplay readers to share the reactions in their home, if their kids caught it before the school bus approached. You think a Switch 2 trailer would get by them??

My children are also excited.

When the original Switch was announced, my oldest was only a few months old. I have very fond memories of playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the couch while she snapped next to me. Eight years later…well, she’s eight years old! I wanted to watch the trailer with her and my four-year-old, so we flipped on the television.

I recorded their joy and confusion for you, dear Crossplay reader. Take a listen.

Some observations about what they picked up while watching the reveal:

• Oldest, as the trailer opens in silence: “What’s happening?

The trailer does not announce itself. It’s quiet. You’re watching the Switch transform. This is different from other children's advertising, which blasts what’s going on. It also led my children to start guessing about what we were watching; I didn’t say anything.

• Youngest: “It’s turning into LEGOs.” 

• Oldest: “It’s NOT turning into LEGOs.”

This is just them bickering. (They mostly like each other.) Ironically, Nintendo did just announce a collaboration with LEGO, but it’s to build a Game Boy, not a new Switch.

• Oldest, growing mildly impatient: “Daddy, what’s happening?”

I chose ignorance, hoping to watch their reactions naturally. It’s a two-minute trailer.

• Oldest: “Pink!”

• Both: “Blue!”

They are both hoping the next Switch will come in several colors. I doubt it, sadly, but I’m sure there will be companies who, once again, make colored skins for Switch 2.

• Oldest, as the Joy-cons skate on the surface: “They’re snakes!”

This was when the Joy-cons started skating across the ground, the safety straps almost acting like mice tails, which seem to indicate some kind of mouse functionality.

But also, you know, snakes.

• Wife, while Nintendo shows off the display and dock: “Wow, it’s big.”

This is my wife realizing there will be another three massive devices in the house.

• Youngest, as Nintendo reveals it’s called Switch 2: “It’s an iPad.”

I mean, you’re not wrong?

• Youngest, as the new Mario Kart is shown: “Mario Kart 2!”

In her world, there’s only been one Mario Kart, and at four years old, much of what she’s doing educationally at school involves starting to learn numbers and letters. 

• Oldest, as the trailer ends: “2025!”

This is her realizing that, finally, a new Switch is coming, and it’s coming this year.

---

I’d love to hear more of the reactions and predictions from you and your family, as the news begins to spread. The lack of games is disappointing, but April isn’t very far off!

What did your kids think of Nintendo’s all-too-brief announcement today?

Have a story idea? Want to share a tip? Got a funny parenting story? Drop Patrick an email.

---

Also:

• Where’s the new 3D Mario, Nintendo? It’s been a little more than seven years since that came out! I adored Bowser’s Fury, and hope the new game follows it.

• I’m already dreading pre-order day, because it’s looking like I’ll be trying to secure multiple devices for launch day. I don’t think Nintendo will send me three.

• Holding out hope for performance patches for older Switch games, because it would give me a wonderful reason to finally go back to Tears of the Kingdom.