Nintendo Officially Confirms Switch 2 for 2025 Release, Promises Backward Compatibility

In a long-anticipated move, Nintendo has officially confirmed that the next-generation successor to the wildly successful Nintendo Switch will launch in 2025. This announcement finally puts an end to months of speculation in the gaming world and delivers on years of buildup following the original Switch’s 2017 debut.

During a surprise reveal early this morning via a Nintendo Direct video message, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa shared key details about what fans can expect from the next console, dubbed unofficially by fans as the “Switch 2.” Most notably, Furukawa emphasized that the system will maintain the hybrid nature—the ability to play both docked and handheld—that made the original Switch a hit, while bringing “significantly improved hardware capabilities.”

Perhaps the biggest news for longtime Nintendo players is the official confirmation that the new console will include full backward compatibility with existing Switch titles. “Your game library stays with you,” Furukawa said. “We want players to carry forward their adventures.” This is a significant step for Nintendo, a company historically known for leaving backward compatibility behind when launching new consoles like the Wii U and the original Switch.

While the company remained tight-lipped on specs, sources close to development have hinted at increased graphical performance, faster load times, and support for DLSS upscaling technology powered by NVIDIA—suggesting Nintendo may finally be closing the performance gap with Sony’s and Microsoft’s current-gen hardware.

No specific release date or pricing information was disclosed, but Furukawa confirmed a “full system and software reveal” is scheduled for early fall. Industry analysts suggest a spring or summer 2025 launch window. Whether the Switch 2 can recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of its predecessor remains to be seen—but if today’s news is any indication, Nintendo isn’t content to rest on its laurels.

Expect major announcements in the months ahead as developers begin to unveil new titles for the upcoming hardware. For now, fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief: the Switch 2 is real, it’s coming in 2025, and your current game collection isn’t going anywhere.