It has been eight years for the reason that Nintendo Change launched in 2017, and after a protracted and profitable reign, it is about time we realized extra about its successor. We have seen updates to the present Change with OLED and Lite fashions, but it surely appears to be like like we’re lastly near a correct Change 2.
After changing into the second best-selling console in historical past final 12 months, it is honest to say that Nintendo needs to maintain issues near its chest. Nevertheless, even with all of the secrecy surrounding the opportunity of a brand new Nintendo Change, leaks have been pouring in for the previous few months and we have gathered all the small print we may discover in regards to the thriller sequel forward of its remaining official announcement and launch. .
What’s going to Nintendo Change 2 seem like?
The look and design of the Change 2 – as we’ll name it for now till an official announcement – has been the topic of a number of the heaviest leaks in current weeks because of third-party accent makers releasing prototypes of their very own Change equipment 2. Probably the most high-profile of those comes from accent maker Genki, which confirmed off a recreation of the Change 2 at this 12 months’s CES that it claims relies on the specs of an precise Change 2 that Genki says it is seen and used — one thing which has since been withdrawn.
IGN caught up with Genkin at CES and obtained a take a look at some particulars in regards to the Change 2 mannequin that we have seen in current leaks, together with the Pleasure-Cons that magnetically connect to the pill versus sliding on rails like the present Change. Genki CEO Eddie Tsai, who once more claims to have based mostly the corporate’s designs on an precise Change 2, additionally instructed The Verge that there is an optical sensor that might doubtlessly flip the Pleasure-Cons into one thing like a pc mouse .
One other new addition to the Change 2 is a mysterious new “C” button on the correct Pleasure-Con. There are some rumors that it could be associated to some type of digital camera operate, however neither Genki nor any leaks have any actual affirmation of what this new button does. Lastly, there’s additionally a brand new USB port on the highest of the Change 2 that ought to enable players to cost the system in handheld mode if they like to have the cable above the display screen quite than under it.
The Pleasure-Cons look like the realm of largest change within the Change 2. Alongside the magnetic connections, in Might 2023 a the patent has been filed with america Patent Workplace and was revealed in September, which particulars a magnetic area for the controls as an alternative of the plastic circuit boards seen on the current-gen console that might alleviate “Pleasure-Con drift.”
As for the shape issue itself, based mostly on the Genki mannequin, the Change 2 can be largely unchanged though will probably be bigger. We introduced out a tape measure and located that Genki’s Change 2 mannequin is 10.5” broad, 4.5” tall, 0.5” thick and has an 8” display screen. By comparability, the Change OLED is 9.5″ broad, 4.5″ tall, additionally .5″ thick, and has a 7″ display screen. The Change 2 may have a U-shaped stand in comparison with those at the moment on the Change and Change OLED.
Change 2 Specs and Efficiency
Much less is understood in regards to the internals of the Change 2, and subsequently efficiency continues to be a thriller. Digital Foundry was in a position to verify that the Change 2 is working a customized model of the Nvidia T234 cellular processor referred to as the T239. Based mostly on an ARM A78C octa-core CPU set and a customized graphics unit based mostly on Nvidia’s RTX 30 sequence Ampere structure, Digital Foundry’s findings lead me to suppose that the Change 2 can be extra highly effective than a PS4, however no corresponding to present era consoles comparable to PS5.
One other wrinkle is that sources have instructed Digital Foundry that the customized Nvidia chip could not have a Deep Studying Accelerator (DLA) which might restrict DLSS upscaling to 1440p quite than 4K.
Lastly, in one other leak, alleged retail listings point out that the Change 2 helps newer SD card fashions with quicker switch speeds and efficiency corresponding to SSDs.
Change 2 Begin the video games
Whereas the Change 2’s appears to be like and specs are all properly and good, what about gaming? Nicely, we all know even much less about launch video games for the Change 2 than nearly the rest in regards to the console. So let’s check out a number of the video games that launched with the primary Change, we could?
Wanting again, the Change’s first launch titles have been fairly unremarkable. Other than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was really an incredible sport, the remainder of the Change’s launch choices included video games like 1-2-Change, Simply Dance 2017, Snipperclips, and Shovel Knight amongst others.
The launch window was a bit higher with video games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS and Splatoon 2, plus Tremendous Mario Odyssey in direction of the top of the 12 months.
Will the Change 2 launch video games be higher? It is nearly unattainable to say. Nintendo nonetheless has a number of Change video games launching in 2025, together with Metroid Prime 4: Past, however it would nearly actually be a cross-gen sport in the identical manner that Breath of the Wild was for Wii U and Change. However who’s to say if Metroid Prime 4 can be a launch sport, or a window launch sport?
Will the Change 2 be suitable?
This is one factor we do know: The Change 2 will apparently be backwards suitable.
As an alternative of a leak, this comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa himself in an announcement launched on Nintendo’s official X account. On the Company Administration Coverage Convention in November 2024, Furukawa introduced that “Nintendo Change software program will even be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Change.”
Furukawa additionally says that “Nintendo Change On-line will even be obtainable on the successor to the Nintendo Change.”
That is Furukawa. At as we speak’s Company Administration Coverage convention, we introduced that Nintendo Change software program will even be playable on the successor to the Nintendo Change. Nintendo Change On-line will even be obtainable on the successor Nintendo Change. Additional details about…
— 任天堂株式会社（企报広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024
Whereas this assertion is not totally revealed, it does at the very least verify that present Nintendo Change video games can be playable on the Change 2, and the model of Nintendo Change On-line we all know as we speak will even be on the Change 2. The finer particulars, No it is clear whether or not or not it is as straightforward as enjoying our video games straight from our present Nintendo Change cartridge, or some digital switch.
Nintendo Change 2 Launch Date
Whereas Nintendo has but to announce any official sequel to their wildly profitable Nintendo Change console, a 2025 launch appears nearly sure. We simply do not know when.
In February 2024, Japanese version Nikkei steered that The proposed Nintendo Change 2 will launch in March 2025 as quickly as potential, opposite to earlier experiences. Whereas the article lined info we have heard earlier than, just like the proposed iterative design scheme, Nikkei added that the 2025 date is probably going because of the firm stockpiling consoles to keep away from early scalping. As any long-term Nintendo fan is aware of, shopping for one of many firm’s new consoles may be tough enterprise. Those that tried will keep in mind how troublesome it was to safe a Nintendo Change at launch in 2017, with the console affected by inflated market costs because of dodgy resellers.
President of Nintendo, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed in an interview with Nikkeiand translated by VGCthat Nintendo will assist the current-gen Change at the very least till March 2025. This opinion can be supported by Furukawa’s earlier feedback relating to the way forward for the Nintendo Change in a single monetary info Q&A in 2022. On this interview, he dedicated to concentrate on “constructing long-term relationships with our clients (by way of Nintendo Accounts),” he continued to reiterate, “as we proceed to launch new Nintendo Change software program for customers to get pleasure from, we goal to keep up the connection between {hardware} generations by way of companies that use Nintendo Accounts and by providing them alternatives to expertise our IP by way of different non-gaming channels.”
Even with all of the juicy rumours, it is best to not maintain your breath on what’s to come back from the Japanese tech titan’s upcoming console till there’s an official announcement; fingers crossed we get that affirmation quickly.
Nintendo Change 2 Value
There are many Nintendo Change fashions to contemplate when purchasing proper now, with costs various dramatically relying on which model you are seeking to spend money on. Wanting ahead to a possible Change 2, inflation and inner specs, amongst different variables, will probably play a component in what we’ll pay for a brand new console at launch.
It is onerous to know what the worth of this thriller gadget can be, however we have listed the RRP of the present Nintendo Change mannequin vary for reference:
- Nintendo Change Lite: $199.99
- Nintendo Change: $299.99
- Nintendo Change OLED: $349.99
Nintendo Change 2 Fashions
With the vary of Nintendo Change consoles at the moment available on the market, it’s possible you’ll be left questioning for those who’ll have the identical variety of decisions to select from when the following iteration rolls round.
The most recent OLED mannequin of the Nintendo Change options an unbelievable display screen and appears like the way forward for the console, being the most recent version of Nintendo’s line. Nevertheless, in accordance with a VGC reportThe subsequent-gen Nintendo Change could could have an LCD display screen as an alternative.
The present lineup of Nintendo Change fashions are quite a few and have been launched over the console’s multi-year lifespan, so it is cheap to consider that there may very well be a number of variations of a possible Nintendo Change sequel.
This piece was initially revealed on April 4, 2024. It was up to date on January 9, 2025.
