Introducing . . . The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct – Let The Games Begin!
Written by Matthew Whitaker
On April 2nd Nintendo livestreamed a Nintendo Direct Presentation that focused on the company’s forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2 video game system.
They revealed Switch 2’s June 5th launch date and several other new games. Many blockbuster first-party games for the system will soon be available, as well as a massive bunch of third-party developers also revealed their own slate of games.
Additionally, the system was revealed to be far more powerful than most fans expected, featuring tech performance of up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (120 for lower resolutions) depending on the game in question.
Here are the top 3 most exciting announcements made during the presentation!
1. Mario Kart World
Image via Nintendo
Considering the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 came out way back in 2014, it’s no secret that Mario Kart fans have been clamoring for a new entry in the series for quite some time. While the Nintendo Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, did receive additional downloadable race tracks in the form of the Booster Course Pass, fans have still been dreaming of the series’ future.
Well, their dreams just came true with the reveal of Mario Kart World, where players can freely explore a world of interconnected race tracks with up to 24 racers at once. Unlike previous entries where each race track was a separate area that you’d enter through a menu system, now players can drive from one race track to the next with no loading or intermissions.
This has resulted in the new mode “Knockout Tour”, where players race across multiple tracks with no stops. If players rank too low at a certain checkpoint, they’re knocked out of the competition. This feels reminiscent of a Mad Max road chase, which will definitely be a ton of fun whether played with friends on the couch or online with players across the world!
2. Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics
Many people in their late 20s and early 30s grew up with the Nintendo GameCube System, so their nostalgia for the system is hitting critical mass just now. Sadly, due to the low sales of the Nintendo GameCube, games for the system are tough to find, resulting in high prices for those looking to revisit their childhood.
Here’s the good news: Nintendo is making the Nintendo GameCube’s games available on Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Online Membership Program. (Be sure to sign up on Switch 2’s launch day.)
Membership grants players access to a growing library of Nintendo GameCube games and several other Nintendo systems. Games that will be available at launch are The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soul Calibur II. More games, including Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pokémon Coliseum, will be made available in the future.
In comparison to the original Nintendo Switch 2 system, Nintendo GameCube games will run at a higher resolution and feature online multiplayer as well. GameCube nostalgia comes roaring back to life on June 5th.
3. Microphone, Camera, and GameChat
Nintendo’s online services have never been robust, and voice chat with friends was something mostly missing from the original Switch system. Very few players used the mobile app for voice chat in supported games, so Nintendo stopped promoting it late in the Switch system’s life.
This changes with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has introduced voice chat for playing games online with friends and family and includes a built-in microphone. With GameChat, as Nintendo calls it, you can chat while playing games — and even if you’re not playing the same game! — share your screen, and even show yourself on screen with the camera accessory.
The fun doesn’t stop at GameChat: The microphone and camera can be used in gameplay as well. Super Mario Party Jamboree updates will add fresh modes and minigames that take advantage of the hardware. Some even put players into the game via the camera!
Want to voice chat with faraway friends while playing your favorite games? Spice up a party in the living room? The Nintendo Switch 2 system’s microphone and camera are the answer you’ve been looking for.
Players are gearing up for a summer of the latest Nintendo fun. Mario Kart World will appeal to players’ imaginations and competitive spirit with its brilliant Knockout Tour mode. Nostalgic fans of GameCube can revisit their favorite childhood games via the new system’s Nintendo Switch Online membership program. Players looking to expand how they communicate with fellow players as well as the way they play Nintendo system games will be delighted with the addition of a microphone and a separate camera.
As the Nintendo Switch 2 launch nears, Nintendo fans and video game players of all stripes couldn’t be more excited.
