Details regarding the Nintendo Switch 2 have finally been officially released via last week’s Nintendo Direct livestream. The hour-long broadcast had over 100,000 viewers tuned in as the developers revealed everything from hardware updates to future releases for the new console. The Switch 2 is set to release two months from now on June 5, and I’m ecstatic. 

First and foremost, this is Nintendo’s first new console (not counting the Switch OLED and Lite editions) in over eight years, making the Switch the longest lasting console in Nintendo history. So expectations were high.

The Switch was innovative and new: a handheld console that also came with docking capabilities, which made it the first commercially successful release to combine both features. 

In addition, iconic titles such as Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and more all debuted within the console’s eight-year lifespan, practically making the Switch a must-have for everyone from hardcore gamers to families looking to upgrade their weekly game nights.

All of this to say, the Nintendo Direct Livestream had a lot to live up to last week, and it delivered.

 I went into the replay expecting to skim through a bunch of gimmicky features and cash-grab subscriptions and add-ons, but was pleasantly surprised to see that they managed to upgrade what I thought was already the perfect console.

Some upgrades and features were expected (but still welcomed), such as the storage increase to 256 GB, backwards game compatibility and the introduction of cloud gaming. Other features like the JoyCons’ mouse functionalities, larger controller buttons and the addition of visual upgrade packs for select titles were unexpected.

Furthermore, the announcement of “Mario Kart World” was extremely intriguing (though also expected). “World” will be the first open-world game in the franchise, which was a smart move considering the consistent success of some of Nintendo’s most recent open world titles: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey.

However, the most important part of the Direct was the heavy focus on the Switch 2’s improved co-op capabilities, including the new in-console game chat and built-in long range microphone. This may seem small, considering that the Nintendo Switch Online app already has voice chat capabilities, but it had me falling out of my seat. 

Before, users had to use another app on their phones in addition to the game they were playing on the Switch (and also needed the company’s co-op subscription, Nintendo Online) to access voice chat for select games such as the “Splatoon” franchise. Or, for games not by Nintendo, they could choose to play in the cramped handheld mode to access the headphone jack on the top of the console to plug in their headset. 

Both of these options were inconvenient and severely hindered Nintendo’s credibility in the ESports realm because of the sheer difficulty of co-op. By now, consoles like the PlayStation 5 have already integrated this feature through the inclusion of headphone jacks in the controllers, allowing players to play from a distance, and by enabling voice chat apps such as Discord to allow players to chat across games. 

Nintendo is just now catching up, much to fans’ satisfaction. The increased ease of co-op is exciting, because it means competitive play on the Switch will be less restricted, and it makes it so I don’t have to call my friend at the same time if we want to play together in a game that doesn’t support voice chat like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

Though it’s concerning that young children will now have more free reign access to voice chat, and with the added camera compatibility there are a lot of safety risks associated with Nintendo Online for the Switch 2, I’m confident Nintendo will add sufficient safeguards as a large portion of their fan base consists of kids who play with their families. 

Overall, the livestream was informational and exciting. They seemingly managed to top their most commercially successful console after eight years, so the announcement was worth the wait. However, I can’t review the livestream without discussing the price point of the new console, accessories, and games. 

The one downside of the Switch 2 is the price. Before any possible terrifs, the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99, excluding any games, accessories, online subscriptions or Pro Controllers. 

The price of the console itself isn’t even the worst part—it’s the projected prices of the games. Nintendo announced that digital Switch 2 titles will cost up to $80, and physical copies will cost up to $90. For comparison, the typical price of a triple-A title is currently $70. 

This seems unreasonable. Yes, the visual quality will improve, and yes, these are triple-A titles. However, there’s no plausible reason for the game to cost up to $20 more than the industry standard when other ninth generation consoles like the PS5 and XBox X/S provide the same quality. 

When added to the cost of the console, accessories (such as the new camera), Pro Controllers (which will now be more expensive because they include headphone jacks), Nintendo Online (which is needed to fully experience Nintendo’s co-op capabilities) and for some reason the paywalled console tour, the price quickly skyrockets. What was once a $450 splurge quickly divulges into a $700 investment. 

I wasn’t expecting it to be cheap, considering the amount of quality Nintendo provides, but I wasn’t expecting this either. Nintendo has an extremely loyal fanbase, many members of which were introduced to the franchise by their parents who have stood by the company since day one. So it’s disheartening to see the company seemingly take advantage of their fans with these prices. 

In two months’ time, gamers will finally get their hands on the console, and only then will fans be able to gauge if it was worth the investment. But from the teaser alone, I can tell that the Switch 2 is going to leave its mark on the gaming community just like its predecessor. Hopefully, this time it will arrive alongside a push into the competitive scene.