Switch 2 Nintendo Direct April 2 liveblog: See the latest.

The Switch 2 era is officially underway, and if today’s Direct was any indication, Nintendo’s not holding back. From long-awaited sequels and a serious hardware leap to match, there’s a lot to be excited about. Whether you’re hyped for Mario Kart World, intrigued by The Duskbloods, or just wondering how much this thing will cost, there’s a ton to catch up on.

Want the full rundown? Check out our complete breakdown of everything announced for the Switch 2—features, hardware specs, games, release date, and pricing — right here.

The lineup of games revealed for the Nintendo Switch 2 was a whirlwind — blink and you probably missed half of it. Thankfully, Senior Culture Reporter Christianna Silva rounded up everything announced or teased during the showcase.

Some of the standout titles included Mario Kart World, Elden Ring, The Duskbloods, Kirby Air Riders, Donkey Kong Bonanza, and the upgraded Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

You can check out the full list of titles in their article, linked here.

If you’re hoping to snag a Nintendo Switch 2 before it inevitably sells out, you can now register for priority preorder access ahead of its June 5, 2025 launch.

As Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel notes, sign-ups are live on the My Nintendo Store — but you’ll need a Nintendo Account to get started. Priority will go to players with at least 12 months of paid Nintendo Switch Online and 50+ hours of gameplay as of April 2, 2024.

If you qualify, you’ll receive an email when it’s your turn to preorder — just note that there is a limit of one console per account.

If you head over to Nintendo.com, you’ll find a breakdown of the Switch 2’s accessory prices — and let’s just say, they’re not exactly budget-friendly.

• Pair of Joy Con 2’s: $89

• Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99

• Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99

• Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99

And that’s a wrap on a jam-packed Nintendo Direct. From Mario Kart World to Donkey Kong Bananza, and surprise reveals like an Elden Ring port and The Duskbloods, the Switch 2 is shaping up to be Nintendo’s most ambitious console yet.

It launches on June 5, 2025, but one big question remains unanswered: the price. Nintendo’s Direct didn’t mention the big number, but leakers and some sites are saying $449.99 here in the States. Those are just rumors, though, and nothing is confirmed until Nintendo confirms it.

Until then, we’ll be rewatching those trailers — and yes, still crossing our fingers for Silksong.

Closing out the Direct with a bang, Donkey Kong is finally swinging back into action with a brand-new game. Titled Donkey Kong Bananza, it’s a 3D platforming adventure built for the Switch 2.

Details are still under wraps, but Nintendo promises more info soon. It’s set to launch on July 17, 2025.

Credit: Nintendo

From the mind of Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby Air Ride is finally getting a sequel nearly 20 years later. Titled Kirby Air Riders, the high-speed, pink puffball chaos is back and looking slick on Switch 2.

Credit: Nintendo

FromSoftware is back with a new gothic horror title for Switch 2, and it’s looking deliciously twisted. The Duskbloods is a vampire-fueled adventure dripping with eerie atmosphere — but no, it’s not a Bloodborne sequel (sorry, folks).

It’s launching exclusively on Switch 2 in 2026. More details are set to drop on April 4.

Tucked near the end of the Direct, fans finally caught a glimpse of Team Cherry’s long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong.

It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but a 2025 release quietly appeared in the lower-third graphic. Fingers crossed it actually sticks this time.

Credit: Nintendo

Koei Tecmo is teaming up with Nintendo once again for a new Hyrule Warriors sequel, and this one’s diving straight into Zelda lore. Set during the legendary Imprisonment War, the game acts as a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom, filling in the epic battles that shaped Hyrule’s fate.

Expect the same fast-paced, hero-packed combat — plus some new surprises. It’s launching this Winter on Switch 2.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo is getting a shot at espionage with a brand-new James Bond game from IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman. While Project 007 was first announced back in October 2024, it’s now confirmed to be heading to Switch 2.

Details are still tightly under wraps, but with IO at the helm, expect stealth, style, and plenty of shaken — not stirred — action.

Nintendo Switch 2 is set to expand its gaming library with the addition of several acclaimed titles:

• Hades II

• Street Fighter 6

• Split Fiction

• EA Sports FC 25

• EA Sports Madden 25

• Hogwarts Legacy

• Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4

• Hitman: World of Assassination

• Borderlands 2

• Civilization VII Switch 2 Edition

• WWE 2K

• NBA 2K

• Cyberpunk 2077

• Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

In a surprise move, Elden Ring is making its way to the Switch 2 in 2025. FromSoftware’s massive open-world epic is getting a dedicated port, optimized for Nintendo’s new hardware.

In the same vein as a PS5 remaster game, Nintendo Switch games are getting upgraded versions for Switch 2. Our first example is the Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo’s bringing the party back in a big way with Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. This upgraded edition takes full advantage of the new hardware, taking advantage of the mouse-style Joy-Con controls, audio recognition, and extra-expressive rumble for mini-games that feel more alive than ever.

Nintendo’s not leaving its modern Zelda classics behind—Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are both getting enhanced Switch 2 Editions. Expect HDR, smoother framerates, and a new companion feature called “Zelda Notes.” It’s a smartphone-based voice navigation app that can guide you to in-game locations in real time.

The Switch 2 is stacked with upgrades that bring it firmly into next-gen territory. It rocks a 7.9-inch HD display with support for up to 120 FPS and delivers 4K resolution when docked. There’s 3D audio for immersive sound, a built-in fan to keep things cool, and new magnetically attached Joy-Cons that also feature mouse-style controls.

Plus, it’s fully backwards compatible—so your old favorites come along for the ride.

Credit: Nintendo

The Switch 2 is getting serious about social play. A new Game Chat feature lets you talk to friends while you game — no extra apps, no workarounds. You can even watch what your friends are playing in real-time.

It’s all built around the brand-new “C-Button” on the updated Joy-Cons, which looks like Nintendo’s answer to staying connected without breaking the flow.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo just pulled the curtain back on Mario Kart World, the next evolution of its iconic racing franchise, coming exclusively to the Switch 2.

Mario Kart World is taking things up a gear with a slick new day-and-night system and a semi-open world setup that lets you drive to your next course. Plus, a free roam mode that lets you go off track, anywhere you want to go.

We’re just 30 minutes until today’s Nintendo Direct livestream, and over a hundred thousand people are waiting online to see Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 reveal.

We took a peek at the number of folks sitting on Nintendo’s YouTube page, where the event will be streamed live from 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT, and friends, there’s currently almost 110,000 of us with the page open in anticipation. That’s enough Nintendo fans to fill Wario Stadium, and I’m betting they all know where the shortcut is.

Hey all.
Credit: Screenshot: YouTube / Mashable

Go and make sure your snacks are ready, the coffee’s on, and you’re well hydrated because we’re only half an hour away from Nintendo’s big announcements. In the meantime, if you’re wondering what we’re likely to see at today’s Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, check out Mashable’s guide.

First things first, how can you tune in and catch all the Switch 2 updates today?

The Nintendo Direct livestream kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 2 on Nintendo’s YouTube channel.

Follow our guide to catch every moment of today’s Nintendo Direct livestream

As we’ve mentioned above, the presentation will be 60 minutes, so if you’re planning send yourself into the warp pipe and watch the whole thing live, make sure you’re all powered up, ready to Kirby-inhale all those sweet, sweet announcements.