When can I buy the Nintendo Switch 2?

After months of leaks and speculation, Nintendo finally released its initial teaser for the Nintendo Switch 2 on Jan. 16.

The upgraded console is expected to drop in 2025, but the classic video game company hasn’t announced the exact release date.

Based on how the first Nintendo Switch launch went down, customers may be able to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 as soon as June 2025.

Nintendo announced 15 experience events for fans to test out the new hardware in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia starting April 4-6 in New York and ending in Taipei in June. The company most likely will not release the Switch 2 until these events end.

Ahead of the Nintendo Switch 1 launch, the company teased the then-new console on Dec. 13, 2016, and revealed on Jan. 13, 2017, during a presentation that the release would be on March 3, 2017, for $299, two months later. If Nintendo follows the same schedule for the Nintendo Switch 2, you may be able to buy the new console in June 2025 at the earliest at all major retailers including, Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

However, Nintendo fans eager to get their hands on the latest model will have to wait until the next Nintendo Direct showcase on April 2 to hear when it will be available to purchase.

The main features that fans can look forward to are its larger size with a wider LCD screen, a kickstand that is almost the full width of the console, and backward compatibility. Plus, it comes with larger Joy-Con controllers, which is a major upgrade from the smaller Nintendo Switch 1 controllers that have been a downside to the popular gaming console.

Fans will be able to play Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games, as well as physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. However, some older Nintendo Switch games may not be compatible.

One of the Nintendo Switch 2 video games that may be on the way is “Mario Kart 9,” as Nintendo featured new gameplay in the latest trailer.

The company has also not yet announced a retail price for the next-gen console. However, as more leaks reveal that the Switch 2 may be more powerful than its predecessors while it’s docked and comparable to that of the Xbox Series S/X or the PS5, the price may increase well over the Nintendo Switch 1’s $299, according to Gaming Bible.

With the new Switch on the way and a potentially higher price point, you can also expect that the Switch 1 will be discounted ahead of the new release. This is great for customers to keep an eye out for if they’ve been hoping to buy a Switch, but don’t necessarily need the latest model.

Where can you buy the Nintendo Switch 2?

If you’re planning to get your own Nintendo Switch 2 once it’s available to purchase, there are several retailers to keep tabs on for potential product listings. These include all of the stores where you can currently buy the Nintendo Switch 1, OLED, and Lite.

If you want to buy an existing Nintendo console, here’s where you can find them before the Nintendo Switch 2 launch:

If you want to test out the Nintendo Switch 2, you can register for a drawing to win tickets to one of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events here.