If you’re reading this, you probably already know the news: Nintendo confirmed the existence of the Switch 2—the most normally named console of theirs in my lifetime—and gave everyone just a little taste of what to expect. The new trailer briefly showcased the console’s bigger screen, new Joy-Cons, backwards compatibility, and even a glimpse at what appears to be a brand-new Mario Kart, the first in over a decade. Nintendo barely showed us anything, but at this point, we were all yearning for crumbs, let alone a small bite.
While it might go without saying, I’m extremely excited for the Switch 2, and was delighted to see this trailer Thursday morning. Even though I’m drowning in the backlog and have yet to finish (or even play) many of the games I once yearned for in previous hype cycles, I can’t help but salivate at all the possibilities that come with a new Nintendo console. Will this Mario Kart have 24 racers at a time? Will Nintendo also announce a new 3D Mario game at its Switch 2 Direct in April? Can I still play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A on my current Switch? What does that apparent mouse feature mean for future projects? Can this new Switch play Elden Ring? Do I even want to play Elden Ring on a handheld?
On the other hand… I do feel a little bit silly getting this excited for yet another piece of gaming technology—as well as the inevitable slate of trailers I expect to see in April—as I rapidly approach my mid-30s. As this site’s self-proclaimed Old Games Guy, I’m constantly encouraging others to give games from yesteryear a chance, and yet all I can think about these days is something I won’t be able to get my hands on for months. I’m already engaging in conversations all over the place about what new titles the Big N will showcase before launch, even though what I’m really doing is getting excited about what commercials I’ll see. Even if the Switch 2 can play higher-powered games like Red Dead Redemption 2, why should I get excited about the opportunity to play third-party games from the last decade again, when I can already play them right now on hardware I already own?
The video game hype cycle has always been at least somewhat embarrassing, as the way so many of us—myself included—continue to center the future in gaming discourse comes at the expense of the present and past. Instead of actually talking about games we’ve played, we often find ourselves constantly chasing cars in the hopes that we find the Next Big Thing. Focusing too much on what we can’t touch pulls us further away from what we can.
Still, if there’s one reason to let yourself get sucked into the hype cycle—or at least a way to rationalize such an obsession with the unknown—it’s that it’s fundamentally good to always have something to look forward to, even if it is just another toy after all. Life is hard enough as it is, and it’s okay to seek solace in the things that bring us joy, even if one of those things is intangible and mysterious. Sure, you might still be willingly engaging in a form of corporate smarm, but at least this kind of smarm is largely fun and harmless. Amid all the darkness that seems to await us in 2025—as well as the crushing atrocities and injustices that have already lapped upon our shores—it’s fine if a part of you just wants to be happy about something happening later this year.
Nintendo Switch 2 April Direct Predictions
To close us out, here are a few rapid-fire predictions for the April Direct:
- That new Mario Kart you saw in the trailer? It won’t be called Mario Kart 9. I don’t have a title in mind, but I’m guessing it’s the first game showcased at the Direct.
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will still launch for the original Switch, but come with visual and performance enhancements on the Switch 2.
- The April Direct will be heavy on third-party announcements, if for no other reason than to confirm some of the rumors that have been floating around.
- The showcase will close with a trailer for a new 3D Mario game that won’t be available at the Switch 2’s launch, but just a matter of months later.
- I’m not going to make any predictions about when exactly the Switch 2 will be available or what pricing options it will have, but I’m guessing the new Mario Kart will be part of a popular bundle option.
- Last one: We will see teases—but not full trailers—for brand-new games in the Donkey Kong, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade, and Kirby franchises.
What Are Your Switch 2 Thoughts and Predictions?
Let me know in the comments below!
