The Nintendo Switch 2 released on June 5, 2025, at a launch price of $449.99 in the United States, with Mario Kart World as its headline launch game. The hardware has not changed since, but the price, the bundles and the system software have, and this guide tracks each change against Nintendo’s own announcements.
Below we cover the launch itself, the launch lineup, the September 2026 price revision, the bundles offered since, and what the system updates have added.
The Launch: Date, Price and What Was in the Box
Nintendo confirmed the date and price in its April 2, 2025 announcement: June 5, 2025, at a suggested retail price of $449.99 for the standalone system. A Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle, with the game as a download, launched alongside it at $499.99.
Per that announcement, the box contained the console, two Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Joy-Con 2 Grip and straps, the dock, an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable, an AC adapter and a USB-C cable. The headline hardware facts, all from Nintendo: a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, 256 GB of storage, up to 4K output through the dock, up to 120 fps in supported games, and Joy-Con 2 controllers that attach magnetically and double as a mouse.
GameChat, opened with the new C button, supports voice with up to 12 people and video with up to 4 (a compatible USB-C camera is required). Nintendo made it free until March 31, 2026; since then it requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Nintendo held the $449.99 price through a pre-launch wobble. US retail preorders were delayed, and Nintendo’s April 18, 2025 statement confirmed the console and bundle prices were unchanged while some accessory prices rose “due to changes in market conditions”. We cover how the preorder period actually played out in our guide on how to buy a Switch 2.
The Launch Lineup
Nintendo’s launch-day press release said “over 20 titles” were available on June 5, 2025. The games it named:
- Mario Kart World, the only new first-party game at launch. Our Mario Kart World hub covers everything from drifting to Free Roam.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a paid tour of the hardware’s features.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, sold as paid upgrade packs for existing owners.
- Third-party launches including Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman World of Assassination, Fortnite, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Deltarune, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, No Man’s Sky and Survival Kids.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members also got the GameCube Nintendo Classics app on day one, opening with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur II. More Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades followed through 2025, including Pokemon Legends: Z-A (we break down whether that $10 upgrade is worth it). For what is worth playing now, see our best Switch 2 games of 2026.
The Price Revision
The single biggest change since launch is the price. In a May 7, 2026 notice, Nintendo of America announced that the suggested retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2 system in the US would rise from $449.99 to $499.99 effective September 1, 2026, citing “various changes in market conditions, which are expected to extend over the medium to long term”. The notice applied to the console only: Nintendo said pricing for the original Nintendo Switch was not changing. So a standard Switch 2 now costs $499.99 in the US, the figure the Mario Kart World bundle launched at in 2025.
Bundles Since Launch
Nintendo’s bundle lineup has turned over twice since the original Mario Kart World pack.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle. Announced May 12, 2026 and sold from early June 2026 at $499.99, this packs the system with a download code for one of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokemon Pokopia. Nintendo describes it as available “for a limited time while supplies last” at participating retailers.
- Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle (2026 version). Announced August 25, 2026 at $549.99: system, a full download of Mario Kart World and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership. Nintendo says that is $37.98 less than buying the three separately.
- Nintendo Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Bundle. Same August announcement, $529.99, available October 22, 2026, with the game and a 3-month membership.
- Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition. A Triforce-themed console listed on the Nintendo Store at $519.99 for October 29, 2026, with no game included. We explain that hardware in detail here.
System Updates Since Launch
Nintendo’s system update history shows the console launched on version 20.1.1 (released June 4, 2025). The milestones since:
- 20.2.0 (July 14, 2025): fixed parental control settings not carrying over from a Nintendo Switch during system transfer.
- 21.0.0 (November 10, 2025): symbols above HOME Menu icons showing whether a game is physical or digital, GameChat improvements, and a “Stable” or “Low Latency” audio mode for a wireless Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
- 22.0.0 (March 2026): friend notes, better GameChat invitations and video controls, a Handheld Mode Boost option and clearer storage information.
- 22.5.0 (June 2026): Dutch and Russian added to Text to Speech and GameChat’s speech-to-text.
Nintendo’s support pages also list Switch 2 to Switch 2 system transfer and, more recently, VRR (variable refresh rate) output in TV mode when both the game and the TV support it; we could not tie that VRR change to a version number at the time of writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Nintendo Switch 2 come out? June 5, 2025, worldwide, per Nintendo’s April 2, 2025 announcement.
How much did the Switch 2 cost at launch? $449.99 for the system alone in the US, or $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle. Since September 1, 2026 the standalone system is $499.99.
Is the Switch 2 backward compatible with Switch games? Yes. Nintendo confirmed that Nintendo Switch software runs on Switch 2, with some exceptions for titles that depend on original Switch hardware features.
Is GameChat still free? No. Nintendo’s free period ended March 31, 2026; GameChat now requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
What is the newest Switch 2 bundle? The Nintendo Switch Sports Resort bundle arrives October 22, 2026, and the Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition console follows on October 29, 2026. For multiplayer picks to go with either, see our best Switch 2 co-op games.