Switch 2 Preorders Are a Go, But I Still Have 6 Big Questions for Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives in less than two months, and I’m still processing all the news from the gaming system’s huge Nintendo Direct reveal. I’ve played the Switch 2 and its hottest games, and learned exciting details about the console’s many features (and less exciting news about its price). However, many important questions remain. Here are the six biggest Nintendo Switch 2 mysteries I need answered before the console’s June 5 launch.

1. Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Suffer Joy-Con Stick Drift?

Joy-Con drift was one of the original Switch’s most notorious hardware issues. Over time, the analog sticks’ internals wore down, leading to frustratingly inaccurate controls. It became so bad that Nintendo had to fend off lawsuits and offer free repairs. Will the same issue plague the Joy-Con 2 controllers? Nintendo claims the new analog sticks are redesigned from the ground up for a smoother experience. However, these sticks won’t employ the magnetic Hall Effect that makes drift virtually impossible. Hmmm!

2. How Much Will Nintendo Switch 2 Games Cost?

Mario Kart World costs $80. Donkey Kong Bananza is $70. Zelda’s Switch 2 Edition upgrades cost $10, whereas Mario Party’s DLC is $20. Third-party games range from $40 to $60. There’s little price consistency. It appears the days of variable pricing for digital and physical games are back, so Nintendo should make a greater effort to communicate the new pricing information.

3. What Do Nintendo Switch 2 Free Upgrades Look Like?

Nintendo will have free updates for Switch 1 games so they can leverage the Switch 2’s extra power. What do those updates do? That’s nebulous. For example, Clubhouse Games gets expanded online multiplayer features via GameShare, but does that come with visual improvements? Will Pokémon Scarlet and Violet get a dependable, steady frame rate? The upgrades appear to vary in significance from title to title.

4. How Does DLSS Work on the Nintendo Switch 2?

A generational leap over the original Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 looks to be about as powerful as a PlayStation 4. However, Nvidia confirmed that its newest system on a chip includes modern DLSS features. Theoretically, a Switch 2 could save power by running a game at a lower resolution and upscaling the graphics via AI, producing images that look great on a 4K TV or move at 120fps in handheld mode. But how many games will achieve that kind of performance?

5. Is a 3D Mario Game Coming to the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo ended its Switch 2 showcase with a first look at Donkey Kong Bananza, a glorious 3D platformer coming in July. It hasn’t been confirmed, but I’m convinced from the gameplay that it’s from the company’s Tokyo team, the squad behind Super Mario Odyssey. So that raises the question: Is another part of that team working on the next major 3D Mario game? That would be a fantastic holiday release. Or will Kong carry Nintendo’s first-party 3D platformer mantle for some time?

6. Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Get Xbox Games?

Nintendo demoed many exciting third-party Switch 2 games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, and Yakuza 0. You know what was missing? Xbox games. Microsoft recently has pivoted to a multi-platform strategy, releasing Forza Horizon 5 and Pentiment on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, respectively. Furthermore, as part of its Activision acquisition, Microsoft promised lawmakers that Call of Duty would come to Nintendo systems for the next decade. Meaning Xbox games on Switch 2 are a matter of when, not if. So I was surprised not to see an Xbox teaser during the Switch 2 reveal. Perhaps Halo on Switch is an announcement so monumental that Microsoft didn’t want to share the spotlight. Maybe at June’s IGN Live?

Nintendo Switch 2: Hands On With the 4K Console and All the Big Games!

About Jordan Minor

Senior Analyst, Software

In 2013, I started my Ziff Davis career as an intern on PCMag’s Software team. Now, I’m an Analyst on the Apps and Gaming team, and I really just want to use my fancy Northwestern University journalism degree to write about video games. I host The Pop-Off, PCMag’s video game show. I was previously the Senior Editor for Geek.com. I’ve also written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I’m the author of a video game history book, Video Game of the Year, and the reason why everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.

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