Nintendo launches its Switch 2 device and flagship game, Mario Kart World

Tech news · 09 Jun 2025

The Joy-Con 2 controllers are snapped in place, the bigger, bolder screen is lit up, and Mario and friends are revving their rides for the biggest Mario Kart yet. It’s official: Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World and over 20 titles are now available to power up your play.

Today, Nintendo launched its first brand new gaming platform in eight years with Nintendo Switch 2, and the latest Mario Kart game for consoles in over a decade with Mario Kart World. Nintendo Switch 2 brings to life new ways to connect and play with friends and family, with new features and reimagined online capabilities such as GameChat.

Mario Kart World allows players to hit the road in a vast interconnected playground where the world is their racetrack.

Further, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup features acclaimed titles from Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners, such as SPLIT FICTION, Street Fighter™ 6, Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and more.

Together, these new experiences mark a leap forward in Nintendo’s mission to deliver smiles to people the world over – All Together, Anytime, Anywhere.

A new Nintendo Switch 2 launch trailer has also been released today.

More information on Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, titles from Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners, and everything launching today can be found below.

Nintendo Switch 2 builds on the foundations of Nintendo Switch, and delivers a multitude of new features and enhancements, including:

New social capabilities with the built-in mic and the new online feature GameChat where up to 12 friends and family can play games and talk like they’re all in the same room, even when they’re miles apart. You can also video chat with up to four people if you connect a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately).
Powerful CPU and GPU capable of enhanced visuals and performance.
A large 7.9-inch built-in LCD screen that displays in full HD at 1080p.
Joy-Con 2 controllers that magnetically attach to the console. New mouse controls are also possible by sliding them across surfaces, such as a tabletop or even your lap, in compatible games.
256 GB storage capacity – 8 times that of Nintendo Switch (a portion of which is reserved for use by the console).
USB-C ports on the top and bottom of the console, and a freely adjustable stand for playing and charging in tabletop mode.
Crisp audio quality and spatial 3D sound in handheld and tabletop modes.
A new dock that enables Nintendo Switch 2 to output video at up to 4K resolution or play games at up to 120 fps in supported games on compatible displays or TVs.
Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, available in handheld mode, helps games move seamlessly by preventing frame skips and flickering.
Accessibility features to support a wide range of gameplay styles.

Free updates to enhance the gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch 2 will also be available for select Nintendo Switch games.

By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for various features. These features include GameShare, where, with Nintendo Switch 2, you can share supported games with friends and family – even if they don't have the game, and everyone can play together.

The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game. For more information on the free Nintendo Switch 2 updates for select Nintendo Switch titles, please visit the Nintendo website.

In addition to GameChat and existing online features with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, today Nintendo Switch 2 owners with a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership gain access to upgrade packs for both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, allowing them to enjoy the enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of these titles at no additional cost if they have the Nintendo Switch version of the games.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members who have a Nintendo Switch 2 can also access the new Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics library, featuring F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and SOULCALIBUR II at launch today, with clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases. Plus, a dedicated wireless controller designed after the original Nintendo GameCube controller will be available for purchase by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.

Also available today is the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle, which includes a console and a digital version of Mario Kart World. For more information about Nintendo Switch 2 and accessories, visit the Nintendo website.

Mario Kart World delivers frenzied Mario Kart racing like never before, as well as a series-first: a vast interconnected environment to explore and race across. Players looking to hit the road with Mario and friends can experience:

Up to 24 drivers at once – the most in Mario Kart history – race across courses. Reimagined returning modes like Grand Prix competition, where the paths between courses are part of the race, too.

Knockout Tour, a new game mode where checkpoints eliminate drivers if they can’t keep up with the pack.

Free Roam mode, another new game mode, where players can explore, see the sights and more, solo or with friends online. There are hundreds of single-player missions to complete in Free Roam, too.

Plus, look forward to hectic faceoffs in the Battle mode.

Multiple ways to play together with friends, locally or online. This includes local split-screen for up to 4 players on the same console, local wireless play, and competing or exploring with people from around the world (or friends) in online play.

Using the new GameChat feature on Nintendo Switch 2, players can talk with friends around the world while playing online. Plus, see their live expressions in-game with the new CameraPlay feature by connecting a compatible USB-C camera to the console (sold separately).

Packed with races to win and ways for players to explore at their own pace, Mario Kart World can be enjoyed by both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Mario Kart World is now available in stores, on Nintendo eShop or on the Nintendo website.

Launching alongside Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World are over 20 titles for Nintendo Switch 2, including games from Nintendo and a strong lineup from Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners. Take a look at some of these exciting titles releasing today:

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour: Enter a virtual exhibition with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players can explore Nintendo Switch 2 inside and out and get to know the new system in ways they may never have known about otherwise.

SPLIT FICTION: Jump between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this co-op action adventure, where contrasting writers Mio and Zoe have become trapped in a simulation of their own stories. SPLIT FICTION keeps you on the edge of your couch with weird and unexpected moments as players must coordinate and work together to overcome challenges.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: For the first time, Nintendo players can step into the shoes of V – a mercenary determined to become a legendary cyberpunk in Night City. With the powerful processing speed and graphical performance of Nintendo Switch 2, every neon-lit street and firefight feels more immersive, making it the most cyberpunk way to play Cyberpunk 2077. Players can aim with greater control with gyro and mouse controls, and intuitively navigate menus with the Nintendo Switch 2 touch screen. Players can enjoy the full Cyberpunk 2077 experience, featuring the base game and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty spy-thriller expansion.

Fortnite: Whether you want to be the last player standing in Battle Royale, headline your own concert with Fortnite Festival, or want to explore LEGO Fortnite experiences and much more – the choice is yours. Experience Fortnite like never before on Nintendo Switch 2 with 60 fps, a higher resolution, clothing physics, and higher-quality textures, shadows and water rendering. Plus, relive your best Battle Royale matches with the Replay system.

Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Steer the course of history on Nintendo Switch 2. Featuring new mouse controls that offer a more intuitive experience, players’ decisions will shape the cultural lineage of their empire. Construct cities and architectural wonders, improve your civilisation with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilisations as you explore the world.

Street Fighter™ 6: Experience the next evolution of Street Fighter™ in Street Fighter™ 6 with three distinct game modes, new gameplay features, and enhanced visuals. Fight your way to the top with new game modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 like Local Wireless One on One and Avatar Matches. Enjoy new party modes utilising Joy-Con 2 controllers like Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest. Plus, players can check out three new amiibo figures and 22 amiibo cards at launch. Choose from Street Fighter™ 6 Years 1-2 Fighter Edition, or the digital version of Street Fighter™ 6, for Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Check out the full list of games available in stores or on Nintendo eShop right now:

There are also a wide variety of games set to launch for Nintendo Switch 2 soon, including Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D platforming action adventure starring the smashing, bashing, banana-hoarding Donkey Kong (launching July 17^th); EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, the latest in the hard-hitting football series (August 14^th); the explosively outrageous Borderlands 4 (2025); the bewitching roguelike dungeon crawler Hades II (2025); and Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, where Trainers can explore scenic Lumiose City and engage in fierce, real-time Pokémon battles (October 16^th).

That’s not all – even more titles are launching in the coming months , like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (August 28^th), Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (September 5^th), Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (July 24^th), just to name a few.

Look out for continuing Nintendo Switch 2 content in the free Nintendo Today! smart device app for iOS and Android. Visit the Nintendo Today! website for more information.

Remember that Nintendo Switch 2 features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access.

Supplied by: Nintendo.

Guzzle Media