Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live build-up: our final predictions and the latest rumors with the start time just hours away

Now it's time to get excited, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is just hours away! We're expecting to learn all about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console in this roughly 60 minute presentation.

From a potential breakdown of its unique hardware features to our first confirmation of some of its launch games, this event is going to go down in gaming history and it's not one that you'll want to miss!

Join me as I count down the hours until the stream, keeping you up to date with all the latest news and rumors as they come in. I'm also be sharing my own personal predictions, plus the occasional tip on how best to prepare.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct start time

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct takes place today on April 2, 2025. It starts at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST.

Nintendo has now confirmed via a social media post that the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will be "approximately 60 minutes long" - which is about what we expected.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live countdown

Want to see the hours and minutes tick down in real time? Here's a live countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct how to watch

The most reliable place to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is the official Nintendo YouTube channel. It will also be streaming via Twitch.

I'd recommend bookmarking the page for easy access. When you are able to tune in, I'll let you know straight away so keep checking back here for updates.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the beginning of our live Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct coverage!

With the highly anticipated event under 24 hours away, there's still plenty of time to get excited before our first in-depth look at Nintendo's next console.

Whether you're a more recent fan or a long time Nintendo gamer like me, nothing quite compares to the excitement of learning more about a new piece of hardware from the company.

Tomorrow's event is undoubtedly going to be an important part of gaming, so this isn't one that you'll want to miss!

I'm going to be guiding you through the build up to the broadcast, so let's begin...

What is tomorrow's event?

Don't worry if you're a little out of the loop and want to know what all the fuss is about. Here's a quick recap explaining exactly why we're so excited.

Nintendo first unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming successor to its hugely popular Nintendo Switch console, in a surprise reveal trailer posted almost two months ago on January 16, 2025.

It showed off the new system officially for the first time, with a slick 3D animation paired with cute music and cool sound effects.

Although there were plenty of small hints throughout, the video confirmed very few new features and didn't explicitly mention any games (though what looks like a new Mario Kart was shown briefly on screen).

It did plainly state that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be able to play most Nintendo Switch games though, but that's basically all we know for sure right now.

The video ended with a date: April 2, 2025, which the company then confirmed would be the day of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

I expect this broadcast to be a detailed breakdown of the system, outlining its features and revealing some of its launch games. I also think we're likely to learn a release date, with pre-orders potentially opening too.

Nintendo confirms the broadcast's length

Here's a quick, but important, update!

Nintendo has officially confirmed the length of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in a new X / Twitter post.

We now know that it last around 60 minutes, which falls in line with my own predictions. That's a bit longer than the usual 40 minute or so Nintendo Direct format, so hopefully means that we're going learn a lot of new information.

Even if you've seen it before, I would recommend giving yourself a quick recap of the initial Nintendo Switch 2 first-look trailer to get yourself excited before tomorrow's event.

You can see it below:

What new features will we see?

What kinds of interesting new features do I think will be shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct tomorrow? It's a big question, but I'm going to make a few predictions...

Firstly, I think we're definitely going to see the long-rumored mouse mode in action. This has been the subject of many leaks and was even hinted at by that console reveal trailer (which showed the Joy-Con darting around a flat surface like mice).

The idea is that the new Joy-Con controllers will be able to be used on their sides thanks to an optical sensor that lets them detect movements to control things on-screen.

It sounds a bit silly at first, but the practical applications of this idea could be huge. It would allow for much better precision in shooter games like Nintendo's own Splatoon, or be a blessing for navigating the complex interfaces of something like Super Mario Maker.

I would also be money on the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct given us our first glimpse at the console's user interface and software features. Hopefully it's going to be a bit more exciting than the relatively plain Nintendo Switch UI. I've personally got my fingers crossed for the addition of colorful system themes.

Nintendo always shies away from talking in concrete numbers, but I do think the company will still find some way of showing us just how much more powerful the Nintendo Switch 2 is than its predecessor. Perhaps we'll see some of the more intensive Nintendo Switch running smoothly on the new machine...

Nintendo hints at mouse mode again

Speaking of that rumored mouse mode, Nintendo seems to have hinted at it again!

If you launch the Nintendo Today app on your mobile phone right now, you'll be greeted by a brief teaser video showing the Nintendo Switch 2 in all its glory.

Look closely, and you'll notice that the video (which you can see a still from above) shows the right Joy-Con placed on its side, seeming suspiciously like a computer mouse... Very interesting indeed.

The mysterious C button explained?

Back to some predictions now.

I also think that we're going to learn what the mysterious 'C' button is all about. This strange input was conspicuously absent from the reveal trailer, replaced with a blank square, but has shown up repeatedly in leaks and even on some of Nintendo's own promotional images (whoops).

It seems almost certain that it's going to be present on the Nintendo Switch 2, but what could it actually do? I have some ideas.

My personal theory is that the 'C' stands for 'Control', and will allow the player to enable or disable the rumored mouse mode. To me this makes a lot of sense, but others have speculated that it could be tied to some new social features which could be pretty cool. Miiverse 2, anyone?

That said these are just guesses and the only way we're going to find out what it's for is by waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and keeping our fingers crossed for some more info.

Here's one good way to prepare for the broadcast.

Right now if you head over to this page on the Nintendo of America YouTube channel, you can click a button in the bottom left hand corner of the video player to receive a notification when the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct goes live.

This will help ensure that won't miss it on the day. Just bear in mind that you will need to be logged in with a YouTube channel in order for the option to appear.

Treehouse: Live could offer some valuable insight

Nintendo has confirmed two new Nintendo Treehouse: Live streams after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. The first will take place on April 3, with the second following on April 4.

Both will kick off at 7AM PT / 10AM ET / 2PM BST and give us a live hands-on look at some Nintendo Switch 2 games in action.

If you're not familiar with Nintendo Treehouse Live, the format has been used by the company frequently in the past. It basically involves a room filled with various presenters, who you watch play with some of the latest hardware and/or games.

These two streams could prove very insightful, giving us a relatively unfiltered look at the Nintendo Switch 2 in action, so definitely tune in if you get the chance.

Thinking of trading in your OG Switch?

Here's an interesting little titbit to consider.

Apparently, a leaked brochure from Gamestop has revealed the retailer's trade-in plans ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

An image of it was posted to X / Twitter, which stated that owners of an older Nintendo Switch system would be able to "get up to $175" towards the Nintendo Switch 2 by trading it in.

Those with a Nintendo Switch OLED would get the full $175 - with $125 and $100 offered for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite respectively. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any mention of the Nintendo Switch 2's price point on everything that I've seen so we're still in the dark on that point for now.

All things considered, this still looks like a pretty good deal though and could really help soften the financial blow if you're looking to upgrade.

But what about the price?

For many people, I think lots of the appeal of the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to depend heavily on its price point.

Annoyingly, the price is one of the things we know the absolute least about which makes it a little bit tricky to talk about.

Our in-house prediction (and what I personally think is the most likely) is that it will come to $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$699.95.

This would be a step up from the $349.99 / £309.99 / AU$539.95 asking price of the Nintendo Switch OLED, expected given the almost undoubtedly improved specs this time around, but still undercut Nintendo's biggest competitors given the higher cost of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa did discuss the price point of the Nintendo Switch 2 in an investor Q&A back in February. He said that it will fall in line with the "affordable prices customers expect" - so hopefully we're not looking at anything much higher than the $400 mark / £350 / AU$ 700 .

Will we even see a US price?

Given the evolving situation surrounding potential tariffs in the US, there's also been some discussion as to whether we will even see a US price at all tomorrow.

After all, it seems reasonable to assume that Nintendo wouldn't want to announce a price point for a product only for it to end up costing much more when it hits shelves.

It's a possibility that, while other regions will see one announced, the US Price could be left up in the air.

What would this mean for retailers? Rather than traditional pre-orders, I think in this situation US retailers could opt to offer refundable deposits - going towards a final price that is announced closer to the product's launch.

This would also explain why that leaked material from Gamestop didn't mention a price at all.

What about 4K support?

The latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumor has cast some doubt on the idea that the console will support 4K video output.

Allegedly, some developers have already received Nintendo Switch 2 development kits and noticed that they don't support 4K video output.

This would indicate that it won't be supported on the finished product either, but do consider that development kits can often have different specs and features than the consoles that they're for.

This is just a rumor for the time being, however, so you should take it with a mountain of salt.

We'll likely find out for sure tomorrow.

Could the Nintendo Direct be all software?

I've just had a chat with Hardware Editor Rhys Wood, who is now expecting lots of game reveals.

"Up until the announcement of the Nintendo Treehouse: Live showcases in the coming days, I was fairly certain that tomorrow's Nintendo Direct would be mostly hardware-led," he began.

"I do think we'll get a decent hardware deep dive still. But considering that each of the two Treehouse events are a few hours long, it might just be the case that Nintendo has plenty of software to show off on April 2.

I would definitely hope this is the case. A look at the hardware is all well and good, but your average viewer will need more than that (namely, games) to convince them to drop a few hundred bucks on a brand new console."

It's nearing the end of the day here in the UK, so I'm just mopping things up before signing off for the evening. Still, the live coverage isn't going to stop there, as I'm just about to hand things over to our illustrious US team to pick things up where I left off!

I'll see you all again tomorrow morning for the build up to the main event :)

Hello there! Jacob Krol signing on. There are less than 24 hours until the Nintendo Direct kicks off, and it's safe to say that the level of hype and anticipation is growing as we inch closer.

What I am most excited to learn about tomorrow is all the unknowns about the Nintendo Switch 2. We have a name and a look, but I'm very interested to see if Nintendo's decided to go OLED or no-OLED.

Namely, as that could also illuminate the future roadmap. Yes, we know there is a Switch 2, but potentially, we could get a Switch 2 Lite or a Switch 2 OLED. The latter would seem very unlikely if Nintendo ships the standard with an OLED.

I'm also curious to learn what the "C" button on the remote could be, the speed gains, and other intricate improvements Nintendo has made.

It's time for a little break from me, as I've asked the wider TechRadar what they're hoping or expecting to see...

First up is Managing Editor, Lifestyle, Josephine Watson, who has her fingers crossed that mouse mode is indeed real.

"If Nintendo confirms its new-look Joy-Con are, in fact, mouse-like controllers thanks to the new infrared sensor, I can finally pick up and enjoy the first game I bought for my Switch; Sid Meier's Civilization 6," she said.

"Yes, a rogue first purchase, but I had already been gifted Breath of the Wild, and I love playing Civ on PC. Rookie mistake to think it would translate well on the Switch though, where I found it borderline unplayable thanks to limited controls. The new mouse mode could stand to change all that, meaning my dust-collecting game card might finally see the light of day… if older games compatible with it, of course."

Josie is also excited by the second USB-C port, which was shown in the reveal trailer. Its purpose is currently unknown, but she thinks it could open up loads of exciting possibilities:

"The additional port has me excited for multiple reasons. In all likelihood it’s there to improve the undocked experience, allowing for easier charging while playing in tabletop mode, as well as having the ability to keep peripherals plugged in while charging.

However, I'm quietly hoping that it might pave the way for new peripherals and accessories. I’d love to see some kind of Game Boy Camera comeback!."

Finally, she's holding out for the return of a certain game that I know many Nintendo fans are waiting for.

"Look, we’ve been patient enough, just give us The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker on Switch already. I don’t want to wait until 2028 for the 25-year anniversary, I want it now!

Tantrum aside, the Switch 2 could really be the perfect launch platform for Wind Waker, especially since we’ve not heard much about any new titles in the works. This gap in the Zelda calendar could be the perfect moment to give us fans what they want."

While we're all excited about Switch 2, it's also the perfect time to reflect on another major Nintendo console – the Wii. Lance Ulanoff, our Editor-at-Large, writes that 'Nothing will match the excitement of the Wii"

"The Nintendo Switch is a great gaming platform, and there’s no doubt that the Switch 2, with its larger screen and slightly redesigned Joy-Cons, will be just as good, if not better. But if we’re being honest here, it’ll never match the excitement of the original Nintendo Wii.

In 2006, the console all but invented motion-controlled gaming and became a sensation. Remember the lines? Nintendo kept supplies limited on the $249.99 system for years, and people would quickly gather at their local Nintendo store at the slightest hint of a new supply drop.

My family did it. When I wanted to get my daughter a console in time for her 9th birthday, I begged my brother, who worked around the corner from one such store, to wait in line. He did and managed to secure a Wii which we then presented in a roundabout way on her birthday. That bit of subterfuge resulted in this video.

Perhaps I’m wrong. Maybe there are kids currently losing it over the potential of finding a gift-wrapped Nintendo Switch 2 next to their birthday cake. I doubt it, though. Supplies probably won’t be limited, and most will order online. No more lining up in the cold, hoping supplies last until you make it to the checkout counter.

The whole thing makes me want to pull out the old Wii and play another 9 holes in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07."

Keeping with the subject of games that we want to see, Staff Writer Harry Padoan is desperate for the reveal of a Super Mario Odyssey follow-up.

"Hot take incoming... for me, Super Mario Odyssey is the greatest 3D Mario game ever made. The movement, the kingdoms, the epic finale? Love all of it. Above all, I had a blast throwing Cappy at almost anything in sight, from frogs to T-Rexes. There are 52 different captures available and tapping into their unique abilities was what really made Odyssey click, other than Bowser in his wedding suit," he said.

"But now it's been eight, yes, eight years since Odyssey first launched. I'm really hoping that Nintendo will announce a sequel to its first cap-throwing adventure in this Direct -- I'm sure a lot of you are too."

Fitness, Wellness, and Wearables Editor Matt Evans took a break from jogging around the office to talk about the one game he's hoping to play on Nintendo Switch.

"After that Nvidia leak many years ago, fans of Final Fantasy 9 (the best one – sorry to all the hardcore Final Fantasy 7-heads out there) have been waiting for the long-rumored remake to come to fruition, and what better way to launch it than on the Switch 2? With the original game available on the Nintendo Store, Final Fantasy 9 was the grand finale of the JRPG franchise’s PS1 era, giving us a joyous half-medieval, half-steampunk, world-hopping adventure romp: one that also has some surprisingly poignant arguments on the nature of determinism.

Rather than a dreary, realistic, industrial aesthetic like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, a remake with 9's gorgeous cartoonish style, featuring outlandish half-animal characters with cutesy proportions, would be absolutely perfect for Nintendo’s less serious, more family-friendly aesthetic.

This ain’t just wishful thinking either: a brand new website just launched for the game’s 25th anniversary, featuring a load of new merch - including action figures of the game’s protagonists with an updated look. Is Square Enix teasing a reveal at the direct? If this does happen, it might convince me to buy a Switch 2 at launch and re-immerse myself in a world of knights, dragons, flying airships, and infuriating frog-catching minigames."

It turns out Freelance News Writer Demi Williams is among the many fans hoping for some kind of classic Zelda news:

"It's turned into a sort of meme now to expect a Wind Waker or Twilight Princess remake to be announced at every Nintendo Direct, only to be disappointed when it doesn't happen. But I'm doing it again!

Even if there's no remake announcement (but there will be, I can feel it) it would be beneficial for Nintendo to at least reveal that it's making a new game in the series to build more hype around the Switch 2. Tears of the Kingdom, only launched two years ago, so I might be pushing it with my expectations here, but I'd be happy for even just a quick confirmation that the next game is in development."

Meanwhile, Managing Editor, Mobile Computing, Roland Moore-Colyer is making a pretty safe bet.

"I’m rather hopeful we’ll see a new Mario Kart game at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, especially as such a game was teased in the Switch 2 reveal. Mario Kart is arguably one of the largest series around, with a entries that have spanned decades - forget Fortnite! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was basically the pinnacle of the series, so I really want to see what’s next." he said.

"I’m also hoping that all the speculation regarding an open-world Mario Kart comes to fruition. Games like Forza Horizon 4 and its predecessor have shown that there's a lot of fun to be had just zipping around a big open map; add in the personality of a Mario game and that’s arguably a winning formula."

Do I think we'll see a new Mario Kart game? Almost definitely, though I'm a bit more sceptical about the open world claims. It would be a massive shift for the franchise and I honestly don't think Nintendo would want to risk now that it has nailed the series' traditional formula down to a tee.

Moving from our anticipated games for now, Roland also had something to say about the possibility of upscaling tech on the Nintendo Switch 2:

"You only need to glance at TechRadar’s roundup of the best TVs to see that 4K displays are now pretty much standard in home entertainment, so I’d like to see the Nintendo Switch 2 have the ability to output a 4K signal when docked.

I don’t expect it to render a full 4K image, as even the PS5 and Xbox Series X can struggle with that, but some smart upscaling would be appreciated, as I’m over 1080p gaming in 2025 unless I’m playing in handheld mode."

Upscaling tech could be a game changer

While I'm not as convinced as Roland that Nintendo would want to pursue a 4K resolution given the company's usual hesitancy to pursue the latest visual trends, it's obvious that upscaling tech could be an important part of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo has patented its own upscaling solution, which describes the ability to increase picture quality with little strain on the hardware. The patent suggests that this could be used to reduce game file sizes, with lower-resolution textures that are then upscaled on the machine.

The system might also be implemented for when you're playing older backwards compatible releases, increasing picture quality and potentially even smoothing out performance hitches.

Senior AI Writer John-Anthony Disotto had much to say to a similar effect.

"When I think about the Switch 2, I get giddy about the idea of playing some of the original Switch’s best games with a better frame rate and higher resolution. The Switch’s hardware was outdated back when it launched in 2017, and so I feel as though games like Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild never truly performed the way they should.

Nintendo has already confirmed backward compatibility for the Nintendo Switch 2, but I hope that also means improved performance for some of the best games of the last decade. I have still never finished The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, despite its predecessor being one of my favorite games of all time. Why? Because I couldn’t handle the unstable frame rate and pop-in, it almost gave me motion sickness!"

We haven't talked much about potential accessories yet, but Managing Editor Rob Dwiar is holding out for an official symmetrical layout controller at launch:

"If the Nintendo Switch 2 has an official controller that is symmetrical in its stick layout, then it might be the first Nintendo console I could get fully on board with," he said.

"I’ve done my time with Nintendo consoles in the past, but asymmetrical controllers like the Joy-Cons and the Switch Pro controller kept out from an accessibility perspective - I have different hands which means asymmetrical layout controllers are a total no-go.

But if the Switch 2 launches with another Pro Controller variant that meets my particular needs - and after all, there are an increasing number of symmetrical controllers nowadays - then it could be the thing that finally opens up access to the likes of Zelda and modern Mario games to me."

A bit more on the topic of controllers here, this time from Roland!

"If there’s one thing I really think the Switch 2 must bring to the table, it’s the elimination of Joy-Con drift. This was a nasty issue that plagued the original Switch at launch; I was lucky to avoid it at first, but one of the original Joy-Con that came with the console has stopped working as it should.

As a refresher, broadly speaking Joy-Con stick drift is when the thumbstick would register an input even when they weren't being used, making player-controlled characters move in directions they weren’t meant to. The cause of this was usually dust or debris getting into the mechanism or wear and tear on what might not be the most robust joysticks in the handheld world."

With the widespread adoption of Hall effect tech in controllers, which thankfully eliminates the risk of thumbstick drift, I'm optimistic that this widespread complaint will be addressed this time around.

As the image above shows, I do hope Nintendo offers some colorful Joy-Cons for the Switch 2. We've already seen hints of blue and red in the teaser videos, and Nintendo might serve up a few options at launch.

Of course, we'll likely see a good selection arrive in the month after launch – the original Switch and Switch OLED had several special editions, and we'd bet Nintendo follows that route with the Switch 2.

Now, as we're approaching the midnight hour here on the east coast of the United States, I am signing off for a bit. But, we'll be picking back up in just a few hours and we'll keep our live reporting going for the Nintendo Direct and the hours after for live reactions from the TechRadar team.

Remember, the April 2 Nintendo Direct kicks off promptly at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST and should last for about 60 minutes. That means we'll get plenty of new information about the Switch 2, and hopefully, all of our questions will be answered!

Good morning gamers! Dash signing back on again for the big day.

As you can see from the countdown at the top of this (just scroll up a bit) there is now under 6 hours to go until the start of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. That's right, under 6 hours!

It'll be here before you know it, so I hope you're getting ready...