Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Unveils 7 Major Surprises

New video game hardware announcements can often feel predictable. With each new generation of consoles, we anticipate staples like enhanced graphics, quicker load times, and fresh iterations of beloved franchises, such as those featuring a certain plumber and his turtle adversaries.

Nintendo, known for its innovative approach across multiple console generations—from the N64's analog controller to the GameCube's tiny discs, the Wii's motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U's tablet screen, and the Switch's portability—has continued this trend with the Switch 2. Yet, true to form, Nintendo managed to surprise us with some unexpected announcements during the Switch 2 Direct.

It's 2025, and we finally get online play.

As a lifelong Nintendo fan since 1983, when I was just four years old and mimicking Mario's barrel-jumping antics with footballs, I can't help but express a mix of excitement and long-held frustration about this reveal.

Nintendo has historically struggled with online play, with exceptions like Satellaview and Metroid Prime: Hunters. The company has yet to fully embrace a unified multiplayer platform akin to those of Sony and Xbox, making it challenging to connect and communicate with friends. Even the original Switch required a separate app for voice chat.

However, the Switch 2 Direct introduced GameChat, a promising new feature. This four-player chat system supports noise suppression, video cameras for displaying friends' faces, and screen sharing across consoles, allowing you to monitor up to four different displays within a single screen. According to the new Switch 2 accessibility features page, GameChat also offers text-to-voice and voice-to-text options, enhancing communication versatility.

While we haven't seen details on a unified matchmaking interface yet, this is a significant step forward. Hopefully, it marks the end of the cumbersome friend code system.

Miyazaki is bringing new blood exclusively to Nintendo

The first trailer I saw had me convinced it was Bloodborne 2, with its unmistakable FROM Software style. Thanks to Eric Van Allen at IGN, I learned it was actually footage from The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind some of the most challenging games in recent memory.

It's astonishing that Miyazaki found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game. His dedication is reminiscent of his own game characters, tirelessly working away in their gothic towers. Yet, I'm thrilled, as FROM Software rarely disappoints, and I'm eagerly anticipating this new experience.

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

In another unexpected move, Super Smash Bros. director Masuhiro Sakurai is shifting his focus to a new Kirby game. This is a surprising pivot for Sakurai, who could certainly use a break after his work on Smash.

The original Kirby's Air Ride on the GameCube was visually appealing but lacked fun gameplay. However, given Sakurai's deep connection to the Kirby franchise, his new take promises to be a more refined and enjoyable experience.

Control issues

A seemingly minor announcement, the Pro Controller 2 now includes an audio jack—a welcome addition, albeit a decade late. More excitingly, it features two mappable extra buttons, a feature I greatly appreciate as a fan of customizable controls.

No Mario?!

The absence of a new Mario game was a genuine shock. It appears the team behind Odyssey has been working on Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D platformer with destructible environments. Nintendo is once again defying expectations, betting on hardcore fans to embrace Donkey Kong's biggest game in years while saving Mario for another time.

The Switch 2 will launch with robust third-party support and Mario Kart World. While World seems like a system-seller, I expected it to be a holiday family game. Nintendo is confident in Mario Kart 8's sales record, relying on their most popular party game and Bananza to drive Switch 2 sales at launch.

Forza Horizon x Nintendo was not on my bingo card

An open-world Mario Kart is now a reality, blending the zany physics, unique vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart with a continuous world reminiscent of Bowser's Fury, but on a much larger scale and supporting multiple drivers.

It’s very expensive

The Switch 2's price of $449.99 USD is steep, especially in today's economic climate with rising tariffs, a declining yen, and American inflation. This makes it the most expensive launch in Nintendo's 40-plus year history in the US, $150 more than the original Switch and $100 more than the Wii U. Historically, Nintendo has used lower prices to differentiate its products, but the Switch 2 will need to succeed without this advantage.