After years of speculation and then a wait with an actual countdown, Nintendo announced the release of their latest console, the Switch 2, with an hour-long Nintendo Direct on April 2. The livestream showcased a handful of new games for this new system and the new features this console will have. The Switch 2 has a set release date of June 5, with pre-orders for select people starting on April 2 and for the general public on April 9.

One of the unexpected new features that was announced is GameChat, a group call that allows people to play games together with others while having a voice chat, video call with the camera, and screen sharing their gameplay though the footage looked unfinished and laggy. Comments from the viewers of the livestream pointed out that there are already less laggy ways to play games together, instead of the Nintendo way. GameChat will eventually become available for Online Membership holders only. There is a free trial until March 31, 2026, for everyone to test out and use; so if anyone likes the feature, they should be prepared to spend more money on the membership to be able to keep using it.

Nintendo also introduced another new way to enjoy old games on their new system at a small price. The next surprising Switch 2 upgrade is Upgrade Packs, which allow players to take their original Switch games—and for an additional price, which is Nintendo’s common strategy—upgrade the games to play even better on the Switch 2. These upgrades will improve graphics and provide new gameplay for the new console. These upgrades are like a refresh for fans to still enjoy their old games, as Nintendo intended for their old games to be able to be played on the new system.

Nintendo announced some new games during the direct, including a new entry to the Mario Kart series—Mario Kart World; a brand new Donkey Kong game Donkey Kong Bananza; a new game in the Kirby franchise; and a new Metroid Prime game, which is the first entry in the series in 18 years. The new game has been talked about being created since the first announcement of the original Switch, so this game is a huge update for fans of the series.

All of these announcements were received well by fans who have been waiting patiently for a new game console for years, and now finally, they have a real product to look forward to getting their hands on.