Player 2 Vs Nintendo Switch 2 Direct April 2025
This has been a long time coming. Eight years since the launch of the original Nintendo Switch and now, finally, it’s time for Nintendo to reveal its successor. Join Player 2 editors Paul James, Jess Zammit, and Matt Hewson, as they break down every reveal from this comprehensive reveal of Nintendo’s next big console.
Mario Kart World
Paul: This is absolutely wild to me. 24 racers, open worlds to explore and race on, cows and dolphin racers, and a grinding mechanic as well – they’ve had a long time to cook on this one and it’s paying off with some wild and wacky ideas, I’m all for it. Day and date launch with the console too is an obvious marketing win
Jess: I would have said I wasn’t going to care about the new Mario Kart, but then now you can play as a COW and a DOLPHIN and there’s WALL-RIDING. I take back all my apathy, Mario Kart is the best.
Matt: I was wondering how the Mario Kart formula would evolve and it seems the answer is Forza Horizon. I am here for it. I love the idea behind an interconnected world that has set tracks, but can also just be zoomed around in your little transformable kart.
Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour
Paul: I see you tried to get an Astro-style experience to introduce players to your platform Nintendo – sorry, you failed here. The fact that its paid is totally laughable as well.
Jess: The fact that it’s paid is ridiculous, yes, but I will absolutely pay money to play that golf demo for 50 – 100 hours. I’m sorry, I’m a sucker for a tech demo collection, even when overpriced.
Matt: What would a Nintendo console be without a shitty paid tech demo. We had 1,2 Switch last time around, this time we got a Welcome Tour that should 100% be packed in with the console but instead, the Big N expect people to buy.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Games
Paul: I’d expected Nintendo to upgrade games with the improved hardware of the Switch 2, but I hadn’t expected new content. They demonstrated quite a lot of new content with the Mario Party demo, I was quite impressed. Obviously, there are plenty of games that will benefit from the improved hardware more than Mario Party, so I’m keen to see what it can do for Zelda in particular. I’ll definitely be giving BOTW and TOTK a go on Switch 2, and the Kirby expansion is great. People are going to freak over mouse controllers for Metroid as well. My big question is around the price for these upgrade packs
Jess: Mario Party absolutely does not need to be listening to me while I’m playing it. Nobody is their best self while playing Mario Kart, and I do not wish to be held responsible for the things I say during that time. Zelda is looking beautiful though, and I am so goddamn excited about this Zelda Notes app. Is it coming years too late? Sure. Will it be enough to make me really want to play BotW and TotK again? Probably. I’m definitely keen for more Kirby content too – the Forgotten Land was way more fun than it had any right to be.
Matt: Hmmm, On one hand, some of these games are absolutely going to benefit from the extra power and on the other I feel like this upgrade system is rife for gouging more money out of people. I’ll want to be getting more than just a better framerate and higher resolution if they expect me to pay.
Drag X Drive
Paul: You knew Nintendo had to have some unique ARMS or Wii Sports-like title to show off the mouse functionality of the Switch 2 and sure enough, Drag X Drive exists. Frankly, the name is awful and doesn’t lead me to think wheelchair basketball at all, but the game itself looks really addicting. I’m all for this one, and I can’t wait to check it out
Jess: This is WAY cooler than anything I expected to see tonight. A wheelchair basketball game?! Hell yeah! A sports game I can actually get behind!
Matt: Yay for representation. As you all know Wheelchair sports is near and dear to me and this is going to be fantastic for so many reasons. I just hope the gameplay holds up and it isn’t just a gimmick.
Elden Ring
Paul: Just another platform that I won’t be playing Elden Ring on. I feel like playing it portably is a safety concern for all surrounding the player though.
Jess: This is still not going to be enough to get me to play through more than the first few hours of Elden Ring, but I’m sure a lot of people are going to be excited.
Matt: Playing a Fromsoft game on a system that is easy to throw out the window is probably not a wise idea…
Hades II
Paul: Obviously Hades II has strong ties with the original Switch so it’s no surprise to me to see Hades II resurface in a Switch 2 presentation. Later this year is an enticing prospect!
Jess: I’ve been holding off for the full release of Hades II, and after loving the first one on Switch, it feels right for that to be where I play the sequel. It’s the perfect game for playing in handheld mode and is no doubt going to look stunning with some upgraded processing power.
Matt: Look, I’ve been playing Hades 2 for a while now and it works wonderfully on my handheld PC. Great that it is coming for those who don’t have that option though because it is a fantastic game.
Street Fighter 6
Paul: I’ve said this time and time again, I’m not a fighting game guy, so yay to those fans, but I’ll readily pass on this one.
Jess: I, like Paul, am also not a fighting game fan, nor are any of the friends I mostly play games with. So I’ll be giving this one a miss.
Matt: I am a Street Fighter guy, but Capcom not releasing this as a complete edition after the game has been out for 2 years with all the characters is some sort of capitalist bullshit.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Paul: I remember Damo (of Patched fame) really loving the original Daemon X Machina, but I honestly couldn’t tell you anything about it other than the fact that there are mechs in it. Pass
Jess: I know absolutely nothing about this series, but these are some rad-looking mechs.
Matt: I have no idea about this franchise, but it looks kind of cool. Maybe it will be something to explore if I see it on sale.
Split Fiction
Paul: Split Fiction has been reviewed through the roof and the sales keep on pouring in, now Switch 2 provides players with yet another opportunity. A great move by both Hazelight and EA.
Jess: Split Fiction is incredible and I want everyone to be able to play it at all times. Making it accessible for another audience is always a win, so it’s nice to see it here.
Matt: Makes sense for Split Fiction to show up here. Thematically it links in with Nintendo’s philosophy perfectly.
EA Sports FC + Madden
Paul: I don’t have any interest in either NFL or Soccer so you won’t see me playing either of these
Jess: I was already excited about one sports game this Direct, so I’ve reached my limit.
Matt: My bets are that these will be the stripped down shitty last-gen versions of the game so frankly I wouldn’t be getting them on the Switch 2.
Hogwarts Legacy
Paul: Look I really liked Hogwarts Legacy when it first came out. As a game it was great despite the creator, but I’ve got zero interest in revisiting this one on a new platform.
Jess: Yeah, cool. Still not touching it.
Matt: If I ever hear about Hogwarts again, it will be too soon.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Paul: We didn’t get nearly as much Microsoft representation as was speculated in this showcase, however, Tony Hawk being an Activision product still counts. Not at all surprised to see this one show up, but… Spongebob?
Jess: Still some of the best soundtracks in gaming. (And you should always expect Spongebob).
Matt: Tony Hawk makes total sense on a portable system. The short-run style gameplay is perfect for on-the-go gaming, as long as the controls are up to it.
Hitman: World Of Assassination: Signature Edition + Project 007
Paul: I couldn’t care less about Hitman, it’s really just not my forte, however the tease of Project 007, which we did already know about, was exciting. The fact that its being discussed a lone is exciting, but just get the game out already please!
Jess: Ahh, some spy games getting a look-in! Hitman’s never really been my thing, but I’ll give a 007 game a go. Even if it’s terrible, I still feel like it’ll have something to offer.
Matt: Still nothing on 007 really, but nice to know it is still happening. As for Hitman, don’t listen to Paul it is fantastic but I am concerned by what I saw. This version of Hitman was originally released on the PS4/One systems and they looked better graphically than what was shown here. It shows that there is going to be a huge hardware disparity between our current consoles and the Switch and I worry that it will be abandoned by third parties in a couple of years as a result.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remastered
Paul: Despite being a big JRPG guy, I wasn’t wild about Bravely Default. Maybe it was a time and place thing though, and a re-release might be just what the doctor ordered. We’ll wait and see
Jess: I was always intrigued by Bravely Default, but it was another JRPG that just passed me by. Not sure if this update will be the thing to get me into it, but hey – maybe! When I have a spare billion hours.
Matt: Not my sort of thing really, happy to pass.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
Paul: I’ve not yet caught up on Yakuza like I want to, but the Switch 2 certainly won’t be the platform where I get started. For the Yakuza fans who just want any excuse to play the game, then this is great news, but I don’t think it will swing the needle for many. If they start rolling out all the other games in rapid succession though, that could make me change my tone.
Jess: I’ve never played a Yakuza game, and I know Matt is still eagerly awaiting the day it happens. One day, I’ll play it for him. Is Yakuza 0 the place to start? Surely yes. It feels wild that the Switch 2 would be the place to start my Yakuza journey, but hey – why not?
Matt: For godsakes just play it. I don’t care where, just get in on that sweet sweet Kazama Kiryu action. Your life will never be the same.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment
Paul: I love a good musou. The mindless hack and slash is a great decompression experience, and the Hyrule Warriors games have been a lot of good fun, so count me in when this one launches later in the year.
Jess: I never played the other Hyrule Warriors games, but I’m gonna play this one. I absolutely want more of the TotK story.
Matt: I am keen, the last Hyrule Warriors was fun but boy did it struggle on the original Switch Hardware so I am excited to play a version where the framerate doesn’t tank.
Nintendo Switch Online
Paul: So I’m thrilled that Gamecube games are on the way, but am genuinely infuriated that Wind Waker is among them. NINTENDO, you have Wind Waker and Twilight Princess in HD, and you’ve still left them stranded on Wii U while taking pretty much everything else of importance off the platform. WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIVING US THE ORIGINAL, LESSER VERSION?!
Jess: WIND WAKER. WIND WAKER EVERYONE. WIND WAKER IN THE PALM OF MY HANDS.
Matt: Gamecube was a bust for me. Really nothing on that system excited me so I am going to respectfully pass.
Deltarune Chapters 3 + 4
Paul: I cannot stand Undertale so I noped out of Deltarune when it first popped up… and I’ll continue to nope out here too
Jess: Ahh, my reminder that I still have not played Deltarune! Not sure why I haven’t gotten around to it, I loved Undertale, but now I’ll have to play so I’m ready for the new chapters. This is an excellent excuse to bring that plan forward.
Matt: Good indie support already, great to see.
Borderlands 4
Paul: At least we got half the Randy’s this time. The sooner we just get to the release of Borderlands 4 the better, firstly, because I’m mega-hyped, but secondly, so that we don’t need to keep hearing from Randy Pitchford. His energy is starting to irritate me, so let’s just get to the release and start playing
Jess: When I finally catch up on the previous 3 Borderlands games, I’m sure this will be very exciting for me. Maybe not on the Switch, though.
Matt: Borderlands 4 is an iffy prospect for me, I could go either way, but let me tell you if I do dive in, it won’t be on the Switch.
Civilization VII
Paul: I’ve not yet jumped into Civ VII, and that won’t change anytime soon, but with mouse functionality, the game is more appealing to me on Switch 2 than on other console platforms. That’s something I’m really intrigued by.
Jess: I wouldn’t be interested in touching this on the Switch if it weren’t for those mouse controls on the joycons. But now that they’re there… could be a game changer for tactical games on the Switch in general.
Matt: Just play it as god intended…. On the PC. But it is nice to have the option for those that can’t
WWE 2K + NBA 2K
Paul: I’ve been completely turned off by 2K’s monetisation strategies for its sports (and wrestling) titles, a new platform is nice, but it’s not going to change how little I plan to play NBA 2K these days… sadly.
Jess: Again, it’s a no from me on the sports games.
Matt: I think Paul hasn’t played the recent entries of the franchises where the VC shite has levelled out in a much fairer manner. Things are certainly better than they were a few years ago. But I have the same concern here that I did with the EA Sports games that these will be the inferior last-gen versions.
Survival Kids
Paul: I was watching the US stream when it crashed for this game, it sadly instantly soured my impression as the panic and frustration kicked in. Konami is again gradually resurfacing and this 4-player co-op title looks like it has something fun about it.
Jess: I too was watching that US stream, which was such a shame! This game actually looks adorable, and maybe it’ll give me something that’ll be less dangerous to play with my friends than our current go-to, Overcooked.
Matt: A kind of Cozy survival game. Not my thing I am afraid.
Enter The Gungeon 2
Paul: We were well overdue for more from Dodgeroll, though I wasn’t expecting a direct sequel to Enter The Gungeon. This is great news, but I guess we’ll await further details
Jess: I played a tiny bit of Enter the Gungeon, but not enough to be excited for this. I know many others will be, though!
Matt: The first Enter the Gungeon was a banger. I expect this one to be as well.
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
Paul: Astroneer was low-key cool, but I think there could be something really quite special about Starseeker, we just need to see more of it in action before I feel confident enough to make any further large, sweeping comments
Jess: I never touched Astroneer, but I did always like the look of its style. This one looks like it’s focusing on online multiplayer though, which is likely to mean you can count me out.
Matt: This feels a bit like Cozy No Man’s Sky. Another multiplayer-focused title, which considering Nintendo’s history with online worries me.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Paul: The biggest question mark for me from this showcase is of Cyberpunk 2077. Surely this game cannot look and perform at an acceptable standard? Right?!
Jess: But will it generate 5 million trees like it did on my PC at its original launch? Surely it doesn’t have the power! It’ll have to have the less interesting, ‘world looking too bare or broken’ bugs instead. (I’m being cruel – I hope it runs well).
Matt: Great that it is coming to the Switch 2, but once again this is clearly an inferior version. The world density was something that made Cyberpunk great (once it was fixed anyways) and that really seemed to be missing in the footage they showed.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Paul: Its Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, only the low-resolution door will likely return! With a bunch of other low-resolution friends! Interesting that after all this time, the first non PlayStation console that the Remake titles come to is Nintendo, and not Xbox. The plot thickens!
Jess: I have about five million other Final Fantasys to catch up on before this one, so I’ll be excited about it in a few years’ time.
Matt: I finally got around to finishing this one on my handheld PC, so I can attest that the game absolutely suits the on-the-go format that the Switch 2 brings. If you haven’t played it and want to, this could be a good way to do so.
Sizzle Reel
Paul: In that whirlwind of games that I’m largely incredibly disinterested by there was a little game called HOLLOW KNIGHT FREAKING SILKSONG AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER! A 2025 launch beckons!
Jess: There was so much to see here. Hollow Knight felt like a sneaky one to only throw up there for a second, and I know a bunch of people who will be going absolutely wild for that little ‘2025’ banner there. Some other fun things in there too, most of which were already announced in last week’s direct, so nothing else too new here!
Matt: I am sorry, this all blew by me too fast to keep up. I can’t remember anything at this point. But to be fair it was almost 1am when we got to this part.
The Duskbloods
Paul: What a gigantic curveball this one was. I saw Castlevania early, then Bloodborne, and then it turns out its a brand new, Switch 2 exclusive From Software IP. I bet PlayStation and the Bloodborne fans will be adoring this outcome. Interestingly it seems to be a PvPvE title, so i’m even less interested than I already was. The tone of the world is infectious though.
Jess: I spent this whole trailer knowing it was going to be a huge drawcard for a tonne of people, but not knowing whether or not it was going to be the sort of thing I should recognise. It turns out The Duskbloods is a new IP, so I feel less terrible for not recognising it, but boy… FromSoft games are really just not gonna be for me. I do like vampires though, so… hey, you never know.
Matt: I really wanted this to be Bloodborne 2, just to taste the salt from all the PS fanboys that would have completely melted down. I am a simple creature at times. Instead, it just looks like Bloodborne so I will probably pass.
Kirby Air Riders
Paul: Sakurai being back on a non-Smash project is really exciting to me. The original Kirby Air Ride isn’t actually that great of a game if my memory serves me right, however I have full faith in Sakurai’s abilities and I can’t wait to check this one out later in the year.
Jess: KIRBY. Don’t listen to Matt, Kirby is an adorable and powerful little guy. He does things Mario could only dream of. I never played the original Air Ride, so I don’t really know what to expect here, but I already know I’m gonna love it. It’s impossible not to look at Kirby and just feel pure joy.
Matt: I love saying this to upset Jess but Kirby is so overrated. Aldi Mario/Rayman. Not for me.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Paul: I thought Mario Odyssey 2 for quite a while because the look of world fit the style of Odyssey, then it was revealed to be so much more than that, and I’m absolutely delighted. I think that the game could probably have launched at launch date alongside Mario Kart World to bolster that launch line-up further, but a month later is still pretty great
Jess: Okay, so this is going to be the big one. I unapologetically love the universally panned Donkey Kong 64, so my bar for what makes a ‘good’ 3D DK game is already low. I feel like that means Bananza is going to soar over it – this game looks great. There’s no way smashing through the environment isn’t going to bring a similar satisfaction to destroying LEGO bricks in the LEGO games.
Matt: Donkey Kong is for me. It struck me as a mix between something like Mario Odyssey and the classic Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. It looks like a lot of fun and I really wish it was a launch title.
Nintendo Switch 2 Console
Paul: Look I’m hyped for the console because its a means to end, the end being a new generation of improved games. That said, the console itself is a bit disappointing. The mouse functionality is awesome, but the rest of the console is a bit too “lets do it again, but bigger, and better” for my liking. Not enough of the typical Nintendo evolution here for my liking. That all said, it won’t be stopping me from buying one. My preorder is in.
Jess: I mean, I wanted a lot of things from this console that I didn’t get when it was announced, so I’ve already processed all my disappointment. When Nintendo decided not to return to the clamshell design of the DS, they broke my heart forever. But sure, the console seems fine. It’ll handle Nintendo’s new games, and a bunch of last-gen games from its competitors, as we’ve come to expect from the new Nintendo console. The mouse functionality is the most interesting thing about it. I, unlike Matt, am hoping that the new size isn’t too big, because I have the hands of a small child, so I’ll miss the compact nature of the last-gen joycons.
Matt: To me, this is the most incremental upgrade that Nintendo has ever done. A chat button and some mouse stuff are hardly the innovative approaches that Ninty are usually known for. I can’t say it is a surprise though, the Switch sold more copies than Aussies drank beers so it makes sense to keep things familiar. I like the new size, which should help my giant hands and the magnetic Joycons seem like a much more stable and durable option. I really need to go hands-on though to get a proper impression.
Price and Date
Paul: $700 is a bit more than I’d banked on, but not by that much, so I can accept the price tag, though I’m not at all wild about the price increase for games. Especially in some overseas markets the increase for a physical game is as large as 50% over the price of a Switch 1 game. In Australia the price of a new game almost matches that of a PS5/XSX new release like Death Stranding 2. We’re on a slippery slope from here as the industry continues to try and keep itself afloat. Nintendo has just granted a massive license to everyone else in the industry to jack those prices up even further.
Jess: I think I’ve just pessimistically accepted that everything from now until the end of time is now just going to be more expensive than it should be, and will just adjust accordingly. The price of the games is going to be the real problem – shelling out once for a console is one thing, but finding that little bit more cash to buy games regularly is going to be hard for a lot of people. They run a real risk of locking out a big chunk of their potential audience.
Matt: Date is cool, price is not. That is expensive and frankly, it is getting right up there into Steamdeck territory. That should be of serious consideration for anyone buying the Switch 2, especially if you aren’t big on Nintendo’s first-party stuff because by the looks of things, all the third-party titles look like they have better graphics on the Steamdeck. If you are a Mario/Zelda/Pokefan then it is a no brainer though.
Gamechat and Switch 2 Camera
Paul: I can see some enjoyment that comes from everyone streaming their games to each other or chatting whilst they play, but this functionality already exists. Just let Discord do the job, or leave the camera out of it. Hell, just give everyone Miiverse again!
Jess: Yess, bring back Miiverse! There really isn’t anything here you can’t get from Discord. I do love how bold Nintendo were in showing those streams, lag and bad quality included. We can’t accuse them of overpromising.
Matt: Nintendo invented Discord and the Playstation Eye toy…. It constantly astounds me how bad Ninty are at online and this whole section had my eyes rolling so far back into my head.
Gameshare
Paul: There were rumblings that Nintendo were looking to find ways to share games, and the virtual game card idea that was announced last week was a step in that direction. I like how they’ve doubled down on this direction here with Gameshare. The more that Nintendo does to open audiences up to their titles, the more they’ll sell in the long run. Everyone wins.
Jess: I still have some questions about how exactly this is going to work, but I’m curious to see the possibilities of Gameshare. It might make me hate the huge swing towards digital games just that little bit less, though I’m not sure it’ll be enough to pull me away from physical copies where possible.
Matt: This is a cool idea, though being in the same area is somewhat limiting. A Family share system like Steam uses would have been nicer, but as it is, it is wonderful to have.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Paul: Nintendo has beaten Xbox and Sony to the punch with the first standard controller to include back paddles out of the box. Very cool! Lock me in for this, I’ll be all over it.
Jess: This might be the first time I buy the official pro controller. Looking good!
Matt: Looks like the old one, just with some paddles. It will still be the best way to play docked though so I will probably grab one pretty quickly.
Final Thoughts
Paul: Nintendo consoles are exclusive boxes for me. I’ll play almost everything else on my PlayStation where I will presumably get a vastly superior experience. That all said, I’m willing to pay the premium to get the Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4, and more, experience. They’ve managed to deliver a strong first six months without having to rely on Mario platformers, real Zelda games, Animal Crossing or Smash as even carrots to dangle for players in the future. Nicely done Nintendo, I’m on board.
Jess: I did leave that presentation far more hyped for the console than when I started. I still wish it were a little more colourful and playful to look at, but I can accept that it’s looking slick and get past that. Nintendo consoles are always a must-buy for me, mostly because they’re still the pros when it comes to maintaining a catalogue of games that can only be played on their system, and so many of those games still have a hold on me. It was a good showing from Nintendo for me – definitely better than last week’s Direct – and I’m ready to welcome the Switch 2 and all its weird peripherals into my life.
Matt: That was a really up-and-down showing for me. Some stuff looked great, some looked average and some looked terrible. Mario Kart and Donkey Kong were the clear highlights for me (not that should be a surprise) and it was nice to see great indie support right out of the gate. I do think it is one top game short at launch though, so rushing out for most people won’t be needed. Had Ninty managed to get DK or Metroid ready for launch it would have been a much tastier day-one proposition. As it is, waiting a month or two won’t hurt most people.
