We're less than one week from the eagerly awaited Nintendo Switch 2-focused Direct presentation. There's hope that Nintendo will reveal a release date and launch details, such as a pre-order date, pricing, and more.
However, it seems that one retailer may have prematurely spilled the beans. An official blog post from Best Buy Canada revealed that pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 2nd.
The post, a comprehensive guide on how to pre-order the upcoming console, stated: "Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will open on April 2nd at Best Buy Canada."
The post has since been taken down, and Best Buy's U.S. branch has not posted any pre-order information.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6:00 a.m. PDT / 9:00 a.m. PDT. Assuming the now-removed post from Best Buy is accurate, this would suggest we'll be getting launch details during the broadcast. At this point, we can probably expect at least a release date and pricing details, especially if pre-orders are to open up following the livestream.
The Switch 2 was officially announced in January with a 2025 release window. The trailer teased some interesting features, though hardware specific details have yet to be explained by Nintendo. Next week's Direct should provide us with a more detailed breakdown of the Switch's successor.
The biggest questions surrounding the Switch 2 are, of course, price and release date. There's been speculation that the Switch 2 could launch as early as May or as late as this holiday season. Most analysts expect it will cost upwards of $400 or possibly more.
Beyond release details, we're hoping the Nintendo Direct reveals the lineup of games that will be available at launch. So far, Nintendo has not confirmed anything, although the initial reveal trailer seemed to tease a new Mario Kart game. It's also expected that the already-announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 will be Switch 2 titles. It's also assumed that the improved hardware of the Switch 2 will allow for more third-party support from day one, including the availability of blockbusters like Call of Duty.
Following next week's Direct, Nintendo will be hosting various fan events across the globe to give gamers a chance to see and experience the Switch 2 up close. North American locations will include New York from April 4-6, Los Angeles from April 11-13, Dallas from April 25-27, and Toronto from April 25-27.