The wait is almost over for the Nintendo Switch 2. After initiallyteasing the consolein January andfully unveiling it with pre-ordersin April, Nintendo is set to launch the Switch 2 worldwide on July 21, 2025. During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event, we learned many exciting details about the console, such as its larger 7.9-inch 1080p display and new magnetic Joy-Cons with mouse control support.
As the launch of the Switch 2 fast approaches, Nintendo has been providing more updates about the console through itsNintendo Today app, which it launched in March. Here are four key updates you may have missed about the Switch 2, including how you might be able to secure a console on launch day if you weren’t able to pre-order one.
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo’s Switch 2 features a more powerful chip, a higher resolution screen, and upgraded Joy-Cons.
Is the Switch 2 really worth $450? I played it myself and here’s 5 things to consider
After going hands-on with the Switch 2, I have a few key takeaways from the experience.
4How to get a Switch 2 on launch day
Best Buy will have limited inventory available at midnight
The Switch 2 pre-order process a few weeks agowas a mess, with many individuals encountering long virtual queues and site crashes as soon as pre-orders started, leaving them unable to secure a console.
If you’re looking to snag a Switch 2 on launch day, Best Buy may be your best option, as it announcedduring its midnight launch eventfor the Switch 2 that it will have some consoles available for those who don’t have pre-orders:
“In addition to fulfilling pre-orders, most stores will have limited inventory of systems, games and accessories for in-store purchase.”
Most Best Buy locations across the US will open at 12:01 AM ET on June 5 for the Switch 2 launch (9PM PT on June 4 for those on the West Coast). To double-check if your local Best Buy is participating in the midnight launch, visitBest Buy’s websiteand select your state and location. Additionally, customers who go to the midnight launch of the Switch 2 at Best Buy will have a chance to receive a “Nintendo collectible.”
The Switch 2 preorder launch is a mess
Switch 2 preorders have started in the US, and it’s been a wild ride so far for many.
3You can lock your Switch 2 with a PIN
Keep your console safe, like your phone
If you’re looking to keep your Switch 2 secure, Nintendo is adding a new option to the console to allow users to do just that. The Switch 2 will include the ability to set a PIN for unlocking your console when you turn it on, similar to what you do on your smartphone.
The new feature is called System Lock and, according to the Switch 2 system menu, it “locks your system with a PIN to protect it from people who don’t play on it.” This will ensure that whenever you wake your Switch 2 from sleep mode, you’ll be required to enter a PIN to unlock it.
The current Switch has a Screen Lock option, but it doesn’t provide much security, as it only requires you to tap the same button three times to unlock it, which means anyone can still access the console. It sounds like the System Lock feature for the Switch 2 will be much more secure and prevent anyone you don’t know from using your console.
Without this feature I’m not sure the Nintendo Switch 2 is even worth it
The Nintendo Switch 2 has a major drawback.
2Protect your Switch 2’s battery
Nintendo is adding a new battery preservation option
Many modern smartphones are now launching withbattery preservation optionsthat limit the amount of charge the battery takes to prolong its lifespan. Many of these devices, like the Switch, have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and the more charge cycles they go through, the less capacity the battery holds over time.
To combat battery degradation on the Switch 2, Nintendo is adding a new feature called “Stop Charging Around 90%” which slows down the console’s charging speed as it approaches a 90 percent capacity and then keeps it around there. While this means you’ll have slightly less battery life, over time it will be worth it as your Switch 2’s battery lifespan will last longer and hold a charge better. And for a console that costs $450, that’s worth it in my opinion. This feature reminds me a lot of the 80 percent charge limitGoogle introduced on Pixel phoneslast year.
When you get your Switch 2, you’re able to find the new battery preservation feature by going toSystem Settings > System >and enablingStop Charging Around 90%.
These two new charging features will improve your Pixel’s battery lifespan
As part of the Pixel December Feature drop, Pixel users can take advantage of two new charging features.
1Mouse control on the home screen
Your Switch 2 home screen will be more like a PC desktop
When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, one of the most talked-about features was that the new Joy-Con 2 controllers would have amouse control feature, meaning that in compatible games, users could use their Joy-Con as they would a computer mouse to play. A few games known to support this feature are Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII.
Recently, on the Nintendo Today app, Nintendo confirmed that not only will players be able to use their Joy-Con 2 as a mouse in select games, but also on its home screen, to simplify navigation.
“Place the Joy-Con 2 controller on a surface with the attachment side facing down, and a cursor will appear on screen,” Nintendo explained.
This essentially makes the Switch 2’s home screen feel more like a desktop, which, if you’re a PC gamer, might make you feel more at home when using the console. As someone who primarily plays games on PC, I’ll be taking full advantage of all the Joy-Con 2 mouse features the Switch 2 offers when it launches on June 5.
4 reasons you don’t need a Switch 2 if you already own an ROG Ally X
Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 is impressive, but if you already own Asus' handheld, you probably aren’t missing much.
