Nintendo Switch 2 Leak: Release Date, Specs & First Look at Nintendo’s Next-Gen Console

Nintendo Switch 2 hype is reaching fever pitch as U.S. retailers quietly begin stocking shelves ahead of the hybrid console’s June 5 launch date. Over the weekend, employees at several Target locations posted images of sealed pallets labeled “NSW2”—confirming that both the standalone system and the Mario Kart World bundle are now arriving in back rooms nationwide. For fans still hunting for a preorder, the good news is that Nintendo has held firm on previously announced pricing: • Nintendo Switch 2 – $449.99 • Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle – $499.99 • Key launch games: Mario Kart World ($79.99) and Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99). Retailers will reopen online reservations throughout the week as inventory counts update, so bookmarking your preferred store’s listing and enabling push notifications is essential. Historically, Nintendo hardware sells out fastest during midday refreshes (10 a.m.–2 p.m. ET), so set those alerts now. What’s inside the box? Early hands-on impressions from Japanese press demos point to a 7.9-inch OLED panel, a custom Nvidia Orin Lite chipset capable of DLSS-powered 4K upscaling while docked, and backwards compatibility with the entire Switch library. Joy-Con 2 controllers clip onto a subtly wider rail, but legacy Joy-Con and Pro Controllers still pair wirelessly, easing the upgrade path for existing owners. Accessory pricing was quietly tweaked last month to reflect component costs. Expect to pay $84.99 for the Pro Controller 2 and $94.99 for a new Joy-Con 2 pair. A dedicated 13-megapixel camera ($54.99) enables AR gameplay similar to 3DS AR Cards—fueling speculation that a Pokémon Snap-style app could be announced during the rumored “Launch Week” Nintendo Direct. Software highlights • Mario Kart World – 24 brand-new circuits, cross-play with Switch 1, and a “Track Builder” that uploads to the cloud. • Donkey Kong Bananza – Retro Studios returns with a 3-D collect-a-thon built in Unreal Engine 5 running at 60 fps docked. • Metroid Prime 4: Rebirth (launch window) – insiders claim the long-awaited sequel will headline the June Direct. How much stock will be available? Industry tracker Omnia Analytics estimates 1.2 million launch units allocated to Japan alone, with North America projected at 2 million during the opening month. That’s significantly higher than the 2017 Switch debut, suggesting Nintendo wants to avoid repeat shortages. Nevertheless scalpers are preparing bots, so shoppers should stick to in-store pickup options where possible and avoid marked-up resale listings. Tips to secure your console 1. Create or update your retailer accounts now—saved payment and address info can shave precious seconds off checkout. 2. Use multiple devices (phone + laptop) on separate connections; one may bypass queue timeouts. 3. Follow trusted stock-alert accounts on X for “add to cart” links the moment they drop. With consoles physically arriving in stores and final pricing locked, the countdown to Nintendo Switch 2 is officially on. Whether you’re itching for 4K Mario Kart drift battles or curious about Nintendo’s next-gen vision for handheld gaming, June 5 is shaping up to be one of the biggest days in the company’s modern history.