Summary
It seems that gameplay clips captured on theNintendo Switch 2will only last 30 seconds at maximum, just as they did on the original Switch. This update is the latest news from the company as it prepares for the launch of theNintendo Switch 2on June 5.
Nintendo’s recent announcements regarding its upcoming console have been a mixed bag. Some aspects of the release, such as the lineup of launch titles, have been widely well-received, while other reveals, likethe high price point of some first-party Nintendo games, have garnered significantly more criticism. For better or for worse, the Switch 2’s home menu is very similar to the original’s, and this similarity carries over to the Album app.
In a recent update on thenew Nintendo Today smartphone app, it was revealed that players will only be able to capture and store 30 seconds of gameplay footage at a time if they don’t have a capture card. The method for taking pictures and videos is exactly the same as it was with the Switch 1: pressing the Capture Button will instantly take a screenshot, and holding down the Capture Button for a second or so will save a recording of the preceding 30 seconds. All captures are saved to the Album app on the console.
Nintendo Switch 2 Only Allows for 30-Second Recordings
Although the length of video recordings has stayed the same, it has yet to be confirmed whether other improvements have been made to the capture system. TheSwitch 2 boasts a higher resolution than the Switch 1, so perhaps video clips will be saved at a higher resolution as well. Many games on the original Switch, even first-party ones such asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, do not facilitate video recording at all. Making the capture feature ubiquitous across all titles would help the Switch 2 feel like more of a step up from its predecessor.
Another simple enhancement to the system could involve the Album app itself. On the Switch 1, the screenshots and screen recordings of all users are saved to one shared folder. Nintendo does offer some rudimentary methods of sorting them, but they could be greatly expanded upon. The ability to sort games was one of the most popular fan-requested features in the early years of the Switch untilNintendo added folders in a 2022 update. Implementing a similar system for captures would allow users to sort photos and videos however they like, which could alleviate some of the frustration that comes from the 30-second restriction.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on July 14, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
