TheNintendo Switch 2’s release is imminent, and while it will almost certainly sell well, it also hasn’t garnered exclusively positive attention so far. For instance, detractors have argued that the new console is too expensive, that its launch lineup isn’t as strong as those of previous Nintendo consoles, and thatNintendo’s recent anti-piracyand anti-emulation endeavors are also anti-consumer.
But after the landslide sales of the first Switch, which few saw coming in the wake of the Wii U’s disappointing performance, the successor console has the benefit of prestige on its side. Plus, the original Switch is a great console, so a significantly more powerful version of it, with additional features, will come across as a worthwhile investment for many owners, regardless of its lineup of exclusives at launch. That said, theSwitch 2’s launch lineup does have at least one major advantage over that of the first Switch’s, which should make it more enticing for both newcomers and anyone upgrading.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Has More True Exclusives at Launch than Its Predecessor
Breath of the Wild Was a Cross-Platform Release—Mario Kart World Isn’t
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis widely accepted as one of the best games ever made, and certainly one of the best launch titles that Nintendo has ever had. But despite being released on the same day as the Switch,Breath of the Wildis actually not a launch title in the traditional sense, as it was alsoreleased on the Wii U, and originally developed with that console in mind.
This is important because of what it means for theSwitch’s image compared to the Wii U. Naturally, the Switch wound up selling far better than its predecessor, andBOTWhelped with that, but it’s reasonable to assume that most of this immediate success can be attributed to the hybrid nature of the device. Without it, one might assume that those invested in theZeldaseries would have simply held on to their Wii Us, as this platform could have run the game with little to no real compromises.BOTWis a system-seller if there ever was one, but it could have sold the Wii U just as well as the Switch.
The same can’t be said forMario Kart World, Nintendo’s first bigexclusive for the Switch 2. This upcoming title, which injects theMario Kartformula with ambitious open-world sensibilities, will only be available on the Switch 2, with Nintendo stating that the older device won’t have the power to run it. Whether this claim is true or not is irrelevant: anyone wanting to play the nextMario Kartwill need to buy the Switch 2, which isn’t something that could have been said about the first Switch’s big launch title.
The Switch 2’s Third-Party Launch Titles Are Some Heavy Hitters
Aside fromMario Kart World, the Switch 2 will see the release of several other big AAA games that simply wouldn’t have been available on the first Switch—not in a decent state, at least. Chief among these technically impressive games isCyberpunk 2077, a title that very few could have predicted would have been on any sort of Nintendo Switch device, making the hardware upgrade even more tantalizing, especially for those whose primary device is the Switch.
Making the comparison to the Wii U again, it’s clear how the Switch 2 stands apart in this respect. While the Switch was a technical step-up from the Wii U, this upgrade wasn’t as significant as the leap between theSwitch 1 and Switch 2. Moreover, the original Switch’s launch titles didn’t illuminate this power disparity as much as something likeCyberpunk 2077orStreet Fighter 6likely will.
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 Jul 16, 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.
