Nintendo Switch 2 has been fully revealed, as well as the slew of official new accessories for the hybrid. Much like the system itself, the prices for these accessories are a bit steep, including the new Joy-Con 2 and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller costing more than their predecessors.
Upgrades all around
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a significantly improved machine compared to the original, but so too are all the accessories.
The stars of the show are the $89.99 Joy-Con 2, which are larger and more ergonomic compared to the original Joy-Con. The thumb sticks and SL/SR buttons are also larger.
They feature new mouse-like capabilities that make use of a laser pointer that’s triggered when the controller is laying down sideways on a flat surface. This combined with a gyroscope inside each controller allows for mouse functionality in supported games.
HD Rumble 2 is yet another new feature that’s been added, improving upon the vibration tech found in the original Joy-Con. The vibrations are more now powerful and complex, allowing for more enriching gameplay experiences in titles that make full use of it.
A new ‘C’ button sits toward the bottom of the right Joy-Con 2 and triggers the new GameChat feature; an integral new part of the Switch 2 feature set.
That new button can also be found on the all-new $79.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. It sports a similar design to its predecessor, though also features a new set of GL/GR buttons that run along the rear of the handles. These can be mapped to any input the user chooses.
There’s also an audio jack at the bottom of the controller that can accept any headset; no doubt a very welcomed feature for many gamers.
Of course, the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with its own new Dock that sports a new design. Its top edges are aggressively curved, revealing more of the top half of the system.
This may likely be part of the improved airflow, which is further supplemented by the additional fan that sits to the rear of the Dock, pulling in cooler air and expelling it from the top. This is to help keep performance stable, as Nintendo indicates.
Buying a new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set will run you $109.99 USD, featuring the Dock, a USB-C cable and AC Adapter (which are now separate pieces), along with an Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable.
Everything included in this set is reminiscent to the original Switch, but all of those previous accessories are incompatible with Switch 2.
The new system’s dimensions prevent it from fitting inside the original Switch Dock. It also draws more power and needs a higher wattage to charge, thus rendering the previous AC adapter incompatible. Even the original HDMI cable is incompatible, as the Switch 2’s more modern processor outputs at a higher resolution, thus requiring a more capable cable that can transport more data.
There are other supplementary accessories, such as the $34.99 Charging Grip for the Joy-Con 2 and $49.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. The latter is can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned GameChat feature; it even features some gameplay support in select titles.
Perhaps the most important extra accessory one can pickup is a MicroSD Express card. These cards have a much faster data transfer speed, and are required by the Switch 2 to match the performance of its faster on-board storage. MicroSD express cards have an ‘EX’ symbol printed on them. Due to their improved performance, they’re notably more expensive than traditional MicroSD cards, similar to that of SSDs being pricier than HDDs.
The full array of Switch 2 accessories can be found on Nintendo’s website. If you’re curious about backward-compatibility, many original Switch accessories can be used on Switch 2, like the original Joy-Con (wirelessly) and Switch Pro Controller. Nintendo has produced a handy compatibility guide for original accessories.
Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5 for $449. Pre-orders go live on April 9, 2025
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