Switch 2 release date and price confirmed – Nintendo's next console launches in June for $450

At long last, Nintendo has confirmed the release date for the Switch 2 – the Switch's long-awaited successor will launch on June 5. Mercifully, that means that there's not too much longer to wait for it.

Let's face it, this is the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct news all of us were waiting for, and now, all that remains now is to hang on for that fabled launch. Back in July last year, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that to prevent its new hardware from being resold, the company would simply focus on ensuring it produced enough to meet customer demand. The original Switch quickly sold out at launch, so here's hoping Nintendo is able to deliver here to ensure everyone can actually get their hands on the fresh console this time.

Nintendo has also confirmed the launch price for the console – it'll cost you $449.99 in the United States. For comparison, the original Switch model was released at $299.99 back in 2017 (£279.99 in the UK), while its shiny 2021 upgrade, the OLED model, launched at $349.99 (or £309.99). Obviously, a steeper price point was to be expected given that this is a souped-up console sequel – analysts previously predicted that it'd cost at least $400.

The Switch 2 excitement doesn't end with today's Direct, as on April 3 and 4, Nintendo is also hosting Treehouse streams featuring a combined total of seven hours of hands-on gameplay of upcoming Switch 2 games. We're certainly going to be given plenty to pore over – after waiting what felt like forever to see the initial Switch 2 announcement in January, it feels like our patience has been rewarded.

While you're here, be sure to keep up with our live blog following everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders.