Nine years after the original Switch changed how we think about handheld gaming, Nintendo has launched its successor. The Nintendo Switch 2 arrived on June 5, 2025 at a US price of $449.99, and it comes with a 120 Hz HDR screen, 256 GB of internal storage, and magnetic Joy‑Con controllers. This article breaks down the real costs, the key upgrades, and whether the switch to Switch 2 makes sense for buyers in Ireland in 2026.
Release date: June 5, 2025 (global) ·
Price (US): $449.99 MSRP ·
Price (Ireland): €459.99 – €469.99 (Smyths Toys) ·
Storage: 256 GB internal ·
Screen refresh rate: 120 Hz with HDR ·
Joy‑Con attachment: Magnetic snap‑on
Quick snapshot
- Released globally on June 5, 2025 (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
- 256 GB internal storage, 120 Hz HDR screen (Digital Foundry technical analysis)
- Magnetic Joy‑Con attachment replacing slide‑on (Saiga NAK report)
- Future price changes for Switch 2 in EU (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
- Nintendo’s plans for Switch 3 or 4 (9to5Toys leak roundup)
- Price increased €100 as of Sept 1, 2026 (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
- Major exclusives (Ocarina of Time remake) landing 2026 (Nintendo Australia Direct recap)
- Further year‑plus of Switch 2‑exclusive titles (IGN game directory)
- Potential hardware shortages in Ireland (Joe.ie report)
Six quick facts that frame the Switch 2 landscape for anyone weighing a purchase in 2026.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | June 5, 2025 |
| US price | $449.99 |
| Irish price (Smyths) | €459.99 – €469.99 |
| Internal storage | 256 GB |
| Screen specs | Full HD, 120 Hz, HDR |
| Joy‑Con connection | Magnetic snap‑on |
The table above gives the raw numbers, but the real question is what they mean for a 2026 buyer.
What year will Nintendo Switch 2 come out?
Nintendo released the Switch 2 globally on June 5, 2025 (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2), making it a current‑gen console in 2026. The launch followed a formal announcement from Nintendo in January 2025 (Nintendo Japan corporate release), and analyst Piers Harding‑Rolls predicted the console would maintain the hybrid handheld/home form factor of the original Switch (BBC News analysis).
Official release date and global rollout
- Global release: June 5, 2025 (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
- Pre‑orders opened in early 2025 through major retailers (Joe.ie report)
The rollout was broad: the console arrived in Ireland alongside the rest of Europe, with Smyths Toys listing it at €459.99–€469.99 at launch.
The implication: anyone reading this in 2026 is already in the post‑launch window where stock is stable but prices have shifted.
Pre‑order availability
- Irish pre‑orders handled by Amazon, GAME, Currys (Joe.ie report)
- Early demand high, with warnings about constrained stock (Joe.ie report)
By 2026, these shortages have largely eased, though the console’s €499.99 September price increase (effective September 1, 2026 in Europe, per Wikipedia entry for Switch 2) has changed the cost picture.
Irish buyers who waited past September 2026 are now facing a €100 premium over the original launch price, erasing the savings of not buying early.
Why is the Switch 2 still so expensive?
Nintendo set the Switch 2 MSRP at $449.99 in the US (Joe.ie report), and the euro‑area price rose to €499.99 effective September 1, 2026 (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2). That €100 jump was linked to a global memory shortage (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2).
Switch 2 price breakdown
- US MSRP: $449.99 (launch) (Joe.ie report)
- Initial Irish launch price: ~€399 (rumored insider claims) (Joe.ie report)
- Post‑increase euro‑area price: €499.99 (from Sept 1, 2026) (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
- Game price range: €69–€79 per title (Joe.ie report)
Compared with the original Switch (launched at £279.99 in the UK, per Joe.ie report), the Switch 2’s post‑increase price represents a 60‑80% jump in baseline hardware cost, before factoring in pricier games.
Factors behind the cost
- Ampere‑based Nvidia T239 SoC with machine‑learning capabilities (Digital Foundry technical analysis)
- 256 GB storage vs original Switch’s 32 GB (Digital Foundry technical analysis)
- Full‑HD 120 Hz HDR screen and larger LCD (Saiga NAK report)
- Global memory shortage driving component costs up (Wikipedia entry for Switch 2)
The pattern: each major spec upgrade comes with a real‑world price tag that hits the customer twice — once at the register, once again when the game library starts at €69.
For an Irish buyer in 2026, a single Switch 2 plus two games costs approximately €640 — almost the price of a mid‑range laptop.
Should I upgrade from Switch 1 to 2?
The question hinges on whether the improved hardware and exclusive game library justify the roughly €500‑plus cost. The original Switch runs on an Nvidia Maxwell‑based Tegra X1 (Digital Foundry technical analysis); the Switch 2 uses an Ampere‑based T239, a generational leap roughly similar to the jump from a GTX 900‑series card to an RTX 30‑series card (Digital Foundry technical analysis).
| Feature | Switch 1 (original) | Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | March 3, 2017 | June 5, 2025 |
| Storage | 32 GB (Joe.ie report) | 256 GB (Digital Foundry technical analysis) |
| Screen | 6.2″ LCD, 60 Hz | Full HD, 120 Hz with HDR |
| GPU architecture | Nvidia Maxwell (Tegra X1) | Nvidia Ampere (T239) |
| Joy‑Con connection | Slide‑on rail | Magnetic snap‑on |
| Docked output | 1080p | 4K via dock |
| Key exclusive games (2026) | Limited new releases | Ocarina of Time remake, The Duskbloods, WWE 2K26 (IGN game directory) |
| UK launch price | £279.99 (Joe.ie report) | ~€499.99 (post‑increase) |
| Game price range | Typically €50–€60 | €69–€79 (Joe.ie report) |
| Battery life (estimated) | 4.5–9 hours (varies) | Not fully disclosed |
This comparison makes the hardware gap clear, but the upgrade decision ultimately comes down to which games matter most to you.
Who benefits from upgrading
- Players who want the latest first‑party exclusives — the Ocarina of Time remake is Switch 2‑only (Nintendo Australia Direct recap)
- Those with a 4K TV who want 4K output from the dock
- Heavy handheld users who will appreciate the 120 Hz, HDR screen
- Gamers who experienced Joy‑Con drift and want the redesigned magnetic attachment
The trade‑off: the original Switch still plays a vast library of titles, but the release of Switch‑2‑only exclusives in 2026 means that library will stop growing.
Is Switch 1 still worth it in 2026?
The original Switch can still be purchased new or second‑hand in 2026 at a fraction of the Switch 2’s cost. The original Switch launched at £279.99 (Joe.ie report), and used units in Ireland now sell for around €100–€150. However, its 32 GB storage (Digital Foundry technical analysis) and 60 Hz screen (Saiga NAK report) put it at a significant disadvantage for new games that take advantage of Switch 2’s hardware.
Switch 1 value in 2026
- Price: €100–€150 used in Ireland
- Game library: all original Switch games still playable
- Limitations: 32 GB storage, 60 Hz screen, no 4K output, no access to Switch‑2‑only exclusives
For a family or casual player who just wants to play Mario Kart and Pokémon, the original Switch remains a viable option. But GameSpot notes that the most probable holiday title for Nintendo in 2026 is a sequel to Pokémon Scarlet/Violet that may be optimised for Switch 2 (GameSpot editorial).
Budget alternative vs latest console
- Original Switch: lower upfront cost, lower game prices
- Switch 2: higher cost but future‑proof for 2026‑2028
- Key difference: the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and The Duskbloods are exclusive to Switch 2 (Nintendo Australia Direct recap)
What this means: the original Switch is a fine console for 2024‑era gaming, but its relevance for 2027 releases is fading quickly.
For an Irish family weighing a €150 used Switch 1 versus a €500 Switch 2, the gap is €350 — enough for four new games on the older console, but with none of the 2026 exclusives.
Are they making a Switch 3 or Switch 4?
As of mid‑2026, Nintendo has made no official announcement about a Switch 3 or Switch 4. The Switch 2 is the current generation, and Nintendo’s corporate site described it as the “successor” to the Switch (Nintendo Japan corporate release).
Nintendo’s console roadmap
- Switch 2 is the current‑gen console
- No official plans for Switch 3 or 4
- 2026 is dominated by Switch 2‑exclusive titles including The Duskbloods (Nintendo Australia Direct recap)
Rumors about Switch 3 and Switch 4
- Rumor roundup notes no new 3D Mario game until 2027 (9to5Toys leak roundup)
- Unverified leaks suggest potential Switch 2 hardware editions (9to5Toys leak roundup)
- No credible evidence for Switch 3 or 4 development
Why this matters: if you’re waiting for a Switch 3, you’re likely waiting until at least 2030 — Nintendo’s console cycles typically span six‑plus years. The Switch 2 is the only game in town for the foreseeable future.
“Nintendo described Switch 2 as the ‘successor’ to the original Switch, not a minor revision — signaling a full generational upgrade.”
— Nintendo Japan corporate release, January 2025 (Nintendo Japan corporate release)
“Major multi‑platform releases such as WWE 2K26 are planned day‑and‑date on Switch 2, suggesting the hardware is considered viable for current‑generation cross‑platform support.”
— IGN (IGN game directory)
For Irish buyers sitting on an original Switch in 2026, the choice is becoming sharper: spend roughly €500 on a Switch 2 that will play every new title through 2028, or stick with the old console and miss exclusives like the Ocarina of Time remake and The Duskbloods. The catch is that the original Switch’s game library stops growing, while the Switch 2’s costs — hardware at €499.99, games at €69‑€79 — make it a serious investment. For the Irish family who only plays cartridge‑based games from CEX, the Switch 1 still works. For anyone wanting Nintendo’s next five years, the Switch 2 is the only path.
Related reading: Nintendo Switch 2 Ireland Price & Release · Bluey: The Videogame for Nintendo Switch
For those still on the fence, a detailed breakdown of the Nintendo Switch 2 release date and pre-order details can help clarify the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nintendo Switch 2 available to buy now?
Yes. The console was released globally on June 5, 2025 and is available at major retailers including Smyths Toys, Amazon, and Currys in Ireland.
Does Switch 2 play all original Switch games?
Nintendo has stated that the Switch 2 is backward‑compatible with most original Switch software, though some titles may require updates or may not support all Switch 2 features.
What is the battery life of Switch 2?
Nintendo has not fully disclosed the battery life. Early analyses from Digital Foundry suggest it is comparable to the original Switch OLED model, but official figures are pending.
Can I use my old Switch Joy‑Con with Switch 2?
No. The Switch 2 uses a magnetic snap‑on attachment system, which is incompatible with the slide‑on rail system of the original Switch Joy‑Con.
Does Switch 2 support 4K resolution?
Yes. When docked, the Switch 2 outputs 4K resolution via the dock, leveraging the Ampere‑based GPU with DLSS‑like upscaling.
Where can I buy Nintendo Switch 2 in Ireland?
You can buy the Switch 2 from Smyths Toys, Amazon, GAME, and Currys. Smyths lists it at €459.99–€469.99 (launch price) though the euro‑area price has risen to €499.99 effective September 1, 2026.
Is Nintendo Switch 2 worth the price in 2026?
It depends on your usage. If you want the latest exclusives (Ocarina of Time remake, The Duskbloods) and a 120 Hz HDR screen, yes. If you only play older titles, the original Switch is still a cheaper option.
