Nintendo Switch 2 Direct: Top 7 Surprises Revealed

New video game hardware announcements can often feel predictable. With each new generation of consoles, we anticipate staples like enhanced graphics, quicker load times, and fresh iterations of beloved franchises, such as those featuring a certain plumber and his turtle adversaries.

Nintendo, known for its innovative approach across multiple console generations—from the N64's analog controller to the tiny GameCube discs, the Wii's motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U's tablet screen, and the Switch's portability—has continued this trend with the Switch 2. Yet, true to form, Nintendo managed to surprise us with some unexpected announcements during the Switch 2 Direct.

It's 2025, and we're finally getting online play.

As a lifelong Nintendo fan since I was four years old in 1983, when my babysitter would roll footballs at me like Donkey Kong's barrels, I've experienced a mix of joy and frustration with the company. It's impossible to discuss this exciting reveal without a hint of loving bitterness.

Nintendo has historically struggled with online play, with exceptions like Satellaview and Metroid Prime: Hunters. The company has barely scratched the surface of what's possible with a unified multiplayer platform, unlike those offered by Sony and Xbox. Even the original Switch required a separate app for voice chat.

However, change is on the horizon. During the Direct, Nintendo introduced GameChat, which looks promising. It supports four-player chat with noise suppression, video cameras for showing friends' faces, and screen sharing across consoles, allowing you to monitor up to four different displays on a single screen. According to the new Switch 2 accessibility features page, GameChat also supports text-to-voice and voice-to-text, enabling multiple communication methods.

While we haven't seen a unified matchmaking interface yet, this is a significant step forward. I'm hopeful it will finally put an end to the cumbersome friend code system.

Miyazaki is bringing new blood exclusively to Nintendo

The first frames of the trailer had me thinking it was Bloodborne 2. The ambiance, character design, and environments were unmistakably FROM Software's style. Thanks to Eric Van Allen at IGN, I learned I was watching footage from The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind some of the most challenging games in the industry.

It's astonishing that Miyazaki found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game. I'm starting to believe he never leaves his office or sleeps, much like one of his own characters trapped in a gothic prison. But I'm grateful. FROM Software rarely misses, so I'm eagerly anticipating this new title.

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

In another unexpected move, Super Smash Bros. director Masuhiro Sakurai has shifted his focus to a new Kirby game. This was a surprise, and I think Sakurai deserves a well-earned break.

The original Kirby's Air Ride was visually appealing but lacked fun. However, given Sakurai's deep affection for Nintendo's pink hero, his new take on the franchise is likely to be a more refined and enjoyable experience.

Control issues

A seemingly minor announcement, the Pro Controller 2 now includes an audio jack, a welcome addition about a decade late. More importantly, it features two mappable extra buttons. As someone who loves customizable controls, this small change genuinely excites me.

No Mario?!

The absence of a new Mario game was a genuine shock. It appears that the team behind Odyssey has been working on Donkey Kong Bananza, a captivating new 3D platformer with destructible environments. Nintendo is once again defying expectations, trusting its hardcore fans to embrace Donkey Kong's biggest game in generations while saving Mario for another day.

The Switch 2 will launch with extensive third-party support and Mario Kart World. While World seems like a system-seller, I expected it to be a family game for the Christmas season. Nintendo typically relies on Mario, Zelda, or both to attract their biggest fans during a console's first year. However, with Mario Kart 8's record sales, Nintendo is confident that their most popular party game, alongside Bananza, will drive Switch 2 sales at launch.

Forza Horizon x Nintendo was not on my bingo card

Open-world Mario Kart is here, and I'm betting it will be a hit. The zany physics, unique vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart should translate well to an open world, allowing players to navigate between and across tracks while battling friends and causing chaos. The brief glimpse we got suggests a continuous world similar to Bowser's Fury, but much larger and supporting numerous drivers.

It's very expensive

The Switch 2's price tag of $449.99 USD is steep, especially given current economic conditions like rising tariffs, a declining yen, and American inflation. This makes the Switch 2 the most expensive launch in Nintendo's 40-plus year history in the US, $150 more than its predecessor and $100 more than the Wii U. Historically, Nintendo has used lower prices as a competitive advantage, but the Switch 2 will need to succeed without this edge.