Three New Facts We Know About Nintendo Switch 2
After years of intense rumors and speculation , Nintendo finally unveiled the Switch 2 in January of this year . While the company has yet to announce every new feature the Switch successor will have, the company has confirmed a number of details that have been hinted at for a long time, including a larger display, redesigned magnetic Joy-Cons, a new kickstand, backwards compatibility and, less importantly, a large “2” stamped on the console and dock.
Since its initial announcement, we’ve learned a little more about the Switch 2 ahead of its full reveal later this year. Nintendo has announced a world tour that will allow fans to try out the Switch 2 early. It also looks like the new Joy-Cons will have a ” mouse mode ” that will allow you to drag the controller across your desk… like a computer mouse. Otherwise, things have been a little quiet so far.
Here are new details about the Switch 2, courtesy of FCC filings, and what they might hint at the future of the system.
The Switch 2 will use NFC, which bodes well for Amiibo support.
As The Verge notes , Nintendo has filed a number of filings with the FCC . The publication scanned these documents and discovered that the Switch 2 will support NFC (near field communication), a technology that allows products like Amiibo to communicate wirelessly with the console. (It’s also the technology behind payment features like Apple Pay and Google Play .) If you’ve used an Amiibo before, you may remember that NFC communication happens through the right Joy-Con on the Switch. The same seems to be true for the Switch 2.
Second USB-C port
Another interesting confirmation in these documents concerns the console’s second USB-C port. You may have seen this new port in the official Switch 2 announcement video , but Nintendo didn’t specify what it was for. Now we know: you’ll be able to charge your Switch 2 via any USB-C port, which is great news for portable players. On the first generation Switch, the USB-C port is on the bottom, meaning you won’t be able to charge the console while gaming with the stand extended ( unless you get creative ). A second side port will solve this problem. This isn’t necessarily a reason to upgrade to the Switch 2, but it’s an advantage that perhaps should have been thought of ten years ago when the original Switch was released.
Wi-Fi 6 support
Finally, the documents show that the Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6 with up to 80 MHz bandwidth. The OG Switch supports Wi-Fi 5 since Wi-Fi 6 didn’t even exist when it came out in 2017. The update should provide faster internet speeds for game downloads and online gaming, while potentially improving battery life since Wi-Fi 6 connections can turn off when you’re not using them . However, we won’t know how much the Switch 2’s speed and battery life have improved over the original Switch until reviewers are able to test the console.
Mark your calendar for Nintendo Direct on April 2nd.
Switch 2 does not have a current release date. However, in a promotional video, the company stated that there will be a Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, April 2 at 6 a.m. PT, specifically designed to offer ” a more in-depth look at Nintendo Switch 2. ” Let’s see how much more information will leak before this date.