Gamers finally got their hands on Nintendo’s new Switch 2 on Thursday — a console poised to deliver record-breaking early sales for the Japanese company behind Super Mario.
An upgrade to the wildly popular original Switch, the new device boasts a larger screen and enhanced processing power. Priced at $449.99 in the U.S., the Switch 2 builds on the success of its predecessor, which has sold 152 million units since its 2017 debut, making it the third-best-selling console of all time.
Demand is already high: Nintendo’s online store in Japan received 2.2 million pre-order applications.
Among its new features are online voice chat and temporary game sharing with friends — additions that could appeal especially to younger gamers familiar with the culture of live game streaming.
