Nintendo plays it safe, but Switch 2 could cost US gamers dearly

Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest issue of the Destructoid Changelog. This week, the Switch 2 has been unveiled, as have President Trump’s tariffs. Plus, Verdansk is back, proving even battle royales have nostalgic value.

Nintendo doesn’t ‘Switch’ things up too much

There’s only one place to start this week — the Switch 2. Nintendo finally unveiled its latest console, pricing, preorder date (more on that shortly), and launch titles.

In many ways, early fan predictions that it could be called the ‘Super Switch’ were accurate. The console ramps up its built-in display to a 1080p LCD panel with HDR while jettisoning those awkward Joy-Con rails for a more elegant magnetic solution.

There’s a 120Hz refresh rate, and the dock ramps things up to 4K. Nintendo spent a good few minutes talking about party chat — a big win for anyone who’s tried to organize a Super Smash Bros. session via Discord.

As for games, Mario Kart World is the headline launch title, and that’s sure to be an easy sell for anyone itching for a new game in the racing series.

While some (myself included) were a little sad not to see a new 3D Mario, Donkey Kong Bananza should fill that void nicely.

Then there are third-party ports like Elden Ring, Street Fighter 6, Hitman World of Assassination, and much, much more. It’s a promising lineup, bolstered by ‘Upgrade Packs’ for everything from Mario to Zelda and beyond.

So, the more powerful Switch 2 is capable of running games from the last couple of years — but does that mean Nintendo is falling into the graphics arms race withSony and Xbox?

We’re not so sure. While we’re not sold on the optional camera, that top USB-C port could lead to all sorts of experimental peripherals. Some unearthed patents have suggested a second display, but given we didn’t see Labo or Ring Fit Adventure coming, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected.

Trump’s tariffs

If you’re a US-based gamer excited about the Switch, there’s good news and bad news. While the console is still expected to launch in the region on June 5 (as well as everywhere else), you won’t be able to preorder it on April 9.

That’s because Nintendo has responded to President Trump’s latest round of tariffs by saying “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the US will not start April 9 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions”.

We’re yet to find out when the preorders will go live for the US, but as always, Destructoid will have the latest as we hear it.

Back to the Warzone

Call of Duty fans are passionate about the franchise, but they’re also a vocal bunch.

They’ve been through thick and thin in recent years, but Warzone’s Season 3 seems to be a positive update so far for just about everyone. 

That’s because it brings back the battle royale’s launch map, Verdansk. 2020 was a rough year, but Warzone’s launch offereda great way for friends to catch up.

The map’s return, alongside a suite of classic mechanics (including the original Gulag) now brings nostalgia to the masses in a way we scarcely thought possible half a decade ago (yes, it’s really been five years since we first ventured into Verdansk).

That’s all for today, but we’ll be back next week. Thanks for subscribing!

Destructoid team