While it didn’t come from Nintendo, fans have likely gotten their first clear look at the Nintendo Switch 2 thanks to yet another leak from an accessory manufacturer.
Nintendo has been coy when it comes to the Nintendo Switch 2. Many of its partners haven’t been, though. Microsoft leaked details about the console’s specs, developers have been announcing games, and construction partners have spoiled details about the release plans.
For a long while, Nintendo had at least kept details regarding the console itself under wraps. That has changed with multiple peripheral manufacturers spilling the beans on the Switch 2. Following a grip leaking a new face button and a similar structure to the original Switch, a silicone skin for the consoles has given fans the clearest look at the hardware to date. And that new button isn’t the only major change.
Nintendo Switch 2 adds three new buttons and changes existing ones
The latest look at the Nintendo Switch 2 confirms the new C button on the right Joy-Con from a previous leak, an extra set of trigger buttons, and more.
When it comes to buttons, this further confirms the addition of the new triggers on the back of either Joy-Con, as well as the new face button. The existing buttons for the hardware have also changed, however. The L and R buttons are considerably larger than the thinner ones on the existing Switch. It’s unclear from the pictures whether the ZL and ZR buttons have been turned into proper analog triggers, but the new triggers seem to fill that role regardless.
Finally, the SL and SR buttons used when playing on a single Joy-Con also got a major change. The buttons are much larger and aren’t buried on the docking tracks. This should make it much, much easier to enjoy the six-button experience when playing on a single Joy-Con and having to dig one’s fingertips in.
Besides the buttons, the skin also seemingly confirms the new method for connecting the Joy-Cons to the console. Rather than being loaded in from the top, the new Joy-Cons seemingly snap in from the sides. Previous leaks that align with these recent ones suggest that they will use magnets to hold them in place.
Switch 2 gets new USB-C port, radically improves kickstand
The Joy-Cons are largely familiar to players, but there are a few major changes to the console itself.
It now has a U-shaped kickstand that runs along the full body of the console. This is sure to be a radical improvement over the basic Switch’s thin kickstand that, quite simply, never did its job and then broke. This was remedied in the Nintendo Switch OLED Model with a full-body kickstand. That improvement, thankfully, is here to stay.
The biggest quality-of-life improvement could be the addition of a new USB-C port on the top of the console. While its function is unclear, the most likely possibility is that players will finally be able to place it on a table or desk and charge it while playing. The existing Switch’s lone USB-C port being on the bottom of the console was a constant source of frustration for those who played it on the road and needed a third-party accessory to keep its battery full while playing on a tabletop.
