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The Verge’s April 2, 2025 roundup gathered reactions from nine staffers to Nintendo’s Switch 2 announcement, before the console launched. The comments are individual opinions and expectations, not test results. Nintendo’s official specifications and launch information now confirm many of the hardware facts those writers were reacting to, and they also show which questions the roundup could not answer.
Who weighed in, and what kind of evidence this is
The roundup includes comments from Antonio Di Benedetto, Chris Welch, Jay Peters, Marina Galperina, Umar Shakir, Dominic Preston, Andrew Liszewski, Wes Davis, and Charles Pulliam-Moore. Each judgment belongs to the staffer who wrote it. The writers covered the console’s dark design, its LCD screen, the size and mouse function of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, GameChat, the GameCube controller, launch price, Donkey Kong Bananza, the Welcome Tour, expectations for Super Smash Bros., GameCube classics, virtual game cards, and updates to older Switch games.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $619.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Two limits matter before you quote anything from the piece. First, the staff wrote before release, so their remarks are predictions and first impressions rather than measured performance or long-term reliability. Second, the text used here is a third-party reproduction of the article. The original is on The Verge’s site, and quotations should be checked against it before reuse.
The display: what staff reacted to and what Nintendo specifies
The screen drew the most specific praise in the roundup. Chris Welch, a senior reviewer, wrote: “And I was pleasantly surprised that the company went with a 120Hz panel that supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and wider HDR color.” That is his reaction to the announced hardware, not an independent display test. Nintendo’s technical specifications for the console match the features he named:
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
| Feature | Switch 2 specification (Nintendo) |
|---|---|
| Built-in screen | 7.9-inch LCD, not OLED |
| Resolution (handheld and tabletop) | 1920 × 1080 |
| HDR | HDR10 |
| Refresh rate | Variable refresh rate (VRR), up to 120 Hz |
| TV mode maximum output | 3840 × 2160 (4K) at 60 fps; 120 fps supported at 1080p or 1440p |
The practical split is that the built-in screen tops out at 1080p, while the 4K figure applies only when the console is docked and connected to a TV. The roundup’s praise for the panel therefore concerns the handheld display’s refresh and HDR features, not its sharpness at 4K.
Joy-Con 2 and the drift question
The roundup covered the Joy-Con 2 controllers’ size and mouse function. Nintendo’s launch announcement describes the controllers as attaching magnetically and supporting mouse controls in compatible games. The same piece also raised whether the Joy-Con 2 would drift, the stick-wear problem that affected earlier Joy-Con. It presented this as an open question, not an answer. Neither the roundup nor Nintendo’s official specifications establish whether drift will occur, so treat any claim either way as unverified.
GameChat: what it does and what it requires
Staff discussed GameChat as a new way to talk and share screens during play. Nintendo’s own description and support information set out the actual rules, which changed after the April 2025 piece:
Rank #2
- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
| Element | What Nintendo specifies |
|---|---|
| Voice chat | Up to 12 people, using the console’s built-in microphone |
| Screen sharing and video | Up to four participants can share screens or join video chat at the same time |
| Video camera | A compatible USB-C camera, sold separately; Nintendo does not guarantee third-party USB cameras will work |
| Account and service | A Nintendo Account, an internet connection, and Nintendo Switch Online membership |
Nintendo Support states that Switch 2 offered an open-access period without a membership from June 5, 2025 through March 31, 2026. As of October 2026, membership is required for online features including GameChat, so any roundup comment that assumed free access no longer describes how the feature works. Nintendo sells a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Camera if you want a supported option rather than a third-party camera.
GameCube controller and GameCube classics
The GameCube controller was one of the roundup’s topics. Nintendo lists it as an accessory compatible only with Switch 2. It is optional: you do not need it to play the GameCube – Nintendo Classics collection, which itself requires Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Staff comments on GameCube classics were expectations about the lineup and its value, and the sources available here do not confirm how the collection performs in practice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Storage: what the console uses and what it does not
Switch 2 has 256 GB of internal UFS storage, part of which is reserved for the system. Game storage expands with microSD Express cards of up to 2 TB. Ordinary microSD cards that are not microSD Express can copy original Switch screenshots and videos, but they cannot expand storage for Switch 2 games.
Rank #3
- 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
- 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
Other topics in the roundup
The remaining reactions covered launch price, Donkey Kong Bananza, the Welcome Tour, expectations for Super Smash Bros., virtual game cards, and updates to older Switch games. These were the writers’ expectations at the time of the announcement. The roundup does not include measured outcomes for any of them, and the official specifications do not address them, so read those comments as a record of pre-launch expectations.
Reading the roundup today
- The display specifications the writers praised are confirmed by Nintendo, with the 4K figure applying only in TV mode.
- GameChat’s membership requirement and camera rules differ from the open-access period the launch-era discussion assumed.
- Drift, long-term reliability, and the dark design’s day-to-day usability were questions or opinions in the roundup, not established findings.
To check any reaction against its source, start with the original Verge article from April 2, 2025, then compare its claims with Nintendo’s specifications page and Nintendo Support.
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