What Parents Should Know About the Nintendo Switch 2

Published: June 16, 2025

By Gavin Boyle

Last week, Nintendo launched their first new console in eight years – the Switch 2 – and already sold over 3.5 million units. Here’s what parents should know about the device.

“Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Doug Bowser. “We are thankful for their response and happy to see the fun they are already having with Nintendo Switch 2 as they explore new features and games that bring friends and family together in new ways.”

Despite the hype from Nintendo fans, the console lacks a large swath of new content, with the newest entry in the Mario Kart series “Mario Kart World” currently serving as the only full-fledged game on the market that was specifically designed for the Switch 2. However, “Mario Kart World” is not the only game currently available to play on the device, as many games released for the original Switch can run on the new device, at no extra cost.

Nonetheless, Nintendo sold 3.5 million units in just four days, breaking both company and industry records. To compare, it took Sony six weeks to sell 4.2 million units of the PS4 and seven weeks to sell 4.4 million units of the PS5, per The Verge. Nintendo’s goal is to sell 15 million Switch 2 units by the end of March 2026.

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Along with improved processing power and graphics, the Switch 2 also introduces a variety of new software including GameChat, a platform that allows players to speak to each other while they game. The platform has to be set up before it can be used and requires a phone number. The software will need to be approved in Parental Controls before users under the age of 16 can access it. Furthermore, players have to accept an invite to join a GameChat, rather than automatically being added to any chat they are invited to.

Despite these safety features, parents should be wary of this feature as it opens the door to bad actors reaching their kids. Predators may be able to establish rapport with kids before being added to the same GameChat’s as them where things could go south. Additionally, the software also supports video streaming, though a USB-C camera connected to the Switch 2 is required.

The Switch 2 represents the newest in video game technology and, if it has the same success as its predecessor, could be around for the better half of a decade. Nonetheless, parents should understand the risks they take when buying the device for their kids and take full advantage of parental controls to keep them as safe as possible.

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