Nintendo’s Switch 2 is here — sort of

Image: The Verge, Nintendo The Switch 2 exists. We know that for sure. It’s bigger — seems like we know that too. But what else do we know about the sequel to one of Nintendo’s most innovative and best-selling consoles? Maybe not as much as you might think. On this episode of The Vergecast, we run down everything we know, and don’t know, about the Switch 2. The Verge’s Richard Lawler, Ash Parrish, and Andrew Webster join the show to explain all the new stuff we saw in Nintendo’s trailer, all the things we’re still wondering about, and why exactly Nintendo chooses to launch its consoles this way. It’s all a little odd, but let’s be honest: it’s the Switch 2. What else did you need to know? After that, The Verge’s Adi Robertson joins the show to talk about the week’s whipsawing policy news. The TikTok ban — or non-ban, or later-ban, or kinda-sorta-ban — is closer than ever, and there’s another tech-related case in front of the Supreme Court that could prove just as consequential. We debate whether Elon Musk might save TikTok, whether anything at all is likely to happen on Sunday, and whether RedNote and Lemon8 are the future of anything. Finally, in the lightning round, Richard and David run down some of the week’s other news, from the ousting of Sonos CEO Patrick Spence to the first successful Blue Origin launch. There’s also some news about the iPhone 17 Air being a thing, a new streaming destination for the Super Bowl, and some Drake updates. If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, beginning with the Switch 2: Nintendo Switch 2 announcement: all the news on the next console The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been announced Everything we know about the Switch 2’s Joy-Con controllers The Nintendo Switch 2 supports original Switch cartridges Nintendo teases a new Mario Kart for the Switch 2 Nintendo announces Switch 2 Direct for Apri The Switch 2 is boring — and that’s exactly what Nintendo needs The Switch 2’s bigger screen is just what I wanted And on TikTok and the Supreme Court: TikTok reportedly plans ‘immediate’ Sunday shutdown in the US if it’s banned TikTok ban: Sen. Markey tries to give a 270 day extension TikTok says it’s planning for ‘various scenarios’ ahead of possible US ban Elon Musk is reportedly trying to save TikTok Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to delay the TikTok ban. Duolingo is the real winner in the TikTok ban. What is RedNote? The Chinese app gaining popularity as TikTok ban approaches RedNote: what it’s like using the Chinese app TikTokers are flocking to And in the lightning round: Sonos CEO Patrick Spence steps down after disastrous app launch Sonos’ interim CEO hits all the right notes in first letter to employees The iPhone Air could be coming later this year Super Bowl LIX will stream for free on Tubi Drake sues his label, UMG, saying ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory Bezos’ Blue Origin successfully launches SpaceX rival

Jan 17, 2025 - 14:54

A photo of the Nintendo Switch, on a blue Vergecast illustration. — Image: The Verge, Nintendo

The Switch 2 exists. We know that for sure. It’s bigger — seems like we know that too. But what else do we know about the sequel to one of Nintendo’s most innovative and best-selling consoles? Maybe not as much as you might think.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we run down everything we know, and don’t know, about the Switch 2. The Verge’s Richard Lawler, Ash Parrish, and Andrew Webster join the show to explain all the new stuff we saw in Nintendo’s trailer, all the things we’re still wondering about, and why exactly Nintendo chooses to launch its consoles this way. It’s all a little odd, but let’s be honest: it’s the Switch 2. What else did you need to know?

After that, The Verge’s Adi Robertson joins the show to talk about the week’s whipsawing policy news. The TikTok ban — or non-ban, or later-ban, or kinda-sorta-ban — is closer than ever, and there’s another tech-related case in front of the Supreme Court that could prove just as consequential. We debate whether Elon Musk might save TikTok, whether anything at all is likely to happen on Sunday, and whether RedNote and Lemon8 are the future of anything.

Finally, in the lightning round, Richard and David run down some of the week’s other news, from the ousting of Sonos CEO Patrick Spence to the first successful Blue Origin launch. There’s also some news about the iPhone 17 Air being a thing, a new streaming destination for the Super Bowl, and some Drake updates.

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, beginning with the Switch 2: