New video game hardware announcements can become somewhat predictable. With each new generation of consoles, you can expect to see near-certain staples like better graphics, faster load times, and new takes on beloved, plumber-and-turtle-oriented franchises.

Even Nintendo, which has consistently delivered these improvements across several generations—from the N64's analog controller, the tiny GameCube discs, the wacky Wii motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U's tablet screen, to the Switch's built-in portability—has continued this trend with the Switch 2.

But being Nintendo, the company once again unveiled a few genuine shockers during the Switch 2 Direct.

It's 2025, and we finally get online play.

As a lifelong Nintendo fan since 1983, when I used to jump over footballs like Mario dodging Donkey Kong's barrels, I can't help but share this awesome reveal with a hint of loving bitterness.

Nintendo, as we all know, has struggled with online play. Aside from Satellaview and Metroid Prime: Hunters, the company has barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with a unified multiplayer platform like those from Sony and Xbox. Finding and talking with friends on a Nintendo platform has never been easy, with the Switch requiring a separate app for voice chat.

Shockingly, change is here. During the Direct, Nintendo unveiled GameChat, which looks genuinely impressive. It's a four-player chat that supports noise suppression, video cameras for showing friends’ faces, and screen sharing across consoles, allowing you to keep an eye on up to four different displays within a single screen. The new Switch 2 accessibility features page confirms that GameChat also supports text-to-voice and voice-to-text, enabling multiple communication methods.

While we haven’t seen a unified matchmaking interface yet, this is already a significant step forward. I’m hoping it means the end of the cumbersome friend code system.

Miyazaki is bringing new blood exclusively to Nintendo

When I saw the first frames of the trailer, I thought I was seeing Bloodborne 2. The ambiance, character design, and environments all screamed FROM Software's signature style. Thanks to Eric Van Allen at IGN, I now know that I was watching footage from The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the master of video game challenges.

I'm amazed at how Miyazaki found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game. It's as if he never leaves his office or sleeps, much like one of his own characters trapped in a gothic prison. But I'm grateful. FROM Software rarely misses, so I'm eagerly anticipating this new title.

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one

Speaking of surprises, it seems Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has moved on from Smash to a new Kirby game. This was unexpected. Sakurai needs a break!

The original Kirby's Air Ride was a pleasant-looking but lackluster Kirby racer for GameCube. However, Sakurai's deep affinity for Nintendo’s round, pink hero promises a refined and enjoyable experience this time around.

Control issues

It was almost a throwaway moment, but the Pro Controller 2 sounds genuinely improved. Nintendo announced that the Pro Controller 2 now includes an audio jack—a feature that's welcome about a decade later. More importantly, they've added two mappable extra buttons. As someone who loves customizable controls, this small addition genuinely excites me.

No Mario?!

This revelation genuinely shocked me. It appears that many of Nintendo’s Mario developers have been working in secret on his next 3D adventure, which I assumed would be the big summer game for Switch. I was wrong. The Odyssey team is behind Donkey Kong Bananza, a captivating new 3D platformer focused on destructible environments. Nintendo is once again defying expectations, trusting hardcore fans to embrace Donkey Kong's biggest game in generations and saving Mario for another day.

The Switch 2 will also launch with extensive third-party support and Mario Kart World. While World looks like a system-seller, I figured it would be timed as a Christmas-window family game. Nintendo typically relies on Mario, Zelda, or both to sell to their biggest fans during a console’s first year. However, with Mario Kart 8's record sales, Nintendo is confident that their most popular party game, alongside Bananza, will help drive Switch 2 sales at launch.

Forza Horizon x Nintendo was not on my bingo card

Open-world Mario Kart is here, and I'm betting it will be a hit. The zany physics, weird vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart should translate well to navigating between and across tracks, battling friends, and causing chaos. The brief glimpse we got suggests a continuous world similar to Bowser’s Fury, but much larger and supporting numerous drivers.

It’s very expensive

The Switch 2's price is a concern. At $449.99 USD, it's the most expensive launch in Nintendo’s over 40-year US sales history. It's $150 more than the original Switch's launch price and $100 more than the Wii U. While I understand the economic factors at play, such as tariffs, the yen's value, and American inflation, the Switch 2's success will depend on more than just its price.