First Glimpse of Nintendo Switch 2 Cartridge Revealed

Nintendo has given us our first detailed glimpse of the Nintendo Switch 2 game cartridge, just weeks ahead of the console’s official launch. The reveal comes via a new video shared through the company's Nintendo Today app, offering a closer look at the upcoming Switch 2 carry case — which is designed to hold the console with Joy-Con 2 attached, along with up to six cartridges and two Joy-Con 2 straps.

As previously expected, Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges maintain the same physical dimensions as their Switch 1 predecessors. This design consistency ensures backward compatibility, allowing both generations of games to be played from a single cartridge slot on the new console. However, one noticeable visual change sets them apart: the color.

Switch 2 cartridges feature a striking red hue, a consistent design choice across all titles—not just limited to the Mario Kart World demo showcased in Nintendo’s promotional material. Additionally, the printed label on top of the cartridge includes the new Switch 2 logo, distinguishing it from the original Nintendo Switch branding.

[Switch 2]

Here's a look inside the official Switch 2 carrying case. It has room for the console with the Joy-Con 2 attached, six cartridges, and two Joy-Con 2 straps.

(Also, Switch 2 cartridges seem to be the same size as Switch 1 cartridges, to no one's surprise.) pic.twitter.com/h7k0tqThQz

— OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) May 19, 2025

Beyond aesthetics, the cartridges remain functionally identical—including the bitter coating Nintendo applies to discourage accidental ingestion. As noted by Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta in a previous interview with GameSpot, this coating serves a safety purpose: “We don't want anybody to be at risk of any unwanted consumption. We have indeed made it so that if it enters your mouth, you'll spit it out.”

What to Expect from Nintendo Switch 2 Game Boxes

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The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to launch globally on June 5, 2025, marking what could be a major leap forward for the platform. Earlier today, reports also surfaced indicating that Samsung, one of Nintendo’s key hardware partners, is already exploring potential upgrades—including a future OLED screen variant of the Switch 2.