I Was at the 2017 Switch Hands-On Event, Here’s What to Expect From the Switch 2 Event

The Switch 2 is official and Nintendo is holding a series of live demo events in New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas. I had the privilege of attending the Nintendo Switch Experience in NYC back in 2017 so here’s what I expect to see at the upcoming Switch 2 outing.

Nintendo Photo Ops

If you’ve ever been to the Nintendo store in New York City or a Nintendo booth at a gaming convention, you might have already had a taste of the immersive experiences that the company crafts for these events. At the Nintendo Switch Experience, a life-size Link statue (promoting the release of Breath of the Wild at the time) greeted visitors at the entrance with his bow and arrow about to take a shot.

Photo opportunities are a huge part of this immersive event. In addition to Link, there was also a squid-form Inkling to get people excited about Splatoon 2 and a Super Mario Odyssey standee, complete with Mario and an oversized Cappy the cap. Everything was focused on the new Switch-exclusive games that were announced at the time.

I would certainly expect Nintendo to do something similar for its Nintendo Switch 2 Experience, bringing star characters from upcoming Nintendo titles to life by creating figures big enough to stand next to and take a selfie with!

Nintendo Hardware Showcase

When Nintendo launches new consoles, it’s a classy affair. Not only did they have Nintendo Switch demo stations throughout the venue in 2017, there was also a “gallery” display area that showcased the Nintendo Switch, Joy-Con, and the packaging that would be available when the console launched.

For this year’s Nintendo Switch 2 event, I would expect Nintendo to highlight the upgrades and differences between the new hardware and its predecessor. Perhaps some side-by-side comparisons of the old and new consoles will be on display to show the difference in the look and size of the Nintendo Switch 2.

There’s a lot of interest in the upgraded Joy-Con, so I also expect Nintendo to focus on explaining the improvements built into these controllers too.

Playable Game Demos

The most exciting part of the Nintendo Switch Experience back in 2017 was being able to try out some of the upcoming Switch games by playing them on the new console. Gamers were able to get their hands on games like Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2, even the wacky 1-2 Switch.

At the time, I was most excited to try out the Joy-Con. Some demo stations had the Joy-Con set up with the grip accessory, and others had Joy-Con separated and loose for two-player gaming. I remember the grip accessory with the Joy-Con feeling a bit awkward. Thankfully, Nintendo came out with the Pro Controller a few months after the console launched.

While we don’t know which games will be available at launch for the Nintendo Switch 2, I would expect to see exclusive titles like the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, or Mario Kart 9. Hopefully, there will be some new surprises beyond this, especially since we’re due for a Nintendo Direct on April 2 which will hopefully include game announcements and more hardware news.

Immersive Gaming Experiences

One of the big selling points of the Nintendo Switch is its portability. Instead of immersing gamers into the environment of one of the games, Nintendo created simulated locations where you might want to bring your Nintendo Switch for some gaming on the go.

One location was designed to look like a diner, with booth seating and bright red benches to match. Once you sat down at the booth, you were greeted by a Nintendo representative who explained how to navigate the Home menu on the Switch and start playing. There was also a minibus where you could simulate playing a Nintendo Switch on your commute.

My favorite demo area was decorated to look like the interior of an airplane. My friend and I sat down in airplane seats, with tray tables set up so you could put the Switch on a kickstand and play a two-player game with each person using one Joy-Con. We were very excited that the Nintendo Switch was so easy to take with you and play with friends while you’re traveling… or just waiting for the waiter to come back with your drinks.

Not much has been officially announced in terms of what to see at the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 events in New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas. But one thing I am certain about is that Nintendo is going to go all out in making fans excited (…ravenous?) for the Switch 2, launching later this year.

For a chance to grab tickets, sign up for Nintendo’s “free-to-enter, randomly selected drawing” on the Switch 2 website. Good luck to all who try to snag a ticket!

Did you miss the buzz? Check out our full overview of what’s new in the Switch 2.