Screenshot by Destructoid
At least there are some limits right now.
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The Nintendo Switch 2’s release date is approaching quickly, with just over a week left until it hits storefronts and arrives in the pockets of anyone who preordered the console. But that hasn’t stopped a leaked version from surfacing, with an early unboxing video briefly showcasing it.
A seven-second clip, uploaded to YouTube before being swiftly taken down through copyright strikes, highlights the Nintendo Switch 2, boxed and packaged, with its noticeably larger screen and Joy-Con mouse hybrids included. But it doesn’t dive into its functionality and performance for one important reason—it’s impossible to play on the console until launch.
As the uploader mentions in a comment within the video, the Switch 2 is currently locked, preventing it from being used altogether. Using it requires an update to gain full functionality, which is likely to prevent early copies from being used before the console’s release date on June 5. A later post from Wario64 on Twitter (X) confirms this, reporting how another user received a message prompt to “Please connect to the internet and update your system.”
In short, even if you somehow manage to get your hands on an early copy of the Switch 2, there’s no way to play it before its official release. This also means you’ll need to connect to the internet and install an update before accessing the console. While it’s unknown at the time of writing how much this will impact currently planned and future releases, it does mean you’ll be required to go online to update the system before using it.
This unintentional first look at the Switch 2 is arriving shortly after Nintendo released a list of games and apps that can’t run on the platform, including Hulu, Crunchyroll, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit, and more. It also comes with some limitations, such as requiring older Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons to play certain games. This leak primarily highlights the system’s second main limitation: requiring an internet connection for its initial day-one update, alongside any subsequent updates that’ll arrive over time.
The Nintendo Switch 2, its GameChat microphone, and many of its accompanying launch titles will officially be released on June 5.
Published: May 27, 2025 03:18 pm