New video game hardware announcements can often seem predictable. With each new generation of consoles, we anticipate staples like enhanced graphics, faster load times, and new iterations of beloved franchises, such as those featuring a certain plumber and his turtle adversaries. Nintendo has consistently delivered these improvements across several generations, from the N64's analog controller to the tiny GameCube discs, the innovative Wii motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U's tablet screen, and the Switch's remarkable portability. The Switch 2 continues this tradition, but being Nintendo, the company unveiled some genuine surprises during the Switch 2 Direct.

It's 2025, and we finally get online play. As a lifelong Nintendo fan since playing Donkey Kong with my babysitter in 1983, I speak from experience: it's challenging to discuss this exciting reveal without a hint of loving bitterness. Nintendo's online capabilities have historically lagged behind those of Sony and Xbox. Even the original Switch required a separate app for voice chat. However, change is now upon us. During the Direct, Nintendo introduced GameChat, which looks impressive. It supports four-player chat with noise suppression, video cameras for displaying friends' faces, and screen sharing across consoles, enabling you to monitor up to four different displays within one screen. GameChat also offers text-to-voice and voice-to-text features, ensuring multiple communication options for players. While we haven't seen a unified matchmaking interface yet, this is a significant step forward, hopefully marking the end of the cumbersome friend code system.

Hidetaka Miyazaki, known for his challenging games, is bringing new blood exclusively to Nintendo with The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game. The trailer's ambiance, character design, and environments echoed FROM Software's distinctive style. How Miyazaki found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game remains a mystery, but his track record suggests we're in for a treat.

In a surprising move, Masahiro Sakurai, the director of Super Smash Bros., has shifted focus to a new Kirby game. The original Kirby's Air Ride was visually appealing but lacked fun. Given Sakurai's deep connection to Nintendo's beloved pink character, his involvement promises a more refined and enjoyable experience.

The Pro Controller 2 announcement included an audio jack, a welcome addition, albeit a decade late. More importantly, it features two mappable extra buttons, which I find exciting as a fan of customizable controls.

The absence of a new Mario game was a shock. It seems the team behind Odyssey has been working on Donkey Kong Bananza, a captivating 3D platformer with destructible environments. Nintendo is defying expectations, trusting its hardcore fans to embrace Donkey Kong's biggest game in generations while saving Mario for another time. The Switch 2 will launch with extensive third-party support and Mario Kart World. While Mario Kart World looks like a system-seller, Nintendo is betting on its most popular party game and Bananza to drive Switch 2 sales at launch.

The unexpected collaboration between Forza Horizon and Nintendo brings us an open-world Mario Kart. The zany physics, unique vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart should translate well into this larger, continuous world, allowing for chaotic battles with friends.

However, the Switch 2 comes with a steep price tag of $449.99 USD, the highest launch price in Nintendo's 40-plus year history in the US. This is $150 more than its predecessor and $100 more than the Wii U. While Nintendo has historically relied on lower prices as a selling point, the Switch 2 will need to succeed without this advantage.