24+ hours with my Nintendo Switch 2 review unit: GameChat is fun, but there’s a catch

Unboxing

1:36pm – Just before this entry, I was scrolling Bluesky, seeing all the Nintendo Switch 2s arriving on fellow journos’ doorsteps, holding back a tear, wondering when mine would arrive. Suddenly, my phone rings. I run downstairs, trying not to break my neck in the process.

The console box is in my hands, ready to be unboxed… Or at least I think it is. It could be an elaborate prank.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

1:43pm – Thankfully, that looks like Nintendo gear to me! For transparency, alongside the console I’ve been sent a Pro Controller, a camera, a physical copy of Mario Kart World and a microSD card express.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

If you’re picking up the Switch 2 in person, I’d like to note that even with the accessories, the box is surprisingly light and compact. That bodes well for travelling – and any sucker battling the tube with this new console.

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1:59pm – And that’s everything in the box (UPDATE: I missed out the HDMI cable and Joy-Con attachments in my earlier entry, apologies for that). I started to try and dock the console, and it gave me a prompt to attach the Joy-Cons, which I did. That snap still remains satisfying.

A soon as you do this, the console will start to initiate the boot-up process, with accompanying boppy music. I turned it off for now, as I want my big TV for that process.

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2:06pm – And for reference, here’s the OG Switch next to its successor.

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We already knew about the size difference, but I’m enjoying the changes to the dock in particular. The round edges are a nice touch, although it’s thicker.

Interestingly, the back panel – which hides away the cables – comes off entirely, rather than just pulling down (unless I’ve broken it… please tell me I haven’t broken it?!)

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And for those cable lovers out there, here’s the new versus the old. The Switch 2 brick is smaller, sleeker and best of all, that USB cable is detachable. Welcome to 2025.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

Now the great switchover begins – pun very much intended… I’ll see myself out.

Setting up the Switch 2

2:16pm – The Switch 2 is docked (not neatly, but we’re against the clock here), and I immediately tried to pull the Joy-Cons upwards rather than outwards. Old habits die hard.

We’re now on the setup page. I didn’t notice anything tricky during the process – here are the steps broken down:

• Set the language and region
• Read a notice
• Connect to the internet
• Let a download happen
• Set the time region 
• Click through a basic tutorial on how to play the Switch 2, with an option to view Joy-Con attachment guide
• Update and restart the console

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2:22pm – Now’s the time to transfer over your data if you have a previous Switch console. The Switch 2 will walk you through this process, but basically all you need to do is insert a microSD card if you have one, then follow the QR code to sign into your Nintendo account.

Put your source console (in this case, my dinky Switch Lite) close to your new console, and go to System. From there, scroll down to ‘System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2’.

My Lite had to do a few updates first, and then I followed the prompts once it was ready. It will need to be connected to AC. It took around 10 minutes for the data to transfer before the console restarted.

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2:44pm – The console booted up with some adorable launch music. Here you can see the redesigned homepage, which is familiar but with a few tweaks. The buttons are now housed in a pill-shaped menu, while the selection ring is now an ambient blue/pink. There’s a dedicated button for Gameshare, and a prompt for trying out mouse control.

I noticed my left Joy-Con wasn’t connected, but the Switch 2 also picked up on this. Just press the trigger on the back, and it should be recognised.

So all in all, my Switch 2 set-up process took around an hour from unboxing to being ready to play… but then again, I was writing this silly highly informative diary and taking photos of cables. You can probably do it quicker.

Now the real fun. Mario Kart World time!

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Mario Kart World testing

3:07pm – I started with Knockout mode, as I didn’t get the chance to give this a go in Paris.  

I truly think this will be the way forward for tournaments. The transition between worlds and tracks feels so immersive, like you’re on a real road trip. There are new items like the Coin Shell, which drops coins onto the track, and Dash Food, which unlocks a new outfit.

The unexpected weather changes are a nice touch, as is the delightful crown wherever you’re in first place, which obviously, my girl Toadette achieved.

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… Okay, yes, it was on the easiest mode, but I’m trying out the game for work! I’ll try more of a challenge later.

I thought that you may be able to customise your kart like in the last game, but that feature appears to have been removed, which may be a bummer if pimping your ride was a big draw.

As I noticed in my first hands-on, Nintendo is finally next-gen when it comes to graphics. This game looks gorgeous – not photorealistic of course (frightening concept, considering the characters), but that’s not what Mario is for.

3:35pm – I’ve just been exploring Free Roam. I was initially dubious after reading critical feedback this week from reviewers.

However, as somebody obsessed with cosy games, who enjoys wandering around worlds in RPGs with little objective other than to explore the environment, I had a darn tooting good time. I think a lot of players like me, plus kids, will enjoy this style of play if they’re in the mood for something a bit less competitive.

The live map continuously updates when you’re in the main menu, so you can see where other characters are in real time.

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I started off my journey in Acorn Heights and had to train my brain to understand that I could go anywhere I wanted. I headed straight for the river, and was pleasantly surprised to find it buzzing with activity, with a Toad paddle boarding, and several other characters riding the current in a boat.

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It’s little touches like this that make the world feel more alive than ever. However, I will say that some areas do feel more limited and a bit sparse – it’s really dependent on where you go, and I’ve only explored a fraction of the map.

The day-to-night cycle is a lovely touch. As the sky began to darken, I noticed little tents and campfires next to the river. If I’m being picky, it would have been even better to have some form of basic interaction with these NPCs, no matter how small. Maybe they could give tips on the area you’re in, or share some lore about the world of Mario Kart.

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The P Switches are a neat mini game addition, and include things like collecting coins before the timer runs out, or racing to the top of a view point. If you don’t complete a challenge, no stress. You can either click in the L button to retry, or move on if you’re getting miffed off.

There are many collectables such as ? Panels and Peach Medallions, as well as piles of coins. Pipes are also a fun way to get from one part of the map to another, while some characters become part of the track. For example, there’s a Whomp that lies down to become a ramp.

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You’ll see below that I made a pitstop at Yoshi’s – which offers one Dash Food item ready to collect. Again, some form of basic menu that you could click on and use your coins would have been a nice addition.

My time is fast running out, so I’m going to give the Grand Prix Mode a go and will be paying particular attention to the Switch controls here.

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4:04pm – This time I played as the absolutely ridiculous new character Cow (who I’d die for), and completed the Star Cup. I just made the podium in bronze, but considering I upped the difficulty to 150cc and I’m new to this game, I’m happy with a third-place finish.

This mode will be familiar to most Kart fans, and new additions like the running start and animation details give this type of racing a fresh lease of life… but in all honesty, I think Knockout is where it’s at.

Handling of the Joy-Cons – now in their holder – felt steady, secure and responsive. However, my controller holder was warm to touch after an hour’s playtime. The rubber on the Joy-Cons also feels smoother to touch than that of the OG Switch – but that may be wear and tear on the old console.

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4:09pm – Here are my current last thoughts, after my first three hours. If you love Mario Kart, this console is worth buying.

Nothing beats racing in 4K, and the world is so alive and joyous. Knockout mode will completely change professional gaming tournaments, while Free Roam is a stellar option for cosy gamers and younger players, even if it could have some improvements to add to the immersion.

But this is just the beginning! Tomorrow I’ll be digging into GameChat, the graphics improvements and battery life, so stay tuned to Tech Advisor’s live blog for all things Switch 2.

Battery life and handheld mode

7:45am – Good morning! Right now I’m finding out how battery life fares – I’m starting playing in handheld mode. While this console shines on the big screen, the actual 7.9-inch LCD display is, as my husband puts it, “f*cking gorgeous”. I know some fans will be disappointed with the lack of OLED, but rest assured, this is a step up.

We’re starting at 97% of battery, with brightness on automatic and sound at about 90%.

If I’m being completely honest, I forgot to take a photo this morning of the full battery, so instead enjoy this screenshot of Cow mid-jump, proudly showing off her udders, with her cattle buddies in the background.

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9:15am – Bang on an hour and half (90 minutes) into play time and we’ve lost 50% of battery life. For reference, that’s mostly playing Mario Kart World, but I also switched to Fall Guys and Animal Crossing: New Horizons towards the end.

Maths would therefore suggest that the battery would only last for three hours total if I kept playing those same titles and kept the brightness and sound levels the same. This is something I’ll keep in mind as a benchmark when I get to my full review.

Nintendo’s website casts a wide net on its battery life estimate, with a range of around 2-6.5 hours, so it hasn’t misled us. The brand just says that it depends on the game.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

I bet that something like Mario Kart World, which really takes advantage of those new graphics and hardware, drains it fast. It seems about on par with my husband’s OG Switch… but that’s a much older console.

Simply put, if you plan on taking this console travelling, I’d suggest bringing the cable, and a power bank if you have one.

As for using it in handheld mode, I had a slight ache in my hands at first… but I was playing the console flat on my back after just waking up (very mindful, very demure). Once I sat up, the Switch 2 was as comfortable in hand as I remember it being when I demoed it in Paris.

The Switch Lite is, obviously, better for this style of play because of its lighter and smaller build. However, for a console this big, the lack of heaviness and slim form factor is welcome.

10:03am – I’d also like to note that while titles adapted for the Switch 2 look incredible, those that aren’t optimised yet have a notable drop in quality – particularly third-party title Fall Guys, which seems to have the same lag and fuzziness as when I played it on my Switch Lite, when compared to my Xbox Series S.

Of course, it is day one of this new console hitting shelves, so hopefully, studios such as these will release software updates to better take advantage of the hardware.

New Horizons was as charming as ever, but knowing the visual enhancements that are coming to The Legend of Zelda titles, I’m really hoping there will be a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Animal Crossing. As one of its bestsellers, it surely deserves one.

Nintendo e-Shop

11:00am – Took a bit of time between writing and editing other bits (I can’t just completely stop working for this console, boooo) to have a look around the new Nintendo e-Shop, and wow. What an improvement.

The loading times are so much faster – they’re genuinely nippy. Scrolling between games is as exactly as it always should have been. This was one of the real frustrations of using the Switch 1, so I’m glad to see Nintendo has spent time refining this experience.

I was excited by the ‘For You’ section, to see what kinds of games it would suggest based on genres I like. However, rather than showing the titles in a grid format as they are on other parts of the site, a game takes up the whole screen and the trailer automatically plays, and you’re forced to scroll between them.

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Plus, most of my suggestions are in the action/adventure camp – no cosy suggestions, despite me owning Animal Crossing, Wyle Flowers, Palia and Cat Cafe Manager. Granted, these should refresh every Saturday, so I’ll see what comes up in the future.

While we’re on the topic of apps – the Switch 2 YouTube app doesn’t appear to be working at the moment. I tried downloading it again, and still nothing. Hopefully, this will be fixed soon.

Nintendo Switch 2 camera and GameChat

12:27pm – I’ve just unboxed the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, which FYI costs an extra £50.99/$54.99.

If that’s too pricey, then UK buyers can also opt for a Pirana Plant version for £33.99. Besides having a lower resolution and no privacy shutter, I suspect some people will be put off by having something that’s a tad ugly on their TV unit (although I’d like it on record that I, of course, think it’s stunning).

The first thing I’m noticing is the USB-C cable. It’s not very long, and if your TV is a bit further away, for example, if it’s wall-mounted, this may pose a problem. The manual advises to only use the cable provided with this accessory, but I suppose if you’re struggling, you could try a longer compatible one.

Note that you don’t need the camera to use GameChat. If you don’t buy it, your calls will just be audio-only.

BRB – going to set this baby up.

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2:24pm – Before you panic at the time stamp, setting up GameChat did not take that long. However, I had an issue connecting my phone number for verification when enabling it for the first time.

I went for lunch as I had important life things to take care of (not only sandwiches), and when I came back – hey presto, it worked.

To break this down into simple steps, I pressed the new C button on the controller, which then opened GameChat for the first time. I then followed the prompts on screen, which included scanning a QR code to log in to my Nintendo account.

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From there, I had to verify both my email address and phone number. As I mentioned earlier, I had initially had problems with the latter, but after a break, it worked. So, if you’re having trouble, take a step back, get a coffee, and try again. If that doesn’t work, contact Nintendo’s help centre.

GameChat is now (hopefully) enabled. I had the option to choose which friends have access to it, and by default, any new friends who add me can join or invite me to a call – audio or video.

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2:35pm – Before you join a call, you may want to give that camera a whirl to see if it’s working properly.

Make sure you’ve plugged it into the Switch’s USB-C port (the new one on the top is designed just for this). Then, head to System Settings, Controllers & Accessories, and scroll down to Test USB Camera.

From there, your screen should display the feed. If it’s anything like mine, it will appear black. Before you immediately send that camera back for a refund, it looks like the privacy shutter is enabled out of the box. Just twist the dial on the front of the camera, and the white lens blocker will be removed.

Then, you should see yourself. Smile for the mug shot!

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I’d like to note that two minutes after this photo I went to adjust the camera and accidentally pulled my Switch 2, dock and all, off the unit with an almighty crash. Clumsiness is not a winning trait for a tech journalist.

3:38pm – My first GameChat session is officially done, and I have to say, I had more fun than I was expecting.

When you click the C button, you’ll select your profile and hit Create Chat. You can then select the friends you want to invite.

Joining the call itself was largely straightforward. Once you’re in, you have the option of adjusting your camera setting to either blur out your background (although it looks a tad amateur), to show everything in the camera’s field of view, or just centre in on your face – I’ll be the first to admit that the latter is unflattering.

You can also choose to zoom in and out as much as the camera allows, and you have the option to share what’s happening on your screen.

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After a few teething issues, my lobby of fellow tech hacks all joined together. At first, we were a bit perplexed on how to start a game (which, given our profession, we all agreed was rather embarrassing). So, I’m adding the instructions below.

If you want to play Mario Kart World online with friends, here’s what you need to do, once you’re all together in a GameChat call:

• Click on Online Play (1p)
• Choose whether to use the camera
• Click Create Room
• Choose your character and kart
• Friends on the call should then be able to join your room
• Once everyone is in, start the race

We played Knockout mode, and it didn’t take long for us all to start red-shelling one another. There’s no room for politeness in Mario Kart. The noise filtering on everyone else’s games seemed to work a treat, and I had no issues hearing everyone on the call. People’s video feed appears over their character’s head, which is a nice touch.

It was a remarkably close race, and I thought for a moment I was going to clinch the win… but a rival managed to pip me to the post. Fair play.

The real question is: how much value does the camera add to GameChat? If this were a Covid lockdown accessory, I’d see it being very popular. But £50/$50 is a big ask on top of the console and this pricey game.

I’d argue that you can have just as much fun bantering over audio in a game like Mario Kart, where most of your focus will be on the race itself anyway. I’d only invest in it if you have long-distance family members and/or friends that you don’t get to see often, or once another game comes out which uses the camera to more of its potential – like the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party Jamboree.