Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order, Metroid Prime 4 Gameplay Revealed!

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – also for Switch 2

At yesterday’s Direct presentation, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was also announced for Switch 2. There, we can choose between performance and quality modes, for example, and control Samus Aran’s weapon arm using the mouse functionality of the new Joy-Cons.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will therefore be released for Switch and Switch 2 later this year. According to TrendfiTech.

the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition in addition to standard controls you can use mouse controls for intuitive gameplay on Switch 2 plus you can explore the immersive world in 4K at 60 frames per second or enjoy smoother action in full HD at 120 frames per second choose from these two modes both of which support HDR based on your preference.

MicroSD Express Cards: Lexar launches memory card sales for Nintendo Switch 2 and PC

The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t even on sale yet, but the compatible MicroSD Express Cards are already available for purchase. The price isn’t as high as, say, CF Express Cards. The Lexar also offers 1 TB cards.

Lexar has announced the availability of its first MicroSD Express Cards, which should be of particular interest to Switch 2 users once the console is available. Lexar will offer the cards in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB sizes under the name Play Pro.

The current prices are €100, €160, and €280, respectively. Lexar itself hasn’t disclosed any prices for the cards, so this could change once local retailers and Amazon are able to sell the cards themselves. The cards are remarkably expensive. Nintendo itself plans to offer Mario-branded cards from Sandisk and Samsung for €60. However, Nintendo hasn’t disclosed any technical specifications.

Lexar’s Play Pro cards offer speeds of up to 900 MB/s read and 600 MB/s write. When asked, Lexar stated that all three card capacities are equally fast. The cards can also be accessed in UHS-I mode using older readers. However, Lexar hasn’t disclosed how fast they are in those modes.

Lexar also already refers to the  listing on Amazon . Some of the cards are shipped from Amazon’s warehouse, but they still come from Marketplace retailers. Availability from other retailers is not yet available, especially since MicroSD Express cards are still a challenge for store searches. Amazon also offers numerous MicroSD cards using the search term “MicroSD Express.” At Media Markt and Saturn, the results are completely useless. We occasionally found 8 GB MicroSDHC cards on offer.

Sandisk sells the card reader

Meanwhile, the question remains as to how the cards can be used before the Switch 2. Sandisk already offers a suitable card reader (Pro Reader,  €90, Amazon ). It is also capable of reading SD Express cards. The reader ( link to the data sheet, PDF) is compatible with the Pro Dock 4 and supports UHS-I for older cards. In other words, the SD Express reader reads particularly fast UHS-II/III cards more slowly, namely at UHS-I level. If you have different cards, you need different readers.

It’s still unclear whether the Sandisk reader can handle the new SDUC cards, which are required for 4 TB and larger cards. Currently, new readers would have to be purchased for MicroSD Express cards that comply with the SDUC standard . However, SDUC isn’t yet available with the SD Express protocol, only as legacy UHS cards.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will also be released for Switch 2

After previously being rumored, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond ” was announced yesterday for Switch 2. A short trailer was also shown. You should also read “WhatsApp Introduces Enhanced Chat Privacy to Boost Security“

Samus Aran, the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter, will embark on a new mission in “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.” This title will be released for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with the latter offering improved graphics and performance, allowing both standard controls and the mouse mode of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, allowing players to manipulate Samus’s weapon arm with greater precision. Depending on their preferences and playstyle, players can choose between Quality and Performance modes, both of which support HDR.

Nintendo shows “Metroid Prime 4” and rental option for digital games

According to IGN, the US retailer, the Switch 2 will be available for pre-order starting next week. It came as a surprise that Japanese game maker Nintendo held a virtual event on Thursday, even though the big announcement event for the Nintendo Switch 2 will take place just a week later. In fact, the “Direct Showcase” didn’t feel like a filler, but rather like an ambitious teaser for the coming months.

Above all, the first moving images of the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4 , a new Pokémon game and “Virtual Game Cards” should show that the existing Switch model does not have to worry about having fewer games, at least this year.

Many games and digital rental options

Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be released at the end of the year , aiming to breathe new life into the franchise with a day-night cycle and a metropolitan setting. Gameplay footage from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond , including puzzles and battle scenes, was shown for the first time. The game will likely also be shown for the Switch 2 next week. According to reports, development has been underway since 2017. However, Nintendo promises it will actually be released this year.

Tomodachi Life series

In addition to a sequel to the Tomodachi Life series, numerous remakes of well-known games were also announced. The puzzle series Monument Valley will be released for the Switch for the first time. While the first two installments will be available starting April 15, part three will follow this summer. Remakes of the first two installments of the Dragon Quest role-playing series have been promised for this year, and the two witty music games Patapon 1 and 2 , originally released for the PlayStation in 2007 and 2009, will also be released for the Switch this summer.

With a system update in April, Nintendo is introducing a new game management system called “virtual game cards.” These are designed to function similarly to physical cards. Once purchased, they can be selected and launched on a separate overview screen. If you virtually pull them out of the console, they can be loaned to another Switch console that also runs on the family account. However, you can only borrow one game per person and only for two weeks. So, they’re not quite as flexible as physical games.

There were also a few surprises, such as the interesting Shadow Labyrinth , which is supposed to be a dark version of the Pac-Man franchise. A news app called Nintendo Today is also set to launch soon, which will provide updates on the Switch.

When is the Switch 2 coming?

Despite the numerous announcements that will also be made for the current Switch, many eyes are on the coming week, where more will be revealed about the Switch 2. In addition to the launch game lineup, there is particular speculation about when the new console will be released.

Pre-orders should be possible starting next Wednesday, at least. That’s what a now-deleted post from the Canadian retail chain Best Buy claimed, as Mashable reports. That would be the day Nintendo will reveal more about the new console at a Switch 2 Direct. DER STANDARD will report on this soon. (aam, March 28, 2025)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay Trailer

Nintendo has released a new gameplay trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, in which Samus Aran gains mysterious psychic abilities on the planet Viewros. The game will be released in Europe in 2025 and promises a thrilling story beyond space and time.

Nintendo shows a new gameplay trailer, 20 pictures and a packshot for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond .

Samus Aran has been unexpectedly transported to the planet Viewros. While exploring the planet in search of answers, Samus gains psychic abilities—mysterious and ancient powers that allow her to control the trajectory of her beams, operate mechanisms, and open doors.

Why was Samus given these powers, and what will her fate be? The threads that intertwine beyond space and time will weave a new story. Release: 2025 (Europe).

Switch 2: No OLED screen but still an upgrade

Before the release of the next Nintendo console, a leak suggests that the new screen should have clear advantages.

On April 2nd, the next Nintendo console will make another big appearance: Further details about the Switch 2 are expected to be revealed in a detailed “Direct” episode. Shortly before that, clues about the console’s screen specifications are already pouring in. While many observers had hoped for an OLED version, it now appears that Nintendo will likely opt for an LCD display instead – one with advanced technologies that promise a noticeable leap in quality compared to the current Switch.

120 Hertz, HDR and VRR

As Tweak Town reports , according to an insider, the Switch 2 will likely feature a panel with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hertz. This would be a significant improvement over the current model, which can only manage a maximum of 60 Hertz. Gamers should benefit from smoother motion – provided the games deliver the corresponding frame rate.

As reported by GameSpot, Nintendo’s upcoming console will likely launch in June 2025.

In addition, the new console will support HDR, which visibly enhances color and contrast, as well as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which compensates for stuttering image display at fluctuating frame rates. This combination would be a first for a Nintendo handheld and would significantly modernize the display’s technical foundation.

Fits Nintendo

If Nintendo decides to forgo OLED, it will likely be primarily for economic reasons. The company is faced with a changing market: Devices like the Steam Deck now offer powerful alternatives and are putting pressure on Nintendo’s pricing. A high-quality LCD panel with modern features therefore seems like a sensible compromise between technical quality and an affordable retail price.

This isn’t particularly unreasonable, especially since Nintendo has been known for years for its strategy of keeping hardware costs as tight as possible and not aiming for high-end specifications. A small downside: It wouldn’t be surprising if Nintendo had indeed planned OLED for the Switch 2 – albeit only as a revision at a later date.

A question of patience and price

Nintendo hasn’t officially commented on the Switch 2’s display yet. The actual schedule for the upcoming Nintendo Direct is also unclear. But it is certain that the console will released sometime this year, and quite soon. So, it’s safe to assume that Nintendo will provide a significant information boost on April 2nd. While some observers are already suggesting May 15th as a likely release date for the new hybrid console. Others point to a launch in early June.

CONCLUSION:

The price is also still largely unknown: Numerous placeholder prices circulating online provide no reliable indication. Given that the first Switch console already cost €329. When it was released in March 2017. It’s safe to assume that its successor will most likely be in the €400-450 range. (bbr, March 25, 2025).

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📌 Sources:

• With material from the News agencies Reuters news agency, BBC News and CNN reports. And Nintendo Official Website. The content has been independently analyzed and rewritten to provide original insights.

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