The shops opened their doors around the world at midnight when Nintendo fans came into the hands of the highly expected switch 2, the first direct console continuation of the gaming giant.

At the start there was eager queues from Tokyo to Toronto. The British tech retailer Currs described it as a “greatest gaming pre-ordering ever” after selling 30,000 units before the release.

Despite the fanfare, the rollout was not without hiccups. The retail game canceled a number of pre-orders, and at the beginning of this year Nintendo temporarily paused US orders due to tariff problems. Nevertheless, the global buzz remained impatience when the crowds gathered in order to release the successor to the original switch-one of the best-selling consoles of all time, with more than 150 million units since 2017.

Curry attributed the enormous demand to “incredible excitement”, which surrounded both the console and its flagship title Mario Kart World in connection with the start. However, the price of 74.99 GBP for the game has drawn the eyebrows – 15 GBP more than most Nintendo titles – questions about them.

“It’s a big deal for us,” said Tushar Sandarka, President of the Mario Kart Society at the University of York. “Even if it was more expensive than I was hoping, it will serve me well for the next 7 or 8 years.” Others were less convinced. The students Mae and Lottie told the BBC that they would remain due to the costs at the original switch. “It’s pretty Spenny,” said Mae, while Lottie added: “I’m not spending a day for a game.”

For Nintendo, the Switch 2 signals a shift in the strategy. In contrast to previous consoles, it bears the same name as its predecessor and reinforces a clear message to existing fans. “This is the first time that Nintendo has launched a direct sequel,” said Sam Loveridge, Market Director at Gamesradar+. “It is a clear offer. Consumers know exactly what they get.”

The hybrid console – playable both handheld and on a television – shows a larger, lighter screen, improved storage and improved performance. Early practical testers determined clever innovations such as the use of the controller like a computer mouse and offer new opportunities to play games like Civilization VII in PC style.

However, Beyond Mario Kart World and a small tech demo title called Welcome Tour are only available a few important first-time titles on the starting day. People like Metroid Prime 4, Donkey Kong: Bananza and Super Mario Party Jamboree TV are still under development. Instead, Nintendo has focused on starting improved expenses from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom and presenting the skills of the Switch 2.

Developers of third -party providers appear to fill the initial emptiness with titles such as Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Cyberpunk 2077 and Bravely Standard from day one. “This more powerful console brings Nintendo to a more direct competition with Sony and Microsoft,” said Katie Holt, Senior Analyst at Ampere Analysis.

Takuhiro Dohta, Senior Director of Nintendo, admitted that developers need time to fully explore the skills of the console. “Since developers continue to understand the hardware, we can expect improvements not only in the graphic, but also in gameplay,” he said.

In view of the high excitement of the starting day, early indicators indicate strong sales. However, whether the Switch 2 can match the continued attractiveness of its predecessor can ultimately depend on wider software support – and how far the fans are willing to stretch their budgets.