How To Go Hands-On With The Switch 2 Before Launch

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed, and it’s going on a worldwide tour. The next generation console is coming in 2025, but players can get a face-to-face experience with the Switch 2 as soon as this April at a series of special worldwide events. While rumors and leaks surrounding Nintendo’s next console and accessories have steadily increased in the last few months, the recent teaser video is the first official look at the Switch 2. Alongside a bigger screen, updated Joy Cons, and an improved stand, the video also showed which classic Nintendo series may return as a launch title.

The Switch 2 will debut in the United States first, with three separate events in April 2025, where fans can see, touch, and play with the newest Nintendo console. The Hands-On events are limited to only three major cities in the United States, but thankfully, everyone will have an equal chance to snag a ticket through a raffle system. Additional events will take place all over the world in April and June, including cities like Paris, Seoul, Milan, and Tokyo.

Where & When To Go Hands-On With The Switch 2

A Worldwide Series Of Events

The Nintendo Switch 2 has not only been unveiled but will also be available for fans in select cities to experience in person throughout the month of April. Only three cities in the United States will have the hands-on event: New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas, but there will be other events all over the world. Each of the events in the US will run at different times, with New York City getting Switch 2 on the first weekend of the month, from April 4 to April 6.

Los Angeles will have its event next, from April 11 to April 13. Finally, Dallas’s event will take place on the last weekend of the month from April 25 to April 27. Each event will be located downtown in each respective city and will surely be packed. The other cities confirmed to also have the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience are London, Berlin, Milan, Toronto, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Madrid, Melbourne, Seoul, and Paris.

City	Dates	Location
New York City	April 4 to April 6	Center415, 417 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
Paris	April 4 to April 6	Grand Palais, 7 Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris
Los Angeles	April 11 to April 13	Television City, 7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
London	April 11 to April 13	Excel London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
Dallas	April 25 to April 27	Embarcadero Building at Fair Park, 1229 Admiral Nimitz Dr, Dallas, TX 75210
Toronto	April 25 to April 27	Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place – Heritage Court,100 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto ON, M6K 3C3 Canada

City	Dates	Location
Milan	April 25 to April 27	The Mall, Piazza Lina Bo Bardi, 20124 Milano
Berlin	April 25 to April 27	STATION-Berlin, Luckenwalder Str. 4–6, 10963 Berlin
Tokyo	April 26 to April 27	Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 9-11, Chiba City, Japan
Madrid	May 9 to May 11	MEEU, Attic of Chamartin station, Access via Agustín de Foxá Street, No. 40, 28036 — Madrid
Amsterdam	May 9 to May 11	Taets Art and Event Park, Middenweg 62 (Hembrugterrein), 1505 RK Zaandam
Melbourne	May 10 to May 11	Centrepiece at Melbourne Park, Olympic Blvd, Melbourne VIC 3000
Seoul	May 31 to June 1	Korea International Exhibition Center, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province
Hong Kong	TBA	TBA
Taipei	TBA	TBA

There hasn’t been any confirmation on what games one can experience on the Switch 2, but it’s likely that the game of choice will be Mario Kart 9. The short teaser video, which displayed what changes are coming to the console, also showed a sliver of Mario Kart 9 gameplay. Since Mario Kart titles tend to come as launch games with the new Nintendo console, it seems safe to say that Mario Kart 9 will make an appearance at the Hands-On event.

How To Register For Switch 2 Hands-On Events

A Free Raffle Open Throughout January

The Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-On event, already limited by its small number of cities in each country, will also have limited tickets available. Instead of opening an online ticket queue, Nintendo has created a free-to-enter raffle to give people the chance to attend. A free Nintendo Account must be made to enter the raffle, and fans can enter on the official Nintendo site. The barrier to trying and winning a ticket is low, so everyone has an equal chance. Nintendo has confirmed that it doesn’t matter when someone submits their entry, so there’s no rush to register as soon as the raffle opens.

The registration period will run for over a week, beginning on January 17 at 12 pm PT / 3 pm EST and ending on January 26 at 11:59 pm local time for each city. As soon as the drawings have closed, all entries will be notified if they won a ticket. The only thing Nintendo fans need to do is use their Nintendo Account (or create a new account), enter for a chance to win a ticket to see the Nintendo Switch 2, and wait until the end of January. The amount of tickets will likely be very limited, though Nintendo hasn’t confirmed exactly how many attendees will be able to attend each city’s event.

Source: Nintendo