The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and Nintendo’s opening play caught my eye: a time-limited Batman Arkham Trilogy bundle (Arkham Asylum, City, Knight) for only €19.99. That’s three of the most beloved superhero games ever made, for less than the usual price of a single ported game. But beyond the sweet deal, it’s the Switch 2’s upgraded horsepower, new Joy-Cons, and those controversial changes to “physical” games that really grabbed my attention-and could change how we play on the go from here on out.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Release Date | June 5, 2025 |
| Genres | Hybrid console/handheld hardware, Action-bundle launch offer |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 |
Let’s be honest: when the Arkham Trilogy originally hit the first Switch, it deserved every jab it got—Arkham Knight was borderline unplayable, with framerates tanking below 20 fps. That was a slap in the cowl for Rocksteady’s legacy. So seeing Digital Foundry confirm a rock-solid 30 fps in handheld on Switch 2 isn’t just a technical bullet point, it’s a relief for fans who care about actually playing these games, not just collecting ports for a dusty shelf.
The time-limited trilogy bundle is, frankly, a steal if you haven’t played these games before or want them portable and playable for once. Considering the standard eShop price remains €24.99 for each game, €19.99 for all three is Nintendo’s rare moment of genuine player-friendly pricing—at least until June 20.
Of course, these are still last-gen games, not a Switch 2 killer app. But for anyone skeptical about Switch 2’s claims of more muscle, this is a real-life proof of concept—especially if you remember the disgraceful state of Triple-A ports on Switch 1, from Control’s cloud-only “solution” to the infamous frame drop fests of titles like The Witcher 3 pre-patch.
Specs-wise, this is the biggest jump Nintendo’s made since the leap from Wii U to the original Switch. A larger 7.9” display (now Full HD, and with HDR support!), proper DLSS upscaling, and docked 4K output make this competitive—at least on paper—with Microsoft’s Series S as a budget console. But there’s a classic Nintendo catch: just because it can potentially run some games at 120 fps doesn’t mean most games (or even ports) will be built to take full advantage. So, don’t expect Mario to suddenly feel like he’s on a gaming PC.
The new Joy-Cons 2 are smarter too: they ditch the infamous rail mechanism for magnetic attachment (thank you, Nintendo), add a “C” button for built-in game chat (before you get excited, let’s see how well that works outside first-party software), and even double as a mouse for mini-games or camera tricks. It’s the smart sort of everyday Nintendo magic I actually care about—the kind that eventually trickles down to make quirky indies or party games sing.
Storage is no longer a joke: 256GB means you can keep more than one modern game on the system, at last. The catch? Upgrade cards require the newer microSD Express format—which, if you’ve invested in regular microSDs for the Switch or Switch Lite, is annoying. At least the market of storage options for microSD Express is steadily improving, but keep an eye on the price.
But the big question mark—one Nintendo buried in specs sheets—is the move to “Game Key Wards.” Put simply, even if you buy a boxed game, you’ll have to download most of it. That’s not a total disaster for the used games market (Nintendo promises you can still resell them), but let’s not kid ourselves: this is less about “player choice” and more about clamping down on pirates and boosting the eShop ecosystem, old-school game collecting be damned.
This launch is classic Nintendo: a headline offer for nostalgic Batman die-hards, and hardware that feels genuinely next-gen by Switch standards, but with policy caveats that’ll frustrate anyone who values physical ownership. Performance upgrades and screen size alone are worth cheering about—they actually serve good games well, not just the marketing department. Yet, Nintendo’s increasing control over software delivery quietly erodes the old promise of “play anywhere, sell anywhere, trade anywhere.”
If you skipped the first Switch—or held off because you were burned by terrible ports—Switch 2 is an honest improvement that closes the gap with mainstream consoles. The question is whether Nintendo and its third parties will actually deliver sustained support with meaningful new releases, not just old game bundles. The Batman deal nails the value proposition for day one, and finally lets handheld gaming do justice to the cape and cowl. Still, don’t overlook the long-term implications of increasingly digital-first policies, and factor in accessory spend before you commit.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch shows they’ve (mostly) learned from the past: actual hardware muscle, a launch deal that respects your wallet, and some slick new controller features. But the era of true physical games is fading—even on Nintendo turf. If you want to play the Arkham games on the go at playable framerates, this is your moment, but keep one eye on storage costs and the fine print on those “physical” boxes. As always with Nintendo: the games are worth it, just don’t expect them to hand you consumer-friendly policy with both hands.