The Nintendo Switch 2 Experience – A Joyous Return

By Mike Loder  

Full disclosure: I was working over the weekend — but Nintendo got lucky, because I’m a shameless lifelong fan of their worlds, characters, and entire library of titles. Let’s just say I didn’t need much convincing. 

There’s a special kind of energy that fills a space when Nintendo comes to town — and this week in Melbourne, that energy was supercharged.

I jumped out of bed Saturday morning to catch the tram down to Olympic Park.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Experience brought fans a first look at the future of Nintendo’s beloved platform, and I had the honour of returning as MC for one of its headline attractions: the Mario Kart World Knockout Tour.

This new take on the Mario Kart franchise sees 24 racers battling it out in a thrilling knockout-style mode, a bold and exciting evolution that had the crowd cheering and my voice running ragged (worth it).

As MC, I was front and centre, guiding players and audiences through each twist and turn of the new mode.

The passion I have for the game hopefully bled through every moment — whether I was commentating on a last-minute wall ride, helping a player recall some of the new features on offer, or simply rambling about my own memories of the franchise in an attempt to inspire. 

Having now seen Mario Kart World played countless times throughout the weekend, I’m still discovering clever little touches — from sharp new animations and dynamic kart transitions (including seamless water-to-land and aeroplane segments) to detailed character models that harken back to the golden era of kart racers like Diddy Kong Racing on the N64.

I can safely say it’s pure Nintendo magic — familiar yet fresh, nostalgic yet bold. The Rally races are far more intense than I expected, and while I didn’t manage to take first place, I did sit comfortably in second during one race that ended in an incredibly close finish.

Another standout was the selection of new characters — namely, the Cow. Of all the famous faces from the franchise, suddenly everyone’s obsessed with this unexpected new racer. To whoever decided to include them: huge props to you.

Beyond my Mario Kart corner, the event was packed with demos showcasing the Nintendo Switch 2 and the impressive leap forward the console represents. It’s clear this isn’t just a new model.

The next-gen Joy-Con controllers are a standout. The enhanced rumble feels more precise and immersive than ever, and a new mouse-like control system offers pinpoint accuracy — something that really shines when playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

When I sat down to play, I was happy to see both the freehand pointer and control stick modes intact, though it felt incredibly natural to use the Joy-Con as a mouse.

The new Drag and Drive title shows off that same rumble tech in a unique way — especially in its 3v3 basketball matches, where the controls provide subtle but powerful feedback as you roll your wheelchair around the court.

And for the nostalgic among us, GameCube controllers are back — and somehow better than I remember them. For those raised on the purple cube, it’s like coming home. The real question now is: what titles will grace this section of the Nintendo eShop in the months and years to come?

To the team at Nintendo — thank you for letting me be a small part of such a special event and for making me feel so welcome! 

To the players, families, and fans who brought their energy and excitement all weekend — it was a joy to share the experience with you.

And to the city of Melbourne — how lucky are we to have this kind of gaming celebration brought right to our doorstep?

Here’s to the next race — and to the ongoing joy of play. (Bring events like this back pleaseeeeee.