Leave a Comment / November 22nd, 2025 / Jason Ganos

Nintendo Switch 2 Black Friday Deals and Setup Guide for First-Time Buyers

News, Switch, Switch 2

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It’s hard to believe the holiday season is here once again, and I’m sure a lot of you have a Nintendo Switch 2 on your own or your kids’ wish lists. Lucky for you, this is probably the best time to snag a Switch 2, along with games and accessories, as retailers across the internet have dropped their Black Friday sales — including some of the first discounts we’ve seen on tons of Switch 2 goodies.

Here’s everything you need to know to get the best deals if you’re picking up a Switch 2 for the very first time, plus a few helpful tips on getting it set up and transferred before you wrap it up and slide it under the tree!

Switch 2 Consoles

 

Picking up a Nintendo Switch 2 console is pretty straightforward, but you might have a few questions before grabbing one for yourself or a loved one. If you already own an original Nintendo Switch, the good news is that nearly every Switch title is backward compatible with the Switch 2 — and some even offer free upgrades to take advantage of the new hardware. Most controllers and accessories work as well, but keep in mind that original Joy-Con controllers cannot physically connect to the Switch 2 tablet, as the new system uses completely different rails and connectors.

With that out of the way, you’re ready to choose the console that works best for you. While there are no direct discounts on Switch 2 hardware at the moment, a few bundles are available that can save you a bit of money in the long run.

Here are the options available right now:

MicroSD Express Cards

 

You might not think you’ll need one right away, but the Nintendo Switch 2’s 256GB of onboard storage fills up fast. With some games pushing 90GB each, you’ll definitely want to invest in additional storage sooner rather than later. Unlike the original Switch, the Switch 2 uses a much faster (and slightly more expensive) MicroSD Express card. It’s extremely important that you only purchase cards labeled MicroSD Express — standard MicroSD cards will not work on the Switch 2.

Luckily, several Express cards are already on sale at Amazon:

 

Switch 2 Accessories:

While the Switch 2 comes bundled with a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, you may want to pick up a few extra traditional controllers — or another set of Joy-Con 2 units — if you have more than two players in the house. The good news is that most first-party Nintendo Switch controllers, including the excellent Pro Controller, work on the Switch 2 with no major issues.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though. The Switch 2 features a dedicated “C” button used for game sharing, which isn’t present on the original Switch Pro Controller. The new Pro Controller also includes two additional programmable buttons on the back. These aren’t required for gameplay, but they’re nice extras to have.

Aside from those differences, your original Pro Controller should work just fine. But if you’re looking for new Switch 2 accessories and controllers, here’s what’s available.

 

Switch 2 Games:

This is where the real Black Friday savings kick in. Tons of Nintendo Switch 2 games are currently discounted on Amazon, with some titles dropping as low as $19.99. You can check out the full list of discounted games here.

Here are a few standout deals we spotted:

 

As mentioned above, original Switch titles are compatible with the Switch 2, so if you’re looking to pick up older games that still shine with updated graphics and resolution, you can find a full list of titles with free upgrades here.

System Transfer

Now that you’ve snagged your brand-new console, how do you get it set up? If this is your first Nintendo Switch, the process is simple: just power it on, connect to your Wi-Fi, and follow any system update prompts the Switch 2 gives you.

 

If you’re transferring data from an original Nintendo Switch to a Switch 2, the process is a bit more involved. Fortunately, Nintendo has put together an easy-to-follow video that walks through every step. You can watch it above!

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Jason Ganos

Written by Jason Ganos

Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.