Eager customers lined up outside the Nintendo store in New York City hours in advance to collect their pre-ordered Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles. The much anticipated Switch 2, being released around the world Thursday, is an upgrade to its eight-year-old predecessor with new social features meant to draw players into online gaming. Nintendo is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales. In the U.S., a chaotic pre-order process in April left some fans frustrated after the consoles quickly sold out. Many of those waiting for the New York City store to open had ordered online. Nicole Peters came from Staten Island to wait on line to be one of the first to purchase the new console. "I'm looking at close to $1000... with accessories," Peters said. "Yeah , it's a little steep... it's Nintendo, I'm ride or die." In Japan, the new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications. Outside the official draw, some retailers offered their own lotteries to pre-order the devices. The new console comes with a larger and higher resolution screen than its predecessor, with improved processing power, offering smoother and more vivid graphics. Central to its updated system is a new “C” button on its controller, which will launch a “GameChat” feature that requires a subscription to Nintendo’s Switch online service. It allows players to “communicate with friends and family while playing a game,” and lets them share their game screen with others. A built-in microphone will also allow chatting with other gamers. Javier Fernandez traveled to New York City from Sleepy Hollow, New York, about a 30-minute trip, to get his hands on the new console. "So I'm getting one simply because it's an improved version of the current Switch," Fernandez said while waiting on line. "The games are moving at a much frame rate and it improves the quality of the games already currently out , so it's just in general an upgrade." Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles for the fiscal year through March 2026. The company has promised to roll out attractive software for the Switch 2 later this year, including “The Legend of Zelda” games, a Pokemon title and a Kirby game, as well as offerings from outside software companies. Nintendo is capitalizing on the launch with the opening of a store in San Francisco and the Super Nintendo World amusement facility in Orlando, Florida, both set for this month. The Switch 2’s rollout arrives at an uncertain time for much of the gaming industry due to new tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump. In the U.S., the Switch 2’s baseline launch price is $449.99 — significantly higher than the original Switch’s $299 price tag. U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 were delayed for several weeks so the company could assess the potential impact of tariffs.