I played the Switch 2 with AR glasses — here’s what it’s like to race Mario Kart World on a 135-inch screen in front of your face
The Nintendo Switch 2 builds on the sturdy basis established by its predecessor and in the event you’ve played the unique Switch, you’ll be instantly at house with the {hardware} and controls of Nintendo’s upgraded hybrid console.
From the Pleasure-Cons to the kickstand to the house screen, the Switch 2 feels extra like a refined model of what labored the first time round with none new gimmicks to sidetrack issues.
Certain, the screen is now 7.9-inches as an alternative of 6.2-inches and the console itself is bigger too. Nonetheless, moreover the swap to sooner microSD Specific playing cards (no pun meant) and what many imagine is a downgrade from OLED again to LCD, the greatest change Nintendo made to the Switch 2 was equipping it with not one however two USB-C ports.
Again when I first went hands-on with the Switch 2, that further USB-C port was the improve that excited me the most and for good motive. With a second USB-C port simply like on the Asus ROG Ally X or the Lenovo Legion Go, I initially thought Nintendo’s new console would pair completely with the greatest good glasses. Because it seems, that wasn’t the case in any respect, or not less than I thought so at first.
Whilst you can’t plug a pair of Xreal One or Viture Professional AR glasses instantly into both of the Switch 2’s USB-C ports, with a bit of trickery and a well timed firmware improve, I managed to play Mario Kart World and my new favourite Mario recreation in AR.
Though the expertise wasn’t as plug and play as I had hoped Nintendo would’ve made it, enjoying the Switch 2 on a 135-inch screen half an inch away from my face, with out the official dock no much less, was superior to say the least.
Right here’s how I did it, the gadgets I used and why the inevitable Switch 2 OLED and even the Switch 2 Professional higher assist AR glasses proper out of the field.
An sudden resolution
After I ditched my laptop computer for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses, Viture reached out to me about testing its new cell recreation controller made in collaboration with 8BitDo.
This wasn’t simply any controller that attaches to one of the greatest telephones although. As a substitute, it has an additional port geared up with DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C performance on the backside you may plug a pair of AR glasses into. That approach, you may play video games on a huge screen proper from your telephone.
In the field with the controller and a pair of its AR glasses although, Viture additionally included a few extras together with its Viture Professional Cell Dock. If, like me, you assume it bears a placing resemblance to one of the greatest energy banks, you’d be proper because it does have a built-in 13,000 mAh battery that may cost your gadgets. That’s not its principal objective although.
Whenever you flip the Viture Professional Cell Dock over, you’re greeted with a number of ports together with three USB-C ones and an HDMI port.
Whereas the two USB-C ports on the proper enable you to plug in two pairs of Viture’s AR glasses, the one in the center plugs into your supply gadget which could be a telephone, a pill, a laptop computer or in this case, a recreation console.
In the meantime, the HDMI port on the left is for connecting one of the greatest streaming gadgets resembling a Roku or an Amazon Hearth Stick and even a recreation console with out a USB-C port, like the PS5 or the Xbox Collection X.
With assist for 2 pairs of AR glasses concurrently, you are able to do issues like watch a film with a pal from the identical gadget. Likewise, you can too play native multiplayer video games in the identical approach that you’d in front of a TV in your front room, however each folks have their very own screen. I nonetheless want to do this out myself however I might actually see it coming in helpful on a lengthy flight and even on the sofa throughout these occasions when your TV is in any other case occupied.
When the Switch 2 launched, the Viture Professional Cell Dock wasn’t suitable with the new console. You can join the Switch 2 through HDMI utilizing Nintendo’s official dock however indirectly over USB-C.
Following a recent firmware update although, Viture’s Professional Cell Dock now works with the Switch 2 in the identical approach that it does with the unique Switch. You simply plug the console into the USB-C port with the blue and crimson ring round it and a pair of Viture’s AR glasses into one of the different USB-C ports on the proper aspect and also you’re good to go.
I have to admit, I had my doubts at first too. Would I nonetheless want to join my Switch 2 to an AC outlet? Would doing so harm my model new handheld? Nicely, I’m completely satisfied to report that the reply is not any on each fronts. Updating the Viture Professional Cell Dock was straightforward sufficient through my browser and as soon as the new firmware was put in, I now had a plug and play approach to use the Switch 2 with AR glasses.
Since Viture’s Professional Cell Dock is designed to work seamlessly with all of its AR glasses, I used the Viture Professional XR glasses with it to take a look at out the dock’s new Switch 2 compatibility. Nonetheless, the dock additionally works with good glasses from different producers too, together with ones from Xreal and RayNeo.
My favourite factor about the Viture Professional XR glasses is that they use a magnetic connector as an alternative of a customary USB-C port. Not solely does this make taking them out and getting every little thing arrange sooner but it surely additionally prevents the glasses from being ripped off your face if their twine will get snagged.
With the Viture Professional Cell Dock up to date to the newest firmware (model 1.03.0.02_20250613) and my Switch 2 in hand, it was time to strive to play some Nintendo video games in a model new approach.
Simply as transportable however with a greater screen
As I was heading out on a household journey to the seaside, I determined to deliver Viture’s Professional Cell Dock and its Professional XR glasses with me alongside with my Switch 2.
Usually, I favor enjoying on the massive screen in docked mode when potential as an alternative of in handheld mode. Nonetheless, since there isn’t a Switch 2 model of my favourite third-party dock—the Genki Covert Mini—but, I figured this setup would let me play on the massive screen with out having to deliver Nintendo’s bigger dock with me. At the identical time, I wouldn’t have to mess with the TV in the place we rented for the weekend.
In AR, the complete expertise of dealing with Fury Bowser felt much more intense, particularly when I turned electrochromatic dimming on and couldn’t see something exterior of what was on the screens of the Viture Professional XR glasses.
After getting every little thing plugged in, a lot to my shock, the Switch 2’s house screen out of the blue appeared on the Viture Professional XR glasses.
Since the console’s launch, AR fanatics like myself have been attempting to get it to work with good glasses to no avail. With its newest firmware replace for the Professional Cell Dock although, Viture managed to pull off what myself and my colleague Jason England thought was not possible solely a few weeks in the past.
As I had Mario Kart World open as I’m attempting to unlock all the characters and the recreation’s Particular Cup, I determined to strive issues out with a few races. Though I was sitting on the again porch with a pair of AR glasses on my face, it actually felt like I was again at house in front of my TV.
For these unfamiliar with AR glasses, one of their coolest options is that you may have a black background thanks to their electrochromatic dimming or a clear one in the event you flip this off.
I selected the latter and as I was racing by programs in Mario Kart World, I was nonetheless in a position to take in the surroundings with the Viture Professional XR glasses on. This additionally comes in helpful if you’d like to play video games or work in a room with different folks with out being utterly lower off from the world round you. Suppose passthrough mode on one of the greatest VR headsets however with it enabled when you’re enjoying a recreation.
Since the full-featured USB-C to USB-C cable Viture consists of in the field with its Professional Cell Dock is unquestionably on the brief aspect, I put my Switch 2 down on the desk subsequent to me and played with its Pleasure-Cons in their controller grip.
You should utilize any of the greatest Nintendo Switch controllers with this setup if you’d like however as I haven’t had a likelihood to check out Nintendo’s new Pleasure-Con 2 Grip as I’ve primarily been enjoying with the Switch 2 Professional Controller, I figured now was the excellent time to try it out.
Though you do want to carry a bit extra gear than you’ll in the event you had been enjoying the Switch 2 in handheld mode, as you may see right here, it doesn’t take up that a lot house in any respect.
The Viture Professional Cell Dock is simply over 6.5 inches lengthy, about 3.5 broad and fewer than an inch thick, which makes it even simpler to slip into a bag than the Switch 2. Actually, the Pleasure-Con 2 Grip was extra awkward to deliver with me and for a extra transportable setup, I’d most likely use a indifferent Pleasure-Con in every hand.
After a few races in Mario Kart World, I determined to boot up an unique Switch recreation that I nonetheless haven’t completed on a whim. Though I beat Tremendous Mario 3D World again on my Wii U, I had simply scratched the floor on the standalone enlargement Nintendo included with it when the firm introduced the recreation to the Switch.
In the event you’re a Mario fan that hasn’t played Bowser’s Fury but, you owe it to your self to give this cat-themed open world take on 3D Mario a strive.
I gained’t go into all the particulars however what I actually get pleasure from about the enlargement is that moreover being the first really open world Mario recreation, it has a distinctive mechanic that basically shakes up the tried-and-true formulation Nintendo’s been utilizing since Tremendous Mario 64.
Round each six minutes, the sky turns darkish and Fury Bowser seems. In contrast to in previous video games, Bowser is totally huge in this kind and it actually feels as in the event you’re operating away from a Kaiju like Godzilla as an alternative of from a regular boss.
In AR, the complete expertise of dealing with Fury Bowser felt much more intense, particularly when I turned electrochromatic dimming on and couldn’t see something exterior of what was on the screens of the Viture Professional XR glasses.
Taking part in this manner as an alternative of in handheld mode or in conventional docked mode was additionally extra snug too as I didn’t have to pressure my neck whereas wanting down or take up the total TV.
In reality, earlier than I knew it, I had collected a number of Cat Shines, which function stand-ins for the stars Mario normally will get when finishing ranges or challenges, and I was even nearer than I had been to stopping Fury Bowser for good.
As soon as totally charged, the Viture Professional Cell Dock is in a position to energy the Switch 2 simply like in the event you had positioned it in Nintendo’s official dock. With the unique Switch, you may play for up to eight hours on a single cost. Nonetheless, on Switch 2, which makes use of extra energy whereas docked, you’ll doubtless get about half this time.
On the prime of the Professional Cell Dock, there are 4 orange indicator lights, which let you know the way a lot battery energy you could have left. They keep lit however turn into dimmed one after the other when you begin depleting the dock’s inside battery. That is a good visible contact meaning you don’t have to have a look at one more battery share meter. Plus, the lights are straightforward to see with AR glasses on.
Massive screen gaming with out the TV
So why would you need to play video video games or watch films in AR glasses to start with?
Nicely, doing so provides you way more screen house than you’d get with your common TV. The Viture Professional XR glasses I’m sporting right here can challenge a 135-inch picture proper in front of your eyes. At the identical time, in addition they have a refresh price of 120Hz which the Switch 2 can take benefit of at the glasses’ native 1080p decision.
The opposite massive profit to utilizing AR glasses this manner is that as an alternative of craning your neck down to have a look at your Switch 2 in handheld mode, you may sit upright or lean again with good posture. You may also lie down and play this manner with out being concerned that you simply may by accident drop your Switch 2 on your face.
The Viture Professional Cell Dock works seamlessly with the firm’s AR glasses. Nonetheless, as I even have a pair of Xreal One glasses on hand, I determined to strive it with them when I received house.
They labored and I might see the Switch 2’s house screen as quickly as I plugged them into the dock. There was only one drawback although: every little thing was crimson. I might learn textual content and see the video games put in on my Switch 2 however as an alternative of the black background you get with darkish mode enabled, I noticed a crimson one as an alternative. Granted, I haven’t up to date my Xreal One glasses but, so doing that would probably repair this drawback.
After enjoying my Switch 2 in AR over the course of a number of days throughout my trip, it was time to head house. Whereas it was incredible having a massive screen expertise with the Switch 2 utilizing this setup when I was away from house, it’s simply as handy while you’re not touring.
Getting every little thing arrange solely takes a jiffy or so after which, you may play Mario Kart World and different Switch 2 video games on a huge screen with the additional benefit that what you’re enjoying is totally personal. No person can look over your shoulder or stroll into the front room and see what recreation you’re at the moment enjoying on your TV.
I undoubtedly want (and wish) to play my Switch 2 in AR a bit extra however for now, I actually loved the expertise of utilizing Viture’s Professional Cell Dock with its glasses. I would have been over the moon if Nintendo had included video out over USB-C with out a dock on the Switch 2 however till the Switch 2 Professional or the Switch 3 comes alongside, this transportable, battery-powered AR setup greater than does the trick.
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