As we’ve mentioned previously, Nintendo did not see fit to provide press with early review hardware for the Switch 2. Today, though, with the June 5 launch of the Switch 2 having already arrived in regions like Japan and Australia, the ever-efficient UPS driver delivered final retail hardware straight from Nintendo of America to the Ars Orbiting HQ.

Kyle Orland The hardware and software Nintendo sent us. The hardware and software Nintendo sent us. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland A quick setup guide, as seen on the inside flap of the hardware box. A quick setup guide, as seen on the inside flap of the hardware box. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland A side view of the box, highlighting tabletop mode. A side view of the box, highlighting tabletop mode. Kyle Orland A quick setup guide, as seen on the inside flap of the hardware box. Kyle Orland A side view of the box, highlighting tabletop mode. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The first thing you see upon opening the Switch 2 box. Kyle Orland Everything included in the box.

The 14 hour lead time between our receipt of that hardware and the midnight launch of the Switch 2 on the US East Coast isn’t close to enough time to put together a comprehensive review. For now, though, we thought we’d take you through a pictorial journey of our unboxing and initial setup process, ahead of much more coverage to come.

And while you peruse the images, we recommend listening to the absolute bop that is the Switch 2 setup music, which we’ve embedded below:

Kyle Orland The back of the dock is thicker and more rounded than the one for the original Switch. The back of the dock is thicker and more rounded than the one for the original Switch. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The back panel of the dock is fully removable (try not to lose it). The back panel of the dock is fully removable (try not to lose it). Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The Switch 2 sticks out a bit from the top of the standard dock. The Switch 2 sticks out a bit from the top of the standard dock. Kyle Orland The back panel of the dock is fully removable (try not to lose it). Kyle Orland The Switch 2 sticks out a bit from the top of the standard dock. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The bottom of the Switch 2 dock, with vents that let you see some of the internal circuitry. A close up of section where plugs go on the dock. Kyle Orland Side view of the dock and its output ports.

Get set…

The first thing we saw when powering on the Switch 2, after a Nintendo logo, was a short animation showing us how to attach the new snap-on Joy-Cons (which are packaged separately in the box). After that, the system confirmed our language, region, and time zone before asking to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi to download an update. We didn’t see any option to skip this download, making it unclear what, if anything, you can do with a brand-new Switch 2 that doesn’t have access to an Internet connection.

Kyle Orland The first thing you see when powering on the Switch 2 is this animation telling you how to connect the Joy-Cons. The first thing you see when powering on the Switch 2 is this animation telling you how to connect the Joy-Cons. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland An instructional illustration for how to disconnect the Joy-Cons. An instructional illustration for how to disconnect the Joy-Cons. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland Starting the system transfer process. Starting the system transfer process. Kyle Orland An instructional illustration for how to disconnect the Joy-Cons. Kyle Orland Starting the system transfer process. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland Some games require save files to be deleted from the source system before being moved over. Kyle Orland Kyle Orland The Switch transfer process took about 30 minutes for me.

After that quick update, the console explained a bit more about how to connect and remove the Joy-Cons from the Switch 2 tablet and from the color-coordinated holsters that come with the system. Then it was time to log in to my Nintendo account to enable a data transfer from the original Switch to its inevitable successor. This process only copies account information and save data to the new system; non-physical games themselves are downloaded separately after the transfer is complete (and can be managed between two consoles with the new Virtual Game Card system).