Soon enough, Nintendo should be pulling back the curtain on the successor to its best-selling home console, theNintendo Switch. When that will be is still hotly debated among fans and leakers, but with 2024 rolling over into 2025, everyone agrees that it can’t wait much longer. By this point, the Nintendo Switch 2’s alleged specs, appearance, internal name, and more have all either been leaked or believably faked, and Nintendo itself has openly addressed the console’s existence, relation to theNintendo Switch, and backwards compatibility. Announcing the console feels like the only remaining move.
Current hopes are that the big Nintendo Switch 2 presentation is just weeks away. January 8 was recently put forward as a possible date, and other likely timeframes include late January, thetraditional late February Nintendo Direct timeslot, or on March 3 to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the original Switch. Besides putting all the leaks and rumors to rest, the other reason why fans are antsy about the Nintendo Switch 2’s announcement is the uncertainty surrounding Nintendo’s 2025 game lineup. The Switch 2’s reveal should have many new titles accompanying it, but Nintendo can’t give every surprise away up front.
Where The Nintendo Switch 2’s Opening Game Salvo Currently Sits
As of December 2024, the announced slate of first-party Nintendo Switch games consists of the remastersDonkey Kong Country Returns HDandXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, as well asMetroid Prime 4: BeyondandPokemon Legends: Z-A. The first pair only covers mid-January to the end of March, and the latter two areprime suspects for early cross-generational Switch releases. Working off the common assumption that Nintendo doesn’t have much else to announce for the current Switch, more news about them will probably be held back until the Switch successor is announced with more new titles in tow.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyonddoes share some of the long-term hype that the Switch’s original cross-gen system seller,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, enjoyed, but aMetroidgame’s ability to match such an industry-shaping title is dubious at best. Rumors suggest that Nintendo delayed the Switch 2 into 2025 specifically to get more heavy hitters, and a hardware stockpile ready for its new console’s launch. Early guesses on theseunannounced titles include a majorMariogameand Masahiro Sakurai’s new project, but regardless of their identities, something big is probably coming. However, Nintendo also can’t afford to front-load the Switch 2’s launch too much.
Saving Big Games For The Future Could Be The Switch 2’s Winning Play
A strong slate at the release of a console should equate to a long tail, but even something as successful upfront as the old Switch needed to stagger its biggest games for optimal sales.Mario Kart 8 Deluxecame shortly after the Switch’s launch to letBreath of the Wildtake root, withSplatoon 2andARMSfollowing months later.Super Mario Odysseywasn’t released until the end of 2017, and it tookanother year forSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateto finally launch. Even so, it was in spacing these game announcements and releases out that Nintendo found the most long-term success.
How Nintendo Should Handle The Switch 2’s Games
No matter how many unit-pushing titles are gearing up for the Switch 2’s reveal blowout and ensuing release, Nintendo needs to keep a steady hand when showing and releasing them. While projections already suggest that theNintendo Switch successor is poised for a strong launch, some hype needs to be kept in reserve to keep the console’s launch momentum going. Nintendo’s three or four major Direct presentations per year will continue to serve it well as long as they have anticipated games to announce. Handled right, theNintendo Switch 2could have a landmark first couple of years, even if fans won’t know everything that’s in them right away.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts easily into a home console.
