Switch 2 most likely won't release before 2025, how can Nintendo maintain momentum until then?

With recent reports of the Switch 2 releasing in March 2025 at the earliest (Nikkei), semi-confirmed by Nintendo's forecast (an aggressive 13.5m for Switch 1 during the FY) and communication in early May (Switch 2 news this FY but not at the June Direct), it is the time to follow up the first thread on Switch's transition and momentum.

Nintendo is going into next gen with a lot of momentum... and still several cards to play

As we slowly go into 2024 and a new era for Nintendo with the expected arrival of its next platform, it is the perfect time to sit and think about Nintendo's current position in the gaming landscape. Exceptional momentum 2023 was supposed to be a pivotal year for Nintendo. It is the year that...

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This is the second part of a bigger series. Today we will try to answer the following question : how can Nintendo maintain the brand's momentum when most of their workforce is focused on making games for the successor ?

General context

The current FY has been forecasted with a small decrease for Nintendo Switch sales, from 15.7M to 13.5M (-14%). This is a challenging forecast, especially since no game of the Zelda/Mario/Pokémon caliber has been announced yet. Tears of the Kingdom was a big driver of Switch sales last FY. This is paving the way for the Switch to eventually surpass the PS2 (160M) as the best-selling console of all-times.

On a broader view, 2024 is a challenging year for the industry, marked by struggling publishers with rounds and rounds of layoffs whereas Xbox is fighting to find its own identity and reigniting interest on the brand. Playstation 5 is nonetheless doing good to great but the FY will not be a busy one for PS Studio in terms of output and hardware declines are expected by Sony despite the rumored launch of a new model (PS5 Pro).

Lastly, Grand Theft Auto VI has recently been set for a Fall 2025 release and won't disrupt the current FY.


In this context, there are ways for Nintendo to keep momentum around their IPs and Switch brand :

1. Games, obviously
2. Audiovisual / mobile content
3. Bundles, price promotions ... and a new revision ?

Potential Nintendo Switch games

When it comes to the upcoming Switch release schedule, let's resume the facts:

• There are 3 Switch games dated, all between May and July (Paper Mario, LM2 HD and NES WC)
• There are two other Switch games announced, Metroid Prime 4 (TBD) and Pokémon Legends Z-A (2025)
• Nintendo's president announced the company would be holding a Nintendo Direct in June, its first of the year.

Given the upcoming launch of the successor and Nintendo's current output, it seems like there is a clear pattern of what games they deem fit to release at this point of the Switch lifecycle. The games are mostly externally developped, not graphic intensive showcase/not laser focused on the core audience, and are mostly remakes.

Let's think of their options in that context:

Tomodachi Life (3DS, 2013)​

Probably the IP with the highest potential that still didn't make its way on the Switch. It has been more than a decade since the release of Tomodachi Life. It was a top 10 best-selling game on 3DS with over 6,7M units sold. The audience is there and has been expanded with the smashing success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It could be a great Holiday release.

Another big IP missing a new game on Switch is Donkey Kong. There have been multiple reports of Nintendo trying to find a home for the big Ape, with little success. It seems like they have taken things in their own hands with EPD Tokyo (the usual 3D Mario team) recruiting for a 2D game. The franchise will also be on the spotlight this year with the opening of dedicated section in Nintendo's World, Nintendo's own amusement park. Coul be another great Holiday release.

Metroid Prime 4 is a tricky question since it doesn't fit the profile of games mentioned before. Some could argue that it could be a great cross-gen release and it will ultimately depend on what Nintendo has in store for the Switch 2 launch. Still, the game has been rebooted in Late 2018 (with an official announcement in January 2019) and should be very close to completion. Metroid Prime 1 HD also showed how good the game could look on Switch 1 too.

(Examples of some previous Switch remakes/remasters)
​

Lastly, they could release more remakes/remasters as those can be easily outsourced and developped more quickly than full blown games. They are multiple options on the table :

• Fire Emblem Remake, as Shadow of Valentia was a 2017 release.​
• Zelda remasters like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess which are amongst the few games that were not ported from the WiiU​
• Metroid Prime 2 & 3 ? In case MP4 isn't for this year.​
• Bandai Namco is working on a Nintendo remake, is it the right time for it ?​
• Remasters/remakes of dormant franchises like Star Fox, Golden Sun or F-Zero ?​
• Pokémon Remakes ? 2024 looks to be another off year for the franchise, or is it ?​

These remasters/remakes don't have the same level of potential, ranging from 1m to 15m but could provide a nice swan song for the Switch.


Audiovisual / mobile content

Nintendo also have the option to rely on mobile (like in in 2016 with the GO craze) to keep its brand power up during the transition. As such we can mention the upcoming Pokémon TCG mobile release that should generate excitement and millions of downloads.

Pokémon Pocket, 2024​

Still, GO isn't something you can expect to replicate and it seems like Nintendo has other plans. Indeed, in the recent financial briefing, and following the acquisition of Nintendo Pictures, they admitted to be working on audiovisual content beyond the theatrical releases. Could be expect a show or any kind of content to be released this year based on Nintendo IPs ? There are countless examples of big boosts following such releases (Witcher, Mario, TLOU, Fallout...).

Bundles, price promotions ... and a new revision ?

This year we will need to implement various initiatives to sell the forecasted number ofNintendo Switch. During last year's holiday season, we sold hardware bundled with software, and we also conveyed the appeal of having multiple units of Nintendo Switch in a household. We plan to implement various initiatives to approach 13.5 million units of sales in the current fiscal year as well.

Nintendo, May 10th 2024, Q&A​

The 13.5m forecast for the Switch this FY is challenging and Nintendo mentioned how it could reach that number. One of the key strategy is to increase the number of Switch per households by catering to families and kids. How could they convince people that didn't jump in yet ?

• By lowering the entry barrier​
• Offering a new value proposition​

There are multiple ways Nintendo could try to lower the entry barrier. The thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to devalue your product when the successor is near, Switch maintained its launch price in Japan/US for so long after all. Therefore, they use of bundles and temporary price cuts (during the Holidays) could be the way to go. Options like a definitive price cut and/or a Select line doesn't make much sense before the successor release (after is another topic altogether).

It is a me, the Mario Kart Bundle ! Edition 8 ?​

Lastly, Nintendo will want to speak to this audience today and after the successor's release, which will probably be too pricey initially for kids and most families. In the past, this has often translated to the release of a cheaper revision at the tail end of the system life :

The new Nintendo 2DS XL launched to replace the n3DS models as a cheaper alternative, scrapping the 3D in the process​

A new revision definitely could help Nintendo to reach its target while expanding its audience to families and kids. If the strategy is to increase the number of Switch per household is it going to build on the main model (like the 3DS) or the cheaper one ? Is 2024 the right timing for a revision or is better for after the Switch 2 launch ?


To conclude, it does seem like 2024 is going to be a big transition year for Nintendo, and as such needs to be managed well to keep interest around the brand and its ecosystem high while we wait for the Switch 2. However, the competion struggles and the overall 2024 release schedule is giving them enough air to exist. The upcoming June Direct will shed the light on their plans for 2024 and will tell how easily their upcoming games will generate sales and hype without taking away from what could be Switch 2 launch window games. They have ways beyond games to deliver (2016 was a great example of that between the 3DS, Go and the NES Mini) so it will be interesting to see how things will unfold.

In light of all that, how do you think Nintendo is going to balance things out between the need to keep the momentum going and the will to push as hard as possible the Switch successor ?

 

[Terrell]

Even if he did join Nintendo, where would he go? Would he join one of the foreign studios (like Retro or Next Level Games)? Though I guess he could land at Intelligent Systems and become pal with Paul Patrashcu (director of the ill-fated Code Name S.T.E.A.M).

Where would he work? Doubt it'd be something like NCL

It’s important to understand that Soliani’s departure is the only one reported so far. Ubisoft Milan apparently has a very tight-knit core creative team, as evidenced from this article:

From Mario to Star Wars: What's next for Ubisoft Milan

The third and final DLC for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope arrives this month, and for developer Ubisoft Milan it invo…

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"When I entered Ubisoft Milan in 2008, we were 35 people," Nava recalls. "We now have 130 more or less. But the veterans, the ones who were there at the very beginning are still here. Most of them. We went through hardships together because it was difficult at the beginning to make our studio shine and known.”

The stability of Ubisoft Milan is somewhat unique in games, and certainly within Ubisoft. And it's something managing director Dario Migliavacca credits as the reason behind the team's unique style.

"One of our strengths is a really stable, historical and strong core team," he tells us. "We have one of the most stable core teams within the group. That helps a lot because there is a huge chemistry between all the senior guys. The core team is always aligned. This is absolutely important."

So if Soliani is leaving, seems others might, too. And then it’s just a matter of finding a building and getting funding to open from Nintendo.

 

[fiendcode]

Nintendo has a long history of founding or directly supporting start ups from key studio ex-pats. That's how we got, at least in part, Retro Studios, Genius Sonority, Brownie Brown, Alpha Dream, Flagship, Creatures Inc, Monegi and plenty of others over the years.

A new Soliani start up getting a big upfront Nintendo contract, or even actually being part of Nintendo, wouldn't surprise me in the least.

 

[Terrell]

Nintendo has a long history of founding or directly supporting start ups from key studio ex-pats. That's how we got, at least in part, Retro Studios, Genius Sonority, Brownie Brown, Alpha Dream, Flagship, Creatures Inc, Monegi and plenty of others over the years.

A new Soliani start up getting a big upfront Nintendo contract, or even actually being part of Nintendo, wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Well, some of that is different or well outside the modern Nintendo playbook.
Monegi and Flagship were carve-outs of 3rd-party employees where no money or employees changed hands outside of contracting fees, more reminiscent of the modern example seen with BNS Studio 2/S.
Retro was a post-Howard Lincoln salvage job where massive swaths of expat talent were let go to get an actually-released product, including the by-that-time-MIA studio founder.
Genius Sonority, Brownie Brown and Creatures all predate the more Iwata-esque management style that all his successors have more directly mirrored and while technically examples, absolutely none of the ones listed look anything like what they were founded as (hell, Creatures underwent a name change after Shigesato Itoi basically said he intended to give up on game development and abandoned Ape, and I doubt Creatures would be a thing we still associate with Nintendo had they not invested in the development of the original Pokemon).

All that said, you're not wrong, I think you just gave less than ideal and/or less current examples.

NDcube (which is more of a re-founding to totally rework an existing but unsuccessful development team into a life raft for Hudson/Monegi employees in Hokkaido), AlphaDream (a good example you mentioned), Good-Feel, Grezzo, and even Camelot to a lesser degree are I think better examples, with the latter 4 being supported less with money but with lucrative IP contract work (the first 3 of those 4 shortly after their founding, while Camelot was after they seemingly soured on both Sega AND Sony).

What is more uncommon is Nintendo funding the creation of a studio around a single publisher expat/small creative team. It remains to be seen if that is something Furukawa and his current management team would engage in, but they seem willing to do things their predecessors wouldn't or didn't (like, for example, setting up a new subsidiary meant to develop and manage all their online services, and this AWS event confirms that Nintendo Systems is now in charge of NSO and likely whatever it will become with the next hardware, not just e-commerce and My Nintendo/Nintendo Account as was suggested by some when it was founded).

 

[Danny]

Nintendo has a few studios in North America, but they have no studio that focuses on making Nintendo games based in Europe. I think it makes sense for Nintendo to create a European studio owned by Nintendo with Soliani as its head. A global company like Nintendo should have talent spread out, Europe has a big place in the video game market and it makes sense to have Europeans and not only Japanese, Americans and Canadians involved in making Nintendo games.

 

[Tokuiten]

With recent "insider speculation" of a possible late 2025-launch for Switch (again: this appears to be speculation only!), here's something I've been wondering and maybe someone can out a number to it:

My irrational fear is that by "delaying" Switch 2 for so long, the hardware will be dated from the start. When Switch 1 launched, it used the best available hardware for the price/functionality. With Switch 2 it feels like rumors told us what hardware is being used YEARS ago, so it begs the question whether the hardware will be that old when the Switch 2 at long last launches?

Of course, this is all just more speculation, because we don't know when Nintendo truly planned to launch the Switch 2 originally, we can't even really call the current situation a "delay", because we were never given another earlier date before. So maybe also answer this, somebody: What is the usual amount of time that passes between locking in a certain hardware and then actually launching the new device? Is it known for older consoles? PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Wii U, 3DS, PSVita, etc? How long between locking in hw and then the wait for the device's launch? By answering that, we could more level-headedly discuss whether Switch 2 is "already late" or not. thx

 

[ILikeFeet]

With recent "insider speculation" of a possible late 2025-launch for Switch (again: this appears to be speculation only!), here's something I've been wondering and maybe someone can out a number to it:

My irrational fear is that by "delaying" Switch 2 for so long, the hardware will be dated from the start. When Switch 1 launched, it used the best available hardware for the price/functionality. With Switch 2 it feels like rumors told us what hardware is being used YEARS ago, so it begs the question whether the hardware will be that old when the Switch 2 at long last launches?

Of course, this is all just more speculation, because we don't know when Nintendo truly planned to launch the Switch 2 originally, we can't even really call the current situation a "delay", because we were never given another earlier date before. So maybe also answer this, somebody: What is the usual amount of time that passes between locking in a certain hardware and then actually launching the new device? Is it known for older consoles? PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Wii U, 3DS, PSVita, etc? How long between locking in hw and then the wait for the device's launch? By answering that, we could more level-headedly discuss whether Switch 2 is "already late" or not. thx

years. here's MS's leaked, outdated roadmap for a 2028 launch. the first tapeout is 2 years prior, but the design phase is +2 years on top of that.

the earliest we can pin a date to Drake is 2019, with the first chips coming in for testing in 2023.

as for the fear of being outdated, I ask the same question: what's the alternative hardware? A78 is still in use, even for brand new chipsets. it's successors aren't much better since the A78 is on the same node as the latest CPU in its class. X-series is off the table because these forfeited area and efficiency for performance victories. there's a reason phones only use 1 of these in a design. as for the GPU, Lovelace, for all intents and purposes, is Ampere on 4N, which Drake is speculated to be. Blackwell wasn't even in the cards when this was made, and it's not arriving until next year. the system is using the latest version of ram on the market, at speeds the latest phones don't see. not until LPDDR6 (next year?). and in capacities most don't use unless you get some esoteric "gamer phone" that can't really use all that because it's running Android games

 

[Robjoh]

With recent "insider speculation" of a possible late 2025-launch for Switch (again: this appears to be speculation only!), here's something I've been wondering and maybe someone can out a number to it:

My irrational fear is that by "delaying" Switch 2 for so long, the hardware will be dated from the start. When Switch 1 launched, it used the best available hardware for the price/functionality. With Switch 2 it feels like rumors told us what hardware is being used YEARS ago, so it begs the question whether the hardware will be that old when the Switch 2 at long last launches?

Of course, this is all just more speculation, because we don't know when Nintendo truly planned to launch the Switch 2 originally, we can't even really call the current situation a "delay", because we were never given another earlier date before. So maybe also answer this, somebody: What is the usual amount of time that passes between locking in a certain hardware and then actually launching the new device? Is it known for older consoles? PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Wii U, 3DS, PSVita, etc? How long between locking in hw and then the wait for the device's launch? By answering that, we could more level-headedly discuss whether Switch 2 is "already late" or not. thx

I thought that the Tegra variant that Switch uses was quite old at the time Switch launched?

 

[fiendcode]

I thought that the Tegra variant that Switch uses was quite old at the time Switch launched?

It was about 21 months old, though Switch was also originally planned to release some months earlier in 2016 than it did.

 

[Tokuiten]

I thought that the Tegra variant that Switch uses was quite old at the time Switch launched?

What stronger alternative would have existed that wouldn't have made the Switch more expensive and battery life worse?

 

[Robjoh]

What stronger alternative would have existed that wouldn't have made the Switch more expensive and battery life worse?

What stronger does exist compared to what Switch 2 is supposed to have?

 

[Tokuiten]

What stronger does exist compared to what Switch 2 is supposed to have?

Tell me.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Tell me.

lots of things, at the expense of battery and cost, of course

Drake isn't outdated, it's still the best handheld option from a price/performance perspective, and will retain that crown for a good while

 

[Tokuiten]

lots of things, at the expense of battery and cost, of course

So none, lol.

That's the whole point I've been talking about. Switch 1 was the best it could be at the time being. Now the question is how long the same stays true for Switch 2. To make my train of thought clear: Say the Switch 2 stays as is, but launches in 2030. Surely it would be outdated by then, unlike Switch 1 when it launched.

 

[ILikeFeet]

So none, lol.

That's the whole point I've been talking about. Switch 1 was the best it could be at the time being. Now the question is how long the same stays true for Switch 2. To make my train of thought clear: Say the Switch 2 stays as is, but launches in 2030. Surely it would be outdated by then, unlike Switch 1 when it launched.

Your hypothetical doesn't even make sense. You're long surpassing when the TX1 was announced and Switch released there

 

[opaidiota]

If Drake is released in March or November 2025 it wouldn't change the difference in performance for the PS5/Series.

Perhaps even older components would allow Nintendo to have a cheaper console?

The most interesting situation for me is the possibility that in 2026 we will have new handhelds from Microsoft and Valve. No, I don't think these two would steal Nintendo's fanbase. My curiosity has to do with the specs/price ratio that these 2026 handhelds could bring.

 

[Robjoh]

So none, lol.

That's the whole point I've been talking about. Switch 1 was the best it could be at the time being. Now the question is how long the same stays true for Switch 2. To make my train of thought clear: Say the Switch 2 stays as is, but launches in 2030. Surely it would be outdated by then, unlike Switch 1 when it launched.

My point with calling Tegra old was that it did not matter for switch, it was good enough and that is what Switch 2 should aim for. Good enough to get 3rd party ports. Drake seems to fit that perfectly and so did Tegra but I do remember the discussion about it being underpowered at launch.

 

[Aostia82]

My point with calling Tegra old was that it did not matter for switch, it was good enough and that is what Switch 2 should aim for. Good enough to get 3rd party ports. Drake seems to fit that perfectly and so did Tegra but I do remember the discussion about it being underpowered at launch.

Really? I don't but maybe it is just me being wrong
I think the Switch was a really well balanced hardware: I hope [REDACTED] will be as good as it, with maybe a little bit more of advantage in getting ports due to its more modern architecture structure (DLSS and all)

 

[Tokuiten]

My point with calling Tegra old was that it did not matter for switch, it was good enough and that is what Switch 2 should aim for. Good enough to get 3rd party ports. Drake seems to fit that perfectly and so did Tegra but I do remember the discussion about it being underpowered at launch.

But that's my point, again: The Tegra in Switch 1 was the best Nintendo could have used at that time for the given price point. Since most of us are expecting Switch 2 to cost 400-450 Dollars and have at least 3-5 hours battery life, would there be a better alternative by the time it launches or is it using the best components available for that price-and-battery point? I have no overview over the current market, that's why I'm asking the question.

 

[Aostia82]

But that's my point, again: The Tegra in Switch 1 was the best Nintendo could have used at that time for the given price point. Since most of us are expecting Switch 2 to cost 400-450 Dollars and have at least 3-5 hours battery life, would there be a better alternative by the time it launches or is it using the best components available for that price-and-battery point? I have no overview over the current market, that's why I'm asking the question.

I am no expert but going by supposed specs, rumors and speculation a 2025 hybrid with meaningful battery life, decent price point and up-to-date performance is yet in the shape of Drake (at least in terms of chipset)

But better informed users will provide more educate guesses

 

[Tokuiten]

I am no expert but going by supposed specs, rumors and speculation a 2025 hybrid with meaningful battery life, decent price point and up-to-date performance is yet in the shape of Drake (at least in terms of chipset)

But better informed users will provide more educate guesses

I'm not actually worried, mind you. If the Switch 2 is as silent as the Switch 1, that by itself will be a huge step forward compared to all these PC-handhelds that have a very audible fan noise.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Really? I don't but maybe it is just me being wrong
I think the Switch was a really well balanced hardware: I hope [REDACTED] will be as good as it, with maybe a little bit more of advantage in getting ports due to its more modern architecture structure (DLSS and all)

honestly, resolution won't be what holds things back, but the CPU will be the point of contention again. by how much is anyone's guess

But that's my point, again: The Tegra in Switch 1 was the best Nintendo could have used at that time for the given price point. Since most of us are expecting Switch 2 to cost 400-450 Dollars and have at least 3-5 hours battery life, would there be a better alternative by the time it launches or is it using the best components available for that price-and-battery point? I have no overview over the current market, that's why I'm asking the question.

for the combination of price, battery life, and performance, no. Drake is the best it's gonna get for a couple years

 

[BTB123]

I'm not actually worried, mind you. If the Switch 2 is as silent as the Switch 1, that by itself will be a huge step forward compared to all these PC-handhelds that have a very audible fan noise.

About that, when playing Yoshi's Crafted World the fan is almost always loud AF. But it's not that bad when wearing headphones.

 

[woodhead]

About that, when playing Yoshi's Crafted World the fan is almost always loud AF. But it's not that bad when wearing headphones.

Mine also gets loud when docked (Splatoon 3, Monster Hunter Rise) but it is a launch Switch and after 7 years I think the thermal paste just got dry. I am pretty sure if I would replace it it would be silent again. The die shrink Animal Crossing Switch of my girlfriend is silent when she plays those games docked

 

[Joseki]

Bringing this up because it's an interesting discussion topic:

Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (New Staff Post, Please read)

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PH Brazil heard that some Nintendo presentation scheduled for September was pushed earlier to the next couple of weeks.
Considering that the Pokémon Presents expected in August also did not materialize, I'm curious to see if Nintendo is potentially shuffling the usual schedule to have Switch 2 officially revealed before TGS.

 

[ILikeFeet]

that's some news I expect to be corroborated in the coming days then. maybe starting tomorrow since it's the weekend

 

[Aostia82]

When is TGS happening this year?

 

[Torpoleon]

When is TGS happening this year?

September 26-29. If there is another Switch Direct, it would likely be before that, as is usually the case.

 

[Robjoh]

But that's my point, again: The Tegra in Switch 1 was the best Nintendo could have used at that time for the given price point. Since most of us are expecting Switch 2 to cost 400-450 Dollars and have at least 3-5 hours battery life, would there be a better alternative by the time it launches or is it using the best components available for that price-and-battery point? I have no overview over the current market, that's why I'm asking the question.

I honestly think we are trying to say the same thing in different ways.

 

[Aostia82]

Yeah..I dont get this rumor
Pokemon present in August a d Nintendo Direct is September is pretty much expected

 

[Tokuiten]

All I know is that I won't care about any Direct coming in 2024. Wake me up in 2025 ...

 

[Aostia82]

All I know is that I won't care about any Direct coming in 2024. Wake me up in 2025 ...

I read with "Wake me up, when September ends" as OST

 

[Tokuiten]

I read with "Wake me up, when September ends" as OST

Lol, nah, my soundtrack has been the following ever since @Tbone5189 delayed Switch 2 to 2026:

 

[Windom Earle]

With the competition losing momentum while in their respective primes, I don't think Nintendo has much to worry about. Switch 2 will crush.

 

[Tokuiten]

I would be fine if the Switch 2 came out even later than early Q1 2025

Yo, @cw_sasuke , what's with the secret off-IB hot takes?!!!1

 

[Nokia]

Krafton saves Tango Gameworks, and numbers. All of the numbers | GI Microcast

The latest episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast is now available to download. This week, we continue our look at …

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So Chris Dring has heard from devs that Switch 2 won't be launching this FY.
At ~1:00

"..The second one is that no developer I've spoken to expects it to launch in this financial year, in fact they've been told not to expect it in this financial year. A bunch of people I spoke to hope it's out in April/May time still early next year not late.."

 

[Joseki]

I think @Chris1964 mentioned analyst firms in Japan expecting the console to release in may 2025 since end of last year.

EDIT: https://www.installbaseforum.com/fo...-staff-communication.2610/page-14#post-250828

 

[Aostia82]

Yeah it's not launching this FY this was pretty clear since months imho

That said, if it is true developers are hoping it to launch as soon as possible, this probably means

Many within the industry are seeing this new Nintendo console as a way to revitalize the industry after this hard 2024

Many are developing games for it

 

[Joseki]

I think the official "pre-reveal" only mentioning that it was gonna be announced this FY was a strong indication of the machine not releasing this FY.

 

[Tokuiten]

It MUST be May 2025.

It MUST be.

:/

Fake-edit:

This meme correctly portrays my current state of mind:

 

[SirArthur]

I will say, anytning Nintendo related that Dring says has been wrong over the last year plus so take that with a spoon of salt.

 

[Joseki]

I will say, anytning Nintendo related that Dring says has been wrong over the last year plus so take that with a spoon of salt.

I agree on his Nintendo sources being spotty, but I would imagine that in this case he's been hearing things from 3rd party developers.

 

[awng782]

Dring said there wouldn't be June 2023 Nintendo Direct just 2 weeks before one actually happened.

Not to say Dring will be wrong here but he (or more specifically, his developer sources) has a very, very spotty record when it comes to Nintendo.

 

[SirArthur]

I agree on his Nintendo sources being spotty, but I would imagine that in this case he's been hearing things from 3rd party developers.

My problem with possible third parties is that the most likely scenario is that his sources are western devs. Given that the only western dev that is pretty close with Nintendo is probably Ubisoft and even then there is no guarantee given how secretive Nintendo has been.

So his statements reads more of speculation from: devs who recently got kits, devs who were told just get your games ready with no real date or devs who are not part of the launch period (not as close partners).

 

[ILikeFeet]

I wouldn't say we can just pinpoint Ubisoft as being the closest to Nintendo anymore. At least not the only one. Dev relations have changed greatly since the launch of the Switch, and especially with western devs seemingly more willing to put big games on Switch than JP studios. Maybe it's always been Ubisoft's massive headcount playing towards leakers' favor.

Given how the development environment works, I wouldn't put it past that the lack of solid leaks just comes from less access by random workers.

In any case, someone will back up Dring if there's meat on that bone

 

[opaidiota]

What makes me most curious are the price and specs of the Switch 2.

And it looks like we won't know any of this for at least 5 ~ 6 months.

 

[ILikeFeet]

What makes me most curious are the price and specs of the Switch 2.

And it looks like we won't know any of this for at least 5 ~ 6 months.

specs are

• 8-core cpu (most likely A78s)
• 1536-core Ampere gpu
• 12GB lpddr5x
• 256GB UFS3.1 storage
• 1080p screen

clock speeds unknown

 

[LoneRanger]

I’m on train that

- Switch 2 will be released between March to May 2025. Its main launch title is a new 3D Mario.
- Metroid Prime 4 and Fire Emblem GotW will be released between 2 months after or before Switch 2 launch (Feb-July timeframe).
- Pokemon Legends A-Z is a mid 2025 game (June/July)
- Mario Kart X is a Fall 2025 game
- Next Animal Crossing is a Winter 2026 game.

And well thats all.

 

[Aostia82]

I think it has been awhile since Ubisoft was the closest Western third party to Nintendo

 

[fiendcode]

I miss the days of Ubileaks.

 

[Tialo]

I’m on train that

- Switch 2 will be released between March to May 2025. Its main launch title is a new 3D Mario.
- Metroid Prime 4 and Fire Emblem GotW will be released between 2 months after or before Switch 2 launch (Feb-July timeframe).
- Pokemon Legends A-Z is a mid 2025 game (June/July)
- Mario Kart X is a Fall 2025 game
- Next Animal Crossing is a Winter 2026 game.

And well thats all.

I agree to these predictions - except the last one. I think that new AC might be more sensefull to be released later in plattform lifecycle because of its main target audience. I think they would like to have a more cheaper version / revision of Switch 2 for this game and this will definetly be NOT the case for end of 2026. So I think that Splatoon will be provided firstly on Switch 2 again and new AC will come in 2028.