The Nintendo Switch 2 release date isn’t here, but the console has been officially confirmed albeit with no detail to come in a newly announced Nintendo Direct in June, despite it having been known about for months. The approach Nintendo is taking is increasingly resembling ‘strike while the iron is gradually becoming lukewarm’ as Nintendo is both acknowledging it but also not saying anything.
For those with a regular eye on the gaming industry, a new console announcement or release date for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been expected with the original being over seven years old. With that kind of gap, you expect something to come soon or at least some sort of announcement.
It’s been obvious for a long time…
The scarcity of titles lining up for the Switch also points to a new console. It also got accidentally confirmed back in February, when Nintendo announced Pokemon Legends Z & A for: “Nintendo Switch systems” in 2025. Now you could argue they reference the Nintendo Switch Lite there, but only eight games aren’t playable on the Lite that are for the Switch. Also, Nintendo’s website argues against that explanation, advertising their store with: “Check out what’s on the way to the Nintendo Switch system.”
June is also comfortably the latest a direct has fallen in a long time, in 2020 there wasn’t one that entire year but Nintendo had a series of ‘mini directs’, one of which fell in March. Aside from that year, Nintendo has never come close to letting a year get this far in without a mainline direct since they started running the online presentations. It’s obvious, they have something to say without wanting to say it.
So the existence has been effectively known about for a few months now, and that’s ignoring the extremely large number of rumours that have long hit the point of there being no smoke without fire.
The moment is now
The strategy behind this new console is getting bizarre and it’s exhausting. The number of games that have release dates on the current console for the rest of the year is eight and that includes third-party titles. The console is magnificent, but it’s clear it’s dying in terms of future support.
So when there’s silence, provide answers. This is such an ideal time to provide a hint, what’s the new idea behind the console? Will it be backwards compatible? Get people talking because they are confused about what is coming next. Can you remember the last time you went into a Nintendo Direct with no idea of what they’ll talk about?
Normally there is some sort of game gearing up for release that’s worthy of headline billing that will get exposure and more exciting details. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will have released by then so I’m not quite sure what they can discuss. With all due respect, the only other option is a remaster of a 2013 3DS title, which isn’t a headline-grabber.
You’re left with a look ahead to the aforementioned Pokemon title, or finally dropping concrete details about Metroid Prime 4.
A true great, but people are looking elsewhere
Sure, it could add up to a blockbuster, but we all the biggest story will not be there. The gaze has drifted away from the Nintendo Switch, fans just want to have some sort of idea of what they’re looking at.
The Nintendo Switch was a genuine tour-de-force that earned every bit of acclaim it got and more. People have started to move on now though, and Nintendo are bizarrely refusing to acknowledge that.
So here’s to the June direct, whatever it turns out to be.
Speaking of Nintendo and scarcity, have you ever wondered what the rarest Pokemon card is? Well, wonder no more, as we have all the answers.
