Summary
- The Nintendo Switch 2 has been officially released.
- We know of some games releasing on the console, such as Mario Kart 9 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
- Fans are trying to predict other games releasing during the console’s launch year.
The day is finally upon us, Nintendo has officially confirmed the existence of its upcoming console, the Nintendo Switch 2. The new hardware is bigger than its plucky predecessor with a sleeker aesthetic, but what fans really care about is which games will be released on the console in the near future.
The first-look video all but confirmed a new Mario Kart (possibly Mario Kart 9) will be released on the Switch 2. We also know of previously announced titles which were heavily speculated to be released on the Switch 2, namely Pokémon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Now, fans have come together in a ResetEra thread by Zan to speculate on what else we could expect to see in the Switch 2’s launch year. The consensus in the thread is that Mario Kart 9 will be the Switch 2’s “proper” launch title, likely bundled with sales of the console.
Launch Year: Begin
Nintendo generally releases a party game specifically designed to show off a console’s new features, something in the vein of 1-2 Switch. We’ll likely see something along those lines when the console releases.
Nintendo will eventually release mainline entries in all of its popular franchises, but the key question here is what’s going to make it into the console’s first year. The original Switch launched with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 arriving before the end of 2017.
Several replies in the thread predict an Animal Crossing release. The original Switch didn’t receive a new Animal Crossing entry until 2020, when New Horizons released, but it’s also been five years since that particular release, so an early release on the Switch 2 isn’t out of the question.
A mainline Mario platformer is also expected within the first year, and you’d expect The Legend of Zelda to have some sort of presence. Tears of the Kingdom isn’t too long in the rearview mirror, so perhaps a long-awaited remaster of Wind Waker or Ocarina of Time is in order?
We’re definitely getting Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but is there any chance of the tenth generation of Pokémon making an appearance? Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released in the same year as Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, lest we forget.
There are calls for a new Fire Emblem but Engage released in 2023, so Nintendo and Intelligent Systems may not be in any great rush. We can also expect a new Smash Bros. but whether Masahiro Sakurai will be involved is unknown, but we do know that he’s currently working on a secret project.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.