With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct just days away, it won't be long now before we find out more details about the console's launch. While not confirmed, it's expected that Nintendo will reveal launch details, including pricing and a release date.
In the meantime, speculation is running rampant online and at industry events. Coming out of GDC, Insider-Gaming's Tom Henderson claims that the Switch 2 will be released sometime in June. This is in line with rumored launch windows, but a new nugget of information is that the Switch 2 will launch its games in a "three-phase strategy."
According to multiple sources, the Switch 2 will release primarily with first-party games in June. The second stage will arrive in October and November for third-party games. It's believed that many third-party developers will receive dev kits for the Switch 2 in June. The third phase of games will be in the holiday period.
Nintendo has yet to reveal the launch lineup for the Switch 2, although the announcement trailer did seem to reveal a new Mario Kart. Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Prime are also expected to be available for the Switch 2, although it's unclear if they will be released in time for the system's launch. Pokemon Legends Z-A has a late 2025 launch window, while Metroid Prime 4 has a vague 2025 window.
We should get more specifics soon, as the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is scheduled for April 2nd. We don't know what exactly will be shown, but we'll hopefully learn more about the system's hardware and games. We already know the Switch 2 will be larger in size than its predecessor, but we still don't know much about its internals. The announcement trailer also seemed to tease quite a few interesting new features, including possibly the ability to use the Joy-Cons as a mouse.
It's believed that the Switch 2's improved internals will allow for greater third-party support, so it feels a bit odd that Nintendo would wait until June to send out dev kits. Launching a new system with mostly first-party titles — despite how promising Nintendo first-party games are — and a mostly backward-compatible library feels like it could hamper launch sales.
That said, October and November are typically when the biggest blockbuster titles of the year are released, so it's possible this is what the launch phase is referring to. Maybe we'll get some already-released third-party games available for the Switch 2 at launch in June.
Are you excited for the Switch 2, or are you waiting to learn more at the Direct presentation next week?