Nintendo’s next-gen upgrade to the Switch was expected to launch sometime in 2024. However, there have been numerous reports over the last few days that Nintendo has pushed back the launch date of Switch 2 until sometime in 2025. Now Nikkei Asia is corroborating those reports and adding that Switch 2 won’t launch until at least March of 2025 in order to make sure there are enough Switch 2 systems in the marketplace and to ensure a robust launch lineup from Nintendo and third-party developers.
This technically can’t be called a delay since Nintendo hasn’t officially announced Switch 2 or even publicly acknowledged its existence, but it’s disappointing to many that we’re still at least a year away from a true next-gen upgrade to the seven year-old Switch, especially since Nintendo hasn’t announced any triple-A games for the console for 2024.
OSAKA — Japanese gaming titan Nintendo will launch the successor of its mega-hit Switch console as early as March 2025, later than widely expected, Nikkei has learned.
The new console will likely have a feature to be used as a handheld similar to the Switch, and utilize a bigger display panel. Market watchers have largely expected the new gaming console to be out within this year, but the Japanese company has prioritized streamlining the initial sales of the new machine, and giving more time to game developers to create popular titles.
When Nintendo launched the Switch in March 2017, the initial shipment was insufficient to meet consumers’ high demand, resulting in a shortage and rampant reselling. The Japanese company also faced a lack of software for the new console, with only three Nintendo-developed titles.
As the company hopes to avoid such a situation this time, the launch of the Switch’s successor could be further pushed back, depending on the progress in establishing production capability and developing key titles that affect initial sales.
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