Nintendo Sets Release Date for Its First New Switch 2 Game of 2026 (But There’s a Catch)

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Even though the Switch 2 is still relatively new, there are several major game releases planned for 2025, including Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4. Kirby Air Riders will be exclusive to the Switch 2. Looking ahead to 2026, Nintendo fans have even more to anticipate, with several major first-party games in development. While release dates for these new titles were previously unknown, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company recently announced that Pokemon Pokopia will be released on November 11th.

Announced during the September Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Pokopia is a life simulation game similar to Minecraft, taking place on a Pokemon island. Players take on the role of a Human Ditto and work to transform the island into a perfect home for Pokemon. Gameplay shown so far includes features like shaping the land, farming, and construction. Originally planned for release sometime in 2026, Pokemon has now officially set the release date for March 5th, 2026. This makes it the first new, first-party Nintendo game with a confirmed release date for the next year. However, this game is also notable for being the first of its kind in another way.

Pokemon Pokopia Release Date Excitement Marred By Game-Key Card Rumors

When a release date for Pokopia was announced, both Pokémon fans and fans of relaxing games were thrilled. However, pre-order listings revealed a disappointing detail: the physical version of Pokopia will be a Game-Key card. This means the game itself isn’t on the card, and players will still need to download the full game data – a move that has frustrated many fans.

As a collector, I’m really disappointed to hear about the potential direction Nintendo is taking with Switch 2 games and physical releases. But this rumor about Pokemon Pokopia is especially frustrating! Nintendo had previously led us to believe that their first-party games wouldn’t be released on those Game-Key cards. It’s a bit of a tricky situation with Pokopia though, because while Nintendo is publishing it, they aren’t actually developing it themselves. So, maybe Nintendo’s promise about no key cards for first-party titles only applied to games they fully made in-house.

Despite the excitement around the Pokémon release date, many gamers seem disappointed that the game, potentially called Pokopia, might not come with a physical game card at launch.

I’d be happy to purchase a used copy if you’re still using key cards. I’ve been collecting Pokémon games for the past 21 years.

— Miguel Ángel (@Mikeranjero98) November 11, 2025

Currently, the Nintendo of America website doesn’t mention Pokemon Pokopia being a Game-Key card. However, a recent video used Pokopia as an example when explaining how Game-Key cards work. This suggests Pokopia will likely be the first big Nintendo game released in this format.

Even though some fans were disappointed with how the game will be physically released, there’s still a lot of excitement for Pokemon Pokopia, the first-ever Pokemon life simulation game, now that it has a confirmed release date. A new trailer will be shown on Thursday, November 13th, and while we don’t know exactly what it will feature, it will likely give us a better look at how the game is played.

The new Pokémon game, Pokémon Pokopia, is launching on March 5th, 2026, and will only be available on the Nintendo Switch 2. You can pre-order it now for $69.99 on the Nintendo website, and if you pre-order, you’ll receive a special Ditto rug for your in-game home as a bonus!

What are your thoughts on Pokemon Pokopia potentially being a Game-Key card? Are you still looking forward to the game’s release? Share your opinion in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-12 18:15