Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored to Skip Early 2025 Release

As a long-time Nintendo enthusiast who has weathered many generations of their consoles, I must say that the anticipation for the “Switch 2” is palpable among us dedicated fans. The latest rumblings suggest a delay in its release, and while it’s always a bittersweet pill to swallow when we have to wait longer for our beloved gaming fix, I find solace in the fact that Nintendo has a knack for delivering quality over quantity.

As a dedicated Nintendo fan, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of the successor to my beloved Switch console. While rumors have circulated for quite some time about the “Switch 2,” many, including myself, believed that it would debut around the same timeframe as its predecessor, which hit the market in March 2017. However, recent insights from Chris Dring on the GamesIndustry.biz podcast have me questioning this assumption. According to him, developers have reportedly been informed not to anticipate the new system’s arrival within Nintendo’s current fiscal year, which concludes on March 31, 2025. This news has me wondering if we might be in for a bit of a wait before getting our hands on the next iteration of this fantastic gaming device.

According to Dring, no one he has talked to anticipates the launch of Switch 2 happening in this current financial year. Instead, they’ve been informed not to expect it until next year. Some people are hoping for a release around April or May next year, but there’s a general hope that it won’t be delayed any further. The reason is that everyone wants a smooth launch for Switch 2 since we all eagerly await the arrival of a new Nintendo console, and nobody wants the stress of having it launch alongside major titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.

Although Dring is generally trustworthy, it’s advisable to approach such information tentatively until there’s an official confirmation. Previously, there have been whispers about the new console not launching this financial year. During a May investor call, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned that they hadn’t projected sales for the new console within the current fiscal year, which hinted at an April release as the earliest possibility.

Nintendo has kept tight-lips about its upcoming console, providing scant specifics; its name remains unannounced as well. However, it’s confirmed that Nintendo will unveil this new system before the end of the current fiscal year, which could span from now up until March’s end. Moreover, Nintendo hints at a reduced time gap between the console’s debut and market release compared to the current Switch, a claim supported by the limited information available thus far.

Currently, Nintendo has only revealed a small number of games set for release in 2025. One confirmed title is “Donkey Kong Country Returns HD,” scheduled for January. “Metroid Prime 4” and “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” are also expected to be launched at some point in 2025, but their exact release dates remain unclear. Given that Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t anticipated until at least April, it seems likely that we might see additional announcements to fill the gap before launch. Fortunately, there’s a strong possibility of a Nintendo Direct event taking place in September, or possibly even earlier!

[H/T: Video Games Chronicle]

2024-08-14 16:11

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