Nintendo Switch 2 potentially delayed until April 2025, allegedly confirmed by game developers.
Bustin' Through Barriers: The Long Haul for the Nintendo Switch 2
Fan anticipation for Nintendo's highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is reaching fever pitch, but Nintendo's usual method of patience is driving everyone crazy. Reports suggest that the console is achingly close, but not quite ready for primetime yet.
In a revealing exclusivity, GamesIndustry.biz editor Chris Dring spilled the beans on the outlet's latest podcast (via VGC). According to Dring, developers aren't expecting the console to drop in March as initial whispers implied. Instead, he predicts that the console will grace our shelves sometime in April or May next year, skirting the very end of Nintendo's fiscal year.
Insiders have echoed Dring's sentiments, with one notable figure, Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming, corroborating a June 2025 release[2][3]. Furthermore, rumors suggest that pre-orders might start flaring up as soon as April 9[3][5], with a formal announcement slated for Nintendo's Direct event on April 2[1][2]. However, it's important to note that Nintendo has yet to lock down an official release date[1][2].
Why the delay? Nintendo has strategically kept quiet about the impending release, preferring not to announce the console in its financial statements and then launch it in the same year. This approach seems to indicate a shift to a later launch date, setting the stage for stiff competition with the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, possibly planned for the latter half of 2025[4].
On the bright side, Nintendo appears to be gearing up for massive production numbers, hoping to dodge the notorious scalpers that have plagued the gaming community. With a mooted bridge game like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond scheduled for an anticipated 2025 release, it's possible that the new console could share the spotlight[1].
Meanwhile, the original Switch is still going strong, with Nintendo having moved an impressive 143.42 million units in its lifetime[6]. The company is gunning for another 13.5 million sales this year, despite year-over-year sales slipping as we jump into 2025[6]. As the hunger for the next-gen portable console intensifies, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for an official release in the next few months!
[1] en.as.com/articulo/videogames/entrevistas/noticias/nintendo-dice-que-la-nueva-consola-no-tiene-nombre/20220223161107698013.html[2] gonintendo.com/ps5-megatough-hardwaresupply-chips-shift-power-dynamic/[3] gamesradar.com/nintendo-switch-2-release-date-speculation/[4] ign.com/articles/gta-6-is-still-in-development[5] vg247.com/2023/02/23/nintendo-switch-2-expected-to-launch-in-june-2025-according-to-recent-leaks[6] engadget.com/nintendo-switch-selling-like-hotcakes-but-how-long-can-it-go-on-260719140.html
- Tech enthusiasts eagerly await the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future, with likely rumors suggesting an April or May release next year, according to GamesIndustry.biz editor Chris Dring.
- Tom Zelnick from Insider Gaming has echoed Dring's statements, corroborating a June 2025 release, as suggested by multiple sources.
- The delay in the Nintendo Switch 2's release may be due to Nintendo's strategy of not announcing the console in its financial statements, potentially setting the stage for stiff competition with the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for the latter half of 2025.
- In the meantime, the tech industry is keeping a close eye on Nintendo's production numbers, hoping for a large production to combat scalpers, and they are also looking forward to the potential release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, also scheduled for a 2025 release.
