Rumour: Nintendo Switch 2 To Launch In June With 3-Phase Software Plan – Nintendo Life
GuestGuestLogin | Sign UpNintendo LifeGuestLogin or Sign UpGoing through phaazesThere’s just over one more week to go until Nintendo lifts the lid on the Nintendo Switch 2 with its upcoming Direct presentation on 2nd April, but we’ve got room for another rumour or two right?The latest comes from Insider Gaming, who claims via multiple conversations during GDC in San Francisco that Nintendo is planning to launch the Switch 2 in June, roughly two months following its Direct. This would line up quite nicely with how it approached the launch of the original Switch, though to our knowledge, the last major console to release in the month of June was the N64 in Japan. Will Nintendo really follow suit with the Switch 2?Not only that, but Nintendo will supposedly implement a three-phase plan for its Switch 2 software, with first-party titles getting top priority during the initial launch. Following this, phase two will commence in October / November and allow for titles from third-party publishers to shine. As part of this, it’s said that developers will receive dev kits in June.Finally, the third phase essentially covers the Christmas period, which presumably would allow both Nintendo and third-party publishers to unleash some major titles.Overall, aspects of this sound plausible, but we’re not completely convinced. First of all, while we can certainly imagine dev kits being sent to indie developers in June, we have to imagine that some of the major publishers (i.e. Activision, Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft etc) will have had their hands on dev kits for some time now. Frankly, the notion of the Switch 2 launching with no third-party games is a bit ridiculous.On the flip side, it strikes us that development for the Switch 2 would be comparatively straightforward compared to previous generations, so Nintendo holding back dev kits until the last minute wouldn’t be completely out of the question. Our recent interview with Llamasoft revealed that not even Jeff Minter has managed to bag one yet.Whatever happens, we remain confident that the Switch 2 will play host to a wide variety of games from major developers and indies alike. Whether these come at launch or are staggered throughout the year, we reckon we’ll be eating well once the console finally drops.Last year was just a warm upSalt, pinchedWhat do you make of this apparent three-phase software plan? Does it sound plausible to you? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.[source insider-gaming.com]About Ollie ReynoldsNintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry.Comments 94Ooooo baby. It’s getting juicy.Is it really a rumor when it’s straight from GDC which Nintendo always attends?This is likely true.Can’t wait a week huh?Let’s see what happens, the more this goes on, sorry the more negative I get with switch 2.The more I hear of Switch 2 the less impressed I am. Remembering I’m a docked gamer with Switch on a 65” TV. With a series x and a PS5 Pro.Considering FH5 looks spectacular runs console wise on a 12tflop series x and Switch 2 at best when docked is 3tflop. I fined the switch 2 for any series x games a total waste of time.Switch 2 hopefully will get some amazing Nintendo big AAA games on RELEASE day. But I even doubting that now. And think it will be flooded on release with old Xbox one and PS4 games. Total waste of time.I so hope I ended up eating my words and I’m totally wrong, but Nintendo do bother me with this switch 2 console release.Nintendo have had an age to get top quality big in house AAA games ready for day one switch 2. That’s hope it happens.Phase 4: the shovelware tsunami@Ryu_Niiyama I can wait a week for real news thats for sure!!GBA launched in June in America/Europe back in 2001, it’s been a while since a June launch but it has happened before and worked out quite well.this seems odd. I mean its almost certainly true…Nintendo has a great third party presence now but for 20 years that wasn’t the case, and they are never going to trust them like they do their own people. They will want their software to get an early jump. That being said, I have doubts they want to give third parties a chance to “shine” that might be the language they are using for their partners, but they are absolutely never going to plan their releases around third parties. Nintendo picks their dates and then everybody else can fall in line.Quite interesting and it overall makes sense to me (and even more so considering Nintendo’s secrecy when it comes to Switch 2) – looking forward to seeing if this ends up being confirmed at least in part by the upcoming Direct!Maybe it’s to cull rumour mongering.This sounds plausible. There hasn’t been much scuttlebutt on dev kits out in the wild.This feels like a bad idea imoNo third-party games at release? That seems super unlikely. Nintendo will want to spread their releases out like they always do. They’ll have 2—maaaaaaybe 3—first-party games at launch, and a handful or two of third-party games.This sounds like a terrible idea if you want third parties to support your system. Making them wait until months after launch isnt exactly a friendly gesture……if the rumor is even true, that is.If Nintendo really do this then they got arrogant again. It would be silly not to have big hitting 3rd party games at launch. It would help drive sales of the system and games.I think there might be some exclusive or time exclusive 3rd party games at launch.@LastFootnote I agree. Most indie devs won’t have dev kits yet, but a few trusted partners should already have them.June sound right but the bit about first party games for launch sounds bunk. Nintendo will want to space out their big titles and having third party (including exclusive) content there will be essential for a big launch.@OldGamer999 Look at the size of your Series X and PS5 consoles. Now look at the size of the Switch. What on earth did you expect?This rumor sounds true. It just the kind of common sense, nothing too crazy quality that seems like real information. If you were making this up, why wouldn’t you make up something more exciting than just what like 50% of people were guessing anyway? I do agree however that big developers/publishers must have had dev kits for some time. Probably it was only indies at GDC that were held to this “dev-kits in June” timeline.Edit: I see a lot of people saying Nintendo would/should want third parties at launch at that they wouldn’t launch with no third parties. But is that what this rumor actually says? The article says first party games would get “top priority” not that no third parties will be allowed at all. I think the software phases for the launch year make perfect sense to me and sound very plausible.I can see a June launch, as a matter a fact, I’ve been expecting it. I can’t however, under any circumstance, believe there will be NO 3rd party support at launch. That’s ludicrous.”…not even Jeff Minter has managed to bag one yet.”Hahaha, okay… it’s nice that the site got to interview him, but guy has been at the very margins of game development for decades, and no project of his has made even a tiny splash since Tempest 2000. He’s lauded for his work 30+ years ago, but he’s largely irrelevant now. A guy like him not receiving a dev kit yet means absolutely nothing.phase two will commence in October / November and allow for titles from third-party publishers to shine. As part of this, it’s said that developers will receive dev kits in JuneThis doesn’t make sense, 3rd parties getting dev kits in June to prepare games for release in October? I bet any major 3rd party game releasing this year is already being worked on via a dev kit, the timeline doesn’t add up.Making 3rd parties wait for seconds is something Yamauchi would have done at the peak of his power. I just can’t see modern Nintendo going that direction.Third parties only getting dev kits in June? That is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. Not happening at all. “Preparing for games in October”? Games don’t get developed in a few months, and even ports don’t happen that quick.The only plausible way to read this would be that they’ll open the floodgates for any developer to get a dev kit from June onwards but big publishers/select indies will have gotten them ages ago. I can see that, but to think there’ll be no significant third party presence in the first few months is absurd.As for the Jeff Minter thing, do we seriously believe he would be allowed to say he has a dev kit if he has one? No chance. Not saying he does have one but he wouldn’t be able to say regardless.All i want to know is the specs@MarioBrickLayer Indie devs probably won’t get theirs until June, but I bet a few major partners already have them.No way Nintendo will delay third party titles to just the holiday seasons, if anything they need to put their titles in the holiday lineup too.@Ooccoo_Jr Not much different and it is a great achievement from Nintendo.It’s more I hope we get some in house Nintendo studios big AAA games on release day. And I mean big, like a very long over due 8 years new 3d Mario platform game to start with.It makes absolutely no sense.Why the hell would they hold back dev kits until june.You have to assume major third party partners (Square Enix, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo) have had their Switch 2 dev kits for a while already. Not beginning in June. Diablo IV, FC 26, Hades IIMajor third party developers already have kits, that’s a given. A June launch is probable, with both Nintendo and third party new games. Ports should follow later.It’s a shame that rumours are being prioritized over official Nintendo news. Nintendo announced Splatoon 3 SpringFest on Friday (theme, timing and redeemable ingame gear) but there’s still no article.Developers receiving dev kits in June? I’d have expected them to have had dev kits for quite some time now so im definately taking this article with a pinch of saltI can see a June launch as feasible, the rest of the info in the article not so muchSwitch 2 never needed to and never will need to re write the rule book. I can’t wait for it.I would be surprised if we don’t see a good handful of 3rd party games announced very early on though, even in the hours following the direct itself.The he likes of Madden, NHL, FC for certain. Hades II , Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones are all games I fully expect to see announced very quickly.Again, the official hands-on demonstrations go all the way up to June, I highly doubt it will launch straight after that. These rumours are going to cause a massive drop in share price (& subsequent quick profit for investors) if Nintendo turn round and drop a Q4 release date, which is highly likely. Maybe this is the reason the rumours are dropping; it might be a tactical setup. Happens all the time.So same schedule as with the Switch 1:Launch window:3d party window:2nd 1st party and partnered window:…Seriously, the Direct’s just over one week away. Y’all need to be patient lol.I realize I’m addressing the Internet. Which is always reasonable and truthful. Totally.A lot of this doesn’t make sense. Phase 3 being December. Feb kits going out in June. Nah.@Friendly I think a lot of people here forgot how crappy the Switch launch was. Outside of Breath of the Wild all you had for physical games wereJust Dance 2017Skylanders Imaginators1-2 SwitchSuper Bomerman RI see what you did there with the subtitle@Willo567 yeah, but within 3 months: mario kart, splatoon and arms. And a lot of eshop indie darlings (shovel knight, steamworld dig 2, rocket league, snipper clips, golf story, to name a few).Showed what the switch was going to be like imo.There was an article on here about a month ago about a third-party developer (can’t remember who) that all but said they had a dev kit and the Switch 2 has a few more tricks up its sleeves.Edit: Found it
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/02/split-fiction-dev-knows-a-lot-about-switch-2-but-cant-say-anything-yet@Friendly This rumor doesn’t really even tell us the launch window for the First Party stuff, like if they’ll be available on launch day or if they’ll spread it out like they did with OG Switch (assuming this is even true)if this is accurate it is a ridiculous strategy holding back third party games for months so that switch 2 first party games will shine seriously? i am 100% sure they can do both..at the same time..nintendo is afraid that with dozens of third party games it will over shadow there 3 or 4 titles they will have at launch.this cannot be accurate that no dev kits have been sent to developers.@Willo567 Nintendo always spreads their games.But I assume for launch window we’ll get mario kart 9, metroid prime 4, a new multiplayer franchise (like arms was), some rpg or adventure game (zelda hd wind waker / twilight princess?).And then a 2nd window with 3D Mario, Pokemon Z-A and a new Fire emblem for instance?Just guessing.To everybody commenting “no 3rd party games at launch”…. where did you read that?The article quite clearly says that the launch will be focused primarily on 1st party titles, not exclusively. There will of course be 3rd party titles from major publishers like Square Enix and Microsoft on day 1, but Nintendo’s 1st party titles will naturally be the main focus.As for the dev kits, the article does a poor job explaining that bit. It most likely means that dev kits will become widely available in June and not just to the major AAA publishers who have had them for ages.I just hope they have something for My Nintendo membersNo idea why they’d split first party and third party release windows…surely a good mixture of both is better for gamers. Roll on next week when all these rumours are done once and for all.@Friendly wow thats a really solid analysis…I didn’t realize Switch 1 did the same thing. Though I suspect we get Mario on day 1 this time.All depends on a new Mario game for me, if there’s one at launch (3D Mario) then it’s a day one, if not I’ll wait.The “Dude, trust me” news style is getting oldI call BS on there being more Big N releases than third party titles at launch. Totally implausible.3rd party can mean a lot of things. There are hundreds of indie devs. They are the ones that won’t be getting dev kits early.Nintendo is a strange company that makes strange decisions. None of this sounds like the kind of stunt they’d pull, and it doesn’t seem to add up properly either. October and November are the holiday release window. How would phase 3 not just overlap with phase 2? Why would Nintendo pull back in the holiday window, which is all but confirmed to have Legends Z-A (which is seemingly planned to be cross-gen based on some late information from the gigaleaker regarding references to “Super Ikkaku”) and will almost certainly have a new 3D Mario based on past precedent? How would developers expect to have ports out in just 4 months? This just seems like the result of Tom reporting guesswork and conjecture from whoever he spoke to at GDC.@OldGamer999 Switch 2 on the toilet > PS5 on 4k/120hz in the living room.even if docked is your preffered way of playing, I bring my Switch everywhere I go to kill time instead of doom scrolling my phone.It’s actually coming out in approximately 20XX. You can report on this later.@Willo567 Not really surprising that third parties weren’t clamoring to be on Switch on day one after the disaster that was Wii U@Champalimo Yes the Switch does have great mobile use, I can’t fault it there. 🤣Early may would be great. There’s rumours of that too. Easy B-day present for me 😅With the Switch being 8 years old there is absolutely no way this launch can be anything but amazing on all fronts if Nintendo wants to repeat the success of the Switch. This means first party (which won’t all come at once) being supplemented by third party ports & exclusives day 1. If the launch line-up is not impressive after all this time people will simply wait to upgrade.Sounds like nonsense to me. As you say, the comment about dev kits must be talking about tiny indies whom they don’t trust not to leak it. Maybe also trying to hold back the tidal wave of shovel ware.I’d also put money on the launch being in mid May.NVIDIA DLSS is a powerful tool. On the PC it’s done truly remarkable things even though that gets lost in peoples lust for a delusion of perfection. I don’t know what they’ve got cooked up with Switch 2 but I don’t expect it to be a mere PS4. I have lots of questions, like refresh rates. On PC, I already want to be pushing at least 50 frames before I use frame generation preferably 60. Really I expect games in the 90’s and frame gen is intended to fill out the refresh rate of your screen. Then If a game runs at 30 doubling frames to 60 feels like crap and has artifacts. What’s the goal? How did they solve this? What’s the refresh rate on the screen? But I believe they’ve got a good plan.That said, the only reason I need a switch is for xenoblade. I don’t pirate games and that’s the only place I can play them but I think I’m done. I’m curious still but as of now I don’t plan on getting a switch 2.Devs get their kits in June… for a Oct/Nov launch window?Holy Mother of Crunch, Batman!Well, if EA only gets a few months with a Dev kit, I expect that’s all they need to give Switch 2 fans FIFA 26 (FIFA 2020) 😀 ….. Or whatever it’s called these days.I’m onboard with June. I’m hoping following the direct that pre orders open. I was like a coiled spring when the Switch pre orders went live. I’ve been day 1 since the GameCube.@Grumblevolcano you do realize this website has a rumour tag for articles so yes things like this would be covered.About 3 years ago Microsoft signed an agreement for Call of Duty to be on Nintendo consoles for 10 years. If MS doesn’t get a Switch 2 dev kit until June those 10 years will be over before we get CoD on Switch 2.😝If Switch 2 launches in late May (previous rumour) or early June I would make an effort to get one Day 1. If it’s late June I may just wait until Christmas. Of course it’s really about the games and day 1 exclusives. I waited until the red Mario Odyssey bundle in October for our Switch, I’d wait again for the right reasons.@OldGamer999 I’ll be honest with you, sounds like the Switch 2 isn’t aimed for ya.Switch 1 + switch 2 ❤️😍Nintendo ❤️No interest unless there’s some monster hunter love. Stories 3 Port or remaster of an old game 1-4Ultimate version of world + ice Any silly poogie palico game.Developers getting switch 2 dev kits after launch is ridiculous thing to think. That’s not happening.@Automated_Unit_4937 The Saturn got burned by that approach. Also $299 didn’t help.Calls out all these rumors as unlikely, but no mention of the rumor about the press getting to play the Switch 2 next week, or the almost certain Nintendo Direct we are getting in the next couple days. Well that’s interesting.@Fake-news It can be like the Switch was and all the other Nintendo consoles. Even had the Wii U, day one. They just need to keep those first party big AAA games coming for me then it’s all good. That’s why I’m hoping for a couple on release day, like MK9 and Mario 3d platform game.the XsS & Steam Deck are a real godsend for Switch 2 to get modern AAA ports, it’s going to be great. I can’t wait to get my hands on one, love my little portable RPG machines.Here we are, about to see one of the biggest launch periods Nintendo has seen yet…I need early June. Going to UK/France in late June!Considering that EA and Ubisoft killed the 3DS launch, this is a GREAT thing.Coming out in June would be perfect as a gift given to myself for finishing my degree Really excited for that Direct. That counter on top of the website helps but is also a bit cruel hahaThe May 15 launch rumours make the most sense to me but hey what would I knowI don’t have anything to say about this rumour, but just wanted to drop a note of gratitude for this community. It’s been really nice having a place to go to bask in all of the hype surrounding this console launch, knowing that everyone here has probably been feeling a similar confusing blend of excitement, anxiety, and joy in the lead up to this direct!The good news about this rumour is we already know it, or other rumours suggesting May, are already wrong. They can’t be both right? 🥳I don’t place month stock in anyone suggesting June because that’s the obvious month given the reveal is 2 April. Late June would be almost 3 months past that. I also see these rumours as the final death throws of the rumour mill trying to get attention prior to the official information release next week. Because that date is so close, no one really cares and the rumours are essentially meaningless. Tell us the reveal date, release date and even a launch title 6 months in advance, and that truly gets our attention.How in the world do third Party developers not have Dev kits yet ?I’m hyped for the system but that news basically confirms we will have extremely limited support for the next two years from third partiesThey should have had them 12 months backI can’t get behind the idea that dev kits aren’t in the hands of developers yet. June release, fine. I can believe that. The phased approach for games? That sounds ludicrous. If true I’m starting to think upgrading my Steam Deck to ROG Ally X might be the better way to go.If correct, this might work out well for every party involved, considering the launch of GTA6 later this year.With this schedule, Nintendo gets their big launch titles in the spotlight months ahead, while third parties can pick up the slack during the GTA6 launch window. Since GTA5 isn’t even available on Switch, I would guess there’s not that much overlap between these types of audiences, leaving aside the fact that GTA6 is unlikely to be ported to S2. GTA may be a huge, but not everyone cares about it.Nintendo has had a terrible history with 3rd party developers thanks to their bad business practices such as using cartridges for the N64, using mini DVD-ROMs for their GameCube, using poor graphics for the Wii, and using a gimmicky controller for the Wii U. They can’t even get full 3rd party support for the Switch as 2K barely supports them and EA and Activsion has shown them 0 support whatsoever.This next generation I’m going to hold off at least until the mid generation model comes out. I’m tired of going all in at launch just to pay the most possible for everything and a better edition of the console to come out two or three years later.I trust that all the meaningful 3rd party devs already have their kits, more because they have proprietary game engines that need extra time to tweak a version for Switch2. And for those that weren’t on board already they will likely need to wait. Aside from that, current devs have been primed for a while to expect certain capabilities from the Switch2 (4K, DLSS, back compat, etc.) and would probably just need to have a Switch2 build ready to debug when their time comes. I don’t remember when, but it’s been reported here before how relatively simple it was to get Switch ports of some PC indie titles going. And the new hardware is not going to be radically different to develop for, just more capable, as far as we know. The base Switch dev environment should already be available. The dev kits are more for getting builds ready for Switch2 specific stuff, runtime tools, testing and debug, et al. I wouldn’t surprised if devs can get games running and submitted within a few weeks after receiving a kit, provided they weren’t starting from scratch and already had a game targeting and more or less ready to go on Switch1.This all sounds pretty standard and expected. I still hope they have more in store than just Mario and third party ports. This makes me think Mario Kart is a launch title and 3D Mario might be for the holidays.I feel people are reading too deep into this. Of course the Switch 2 will have third party games at launch. What this rumor is referring to is that the core focus of the launch window will be Nintendo’s own games. The dev kit thing is more than likely referring to indie devs, as mostly major publishers and a few handpicked indies are the only ones with Switch 2 dev kits at the moment.In other words, this mirrors the exact strategy used for the original Switch’s launch window. The launch was headlined by Nintendo first party, then later in the year focused on third party releases.@Bunkerneath,I am guessing that will not be even discussed. We will be waiting for launch day teardowns. Although a portable PS4 in handheld mode and near a pro docked sounds likely. If it has decent DLSS then this should be fine.Silksong is going to be a launch title. Watch. 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