August 13th 2024.
It seems like the hopes of an early 2025 launch for the new Nintendo Switch 2 have been dashed. According to a recent report, Nintendo has given developers a clearer idea of when the highly anticipated console will hit the market. While there have been many rumors swirling around the Switch 2, this one comes from a more reliable source and provides some interesting details.
One of the recent rumors was sparked by a patent for a new cartridge, which seems to confirm that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. Additionally, data on component shipments suggests that the new console will have two fans, hinting at a much more powerful device than its predecessor. While other rumors have come from less reputable sources, there have been some with a good track record, including one that claims the Switch 2 will have strong third-party support from the beginning.
Now, the latest rumor is that the Switch 2 won't be released until after April of next year. This lines up with Nintendo's official statement that the console will be announced before the end of their current financial year, which ends on March 31. According to Christopher Dring of GamesIndustry.biz, who has a lot of experience in the gaming industry, developers have been warned not to expect a launch until the next financial year, which could mean anywhere between April 2025 and March 2026.
During their podcast, Dring stated, "No developer I've spoken to expects it to be launching this financial year. In fact, they've been told not to expect it in this financial year. A bunch of people I spoke to hope it's out in April or May time, still early next year, not late." While these are just speculations at this point, Dring also mentions that no one wants a late launch for the Switch 2, as it could clash with other major releases such as GTA 6.
Speaking of GTA 6, its release date is also set for sometime in 2025, but Nintendo likely won't be too concerned about the scheduling conflicts with Western developers. The original Switch was released in early March, but it's highly unlikely that its successor will follow the same pattern. If the Switch 2 doesn't launch in April or May, the earliest we could expect it is in September of 2025. However, most consoles tend to launch in the late autumn, so it's possible that the Switch 2 will follow suit.
While past launches from Nintendo have typically occurred in the fall, it's important to note that this doesn't necessarily mean the Switch 2 will follow suit. There's always a chance that it could launch earlier, as there have been instances where Nintendo's portable consoles were released in the spring. However, this also means that there's a possibility of the console not launching until early 2026.
As for when we can expect an official announcement, that remains a mystery. There have been rumors that a September Nintendo Direct has been moved up to August, but there could be other reasons for this change. It's tempting to think that this could be to make room for a Switch 2 reveal, but there are other more plausible explanations. Even Nintendo may not know the exact release date at this point in time.
In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or theories about the Switch 2, feel free to email us, leave a comment, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter. We also have a Submit Stuff page for those who want to easily submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features. And don't forget to sign up for exclusive gaming content and get the latest releases before they're even featured on our site. Your privacy is important to us, and we are protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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