Nintendo's final first party Switch game release date announced.

The latest addition to the Nintendo Switch family, Rhythm Paradise Groove, is set to hit shelves in July. This will be the last game of its kind to be released for the original Switch, as Nintendo shifts its focus to the newer Switch 2. While the Switch 2 celebrates its first anniversary, the original Switch is still available for purchase and continues to receive new game titles.

As the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, developers can release games for the original Switch and be confident that it will also work on the newer version. Interestingly, even Nintendo has taken this approach with some of their less graphically demanding games. They have announced the release of two Switch 1 titles this year, the first being Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream in April.

The second, Rhythm Paradise Groove, has finally been given a release date of July 2 and will be priced at £33.99. Rhythm Paradise Groove will most likely be the last first-party game from Nintendo to be launched on the original Switch, as no other titles have been announced for this year. It is highly unlikely that they will release any more for the original Switch in the future.

Both of these games are part of long-running Nintendo franchises, with Rhythm Paradise Groove being the fifth installment of the minimalist rhythm action series that first appeared in 2006 on the Game Boy Advance. Sign up for the GameCentral newsletter for expert, exclusive gaming analysis delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Stay up to date with the latest reviews and more.

The first game in the series, Rhythm Tengoku, was only released in Japan but became a popular import, leading to subsequent releases being made available in the West. Not much has been revealed about Rhythm Paradise Groove so far, but based on previous games in the series, it will feature simplistic graphics and a challenging rhythm gameplay that is less forgiving than other games in the genre. While Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream has a free demo available, there is currently no sign of a demo for Rhythm Paradise Groove.

This could be due to the fact that Tomodachi is a more popular franchise in Japan, leading to different treatment for the two games. Although the release date for Rhythm Paradise Groove was initially leaked on the eShop, it was officially announced through Nintendo's Today! app and social media.

This type of low-key announcement has become a trend among publishers, with games like Splatoon Raiders and the rumored Star Fox being revealed through similar means. There is still no news on when a general first-party Nintendo Direct will happen, but it is likely that it won't occur until the usual June not-E3 time slot. This means that Rhythm Paradise Groove may be showcased one more time before its release in June.

It's worth noting that the graphics of Rhythm Paradise Groove are not aiming for realism, but rather a simplistic and stylized aesthetic that fits the gameplay perfectly. To submit letters and features to Inbox, you can now use our convenient Submit Stuff page instead of sending an email. You can also email us, leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter.

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