In Cologne last month, Nintendo’s public Gamescom showfloor booth allowed attendees to play Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, behind the scenes, the company had more in store.
According to Eurogamer’s understanding, developer presentations for the upcoming Switch 2 took place behind closed doors, where Nintendo’s partners were shown tech demos showcasing the system’s performance capabilities.
One of the Switch 2 demos presented was an enhanced version of the launch title Zelda: Breath of the Wild, designed to take full advantage of the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware. It’s essential to clarify that this was only a tech demo, and there is no indication that the game will be re-released.
Nintendo has not yet publicly discussed its plans for the successor to the Switch, but industry expectations are that the new hardware will launch in 2024. The fact that Nintendo is already sharing it with external developers aligns with emerging details about the potential launch timeline.
Recent reports suggest that the Switch 2 may arrive in the latter part of the following year, with development kits already in the hands of key partners. This information is in line with what Eurogamer had previously heard. However, it’s important to note that Nintendo is reportedly keen on launching the system sooner if possible.
Publicly, Nintendo has already announced a robust lineup of games to support the current Switch throughout 2023 and into early 2024. These titles include Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a Super Mario RPG remake, and a new entry in the WarioWare series, all scheduled for release by the end of the year.
In 2024, players can anticipate a new Princess Peach game and a port of Luigi’s Mansion 2. Notably, the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4 still holds a “To Be Announced” release date.
