Nintendo’s next-generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2, is set to launch in June with a structured rollout plan for games, according to Insider Gaming.
The three-phase plan starts with the Switch 2’s launch in June, featuring a selection of first-party Nintendo games, including the next installment in the Mario Kart series. Nintendo will also distribute more development kits to game studios this month, although some have already received them. The second phase, scheduled for October to November, will introduce third-party games to the console. The final phase will occur over the holiday season, with additional games released.
Next week, content creators and media outlets will gain early access to the new console and some upcoming games, coinciding with the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event. The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is currently scheduled for April 2, but Nintendo is expected to host another Direct later this week. This upcoming Direct will focus exclusively on the original Nintendo Switch and upcoming titles for that console, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad emphasized on X that Nintendo is broadening the availability of Switch 2 development kits in June, building on its existing developer outreach. Nintendo recently released Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, which includes a hidden 60 FPS mode. This feature hints at potential graphical improvements enabled by the Switch 2.
When it comes to Nintendo’s rollout strategy, the company is once again playing it smart by staggering releases, ensuring early adopters have a reason to stay engaged well beyond the initial launch in June.
By teasing with third-party titles later in the year and saving some heavy-hitters for the holidays, Nintendo ensures that the Switch 2 remains a gift-giving staple. Meanwhile, savvy Nintendo devs are likley anticipating the bump in graphical prowess suggested by the hidden 60 FPS mode in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.
The shift to get this mode hidden also hints at nostalgia for the console’s predecessor, indicating Nintendo is carefully navigating between innovation and respect for its classic game-library.
