Much ado about nothing – that's how you could describe the latest rumor about the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2. This time, too, it shows fans one thing above all: As long as Nintendo doesn't announce the new console itself, you shouldn't have too high hopes for an imminent release.
The announcement of the Nintendo Switch by Nintendo before Halloween - this is what fans had hoped for, who firmly believed in the rumor spread by Nintendo influencer and journalist PH Brazil. According to this, the Japanese entertainment company was supposed to announce the new console on October 28th or 29th. In the end, nothing came of it, as we now know - one day after the two days mentioned. This is a shame for fans, the disappointment is great. However, it is a good lesson: As long as Nintendo does not comment on the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, leaks and rumors should be treated with caution - or at least expectations should be lowered.
Nintendo Switch 2: The (too) long wait
There is of course a reason why fans are so hopeful that they absorb every little rumor about the Nintendo Switch 2: the enormously long wait for the console successor is causing impatience, especially since previous rumors have repeatedly pointed to a release of the mobile console in spring or early summer 2025. Will anything actually come of this? That is still completely unclear.
Nintendo itself is still keeping quiet and has not even hinted at a more specific time frame for the release of the Nintendo Switch 2. While it remains extremely likely that the console will be released next year, when exactly is a big secret. And ultimately, until concrete and, above all, official information is released, there is a possibility that the release could be delayed. For fans, the lack of information is one thing above all: annoying.
The Nintendo Switch, as successful as it may be, has already seen its best days. The hybrid console came onto the market eight years ago, and the revised OLED model is at least much fresher, coming out alongside Metroid Dread in October 2021. Fans have already accepted this gratefully. However, it is now time for Nintendo to release a real and technically more sophisticated successor. Not because they are happy with the Nintendo Switch can no longer be fun - in fact, the opposite is the case. The reason is rather to be found in the fans' desire for improvements to the already good basic framework - but there is an even more important reason why fans are eagerly awaiting the next-gen Switch. And it has absolutely nothing to do with hardware.
million-seller for Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch was and is an excellent console that offers a high level of entertainment value for a fair price in these times of exploding prices. The main reason for this is the strong game portfolio, which has always been the greatest strength of the Nintendo platforms. This will also change with the Nintendo Switch 2 is not. The hardware will be improved, but the new version of the Nintendo Switch console will also live off the games. Developers certainly have an advantage thanks to modern technology when porting games - which will ultimately benefit the line-up of third-party titles.
However, the fact is that it is primarily the Nintendo games that determine the path of a Nintendo console. Sales figures for the software for the Nintendo Switch show this impressively: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Sword and Shield have sold tens of millions of copies - all of the games were distributed directly by Nintendo. The list of successes could be continued indefinitely with games such as Super Mario Party, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and Splatoon 3. The big sellers are the Party games.
The long wait for the Nintendo Switch 2 is so annoying for fans because they don't really have to wait for the new hardware, but rather for the big video games of the next Nintendo generation.