Last month, during Gamescom in Cologne, Nintendo’s public booth on the showfloor allowed attendees to play Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, behind closed doors, the company had some exciting developments in progress.
According to Eurogamer, Nintendo conducted private developer presentations for the upcoming Switch 2, showcasing tech demos that highlighted the system’s impressive capabilities. One such demo featured an enhanced version of the original Switch launch title, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, optimized to meet the performance standards of the Switch 2. It’s important to note that this was merely a technical demonstration, and there is no indication that the game will be re-released.
Nintendo has yet to make any official statements regarding the successor to the Switch, but it is widely anticipated that the new hardware will debut in 2024. The revelation that the Switch 2 is now being shared with external developers aligns with emerging details about its potential launch.
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 aligns with earlier reports from Eurogamer, although Nintendo is reportedly eager to launch the system sooner if feasible.
On the public front, Nintendo has announced a robust lineup of games to support the current Switch throughout the remainder of 2023 and into the early part of the next year. This includes titles such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a remake of a Super Mario RPG, and a new installment of WarioWare, all scheduled for release before Christmas.
In 2024, players can anticipate a new Princess Peach game and a port of Luigi’s Mansion 2. As for the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, its launch date remains listed as “TBA.”
When contacted for a response, Nintendo declined to comment.