While there has been widespread anticipation and expectation for the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, recent reports indicate a delay in the launch until the "early months of 2025." According to sources cited by Bloomberg, VGC, and Eurogamer, Nintendo has communicated to game publishers that the initial plan was to unveil the Switch 2 by the end of 2024, but now the release is anticipated to be postponed to "March 2025 at the earliest."
If this information holds true, it adds an interesting dynamic to the current year for the original Switch, which has recently surpassed 139.36 million units in sales. On the first-party game front, notable releases include Princess Peach: Showtime on March 22, along with Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake slated for later this year.
Considering the potential trend indicated by these upcoming games, it seems like a significant year for remakes and remasters as Nintendo prepares to introduce new iterations of its beloved franchises for the Switch 2.
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Bloomberg quoted a Tokyo-based analyst Serkan Toto as saying, “Nintendo is likely looking at a pretty dry pipeline this year. The company will still try to keep the blockbusters for the next console, so 2024 might see more remakes of old Nintendo hits. In any case, 2024 will be a lot tougher for Nintendo without a new device.”
With the speculated February Direct on the horizon, we may gain clearer insights into Nintendo's release plans for 2024. Nintendo has traditionally unveiled Directs in February, making it likely for one to be announced in the coming weeks or possibly in March.
Given Nintendo's unpredictable nature and the potential for plans to shift, it's crucial to keep in mind that nothing is definite and circumstances may change.