Nintendo Switch 2 Rumors Hint at a 2024 Launch

Recent reports suggest a potential "Summer of Switch 2" in 2025, despite an anticipated April 2025 launch. This contrasts with Nintendo's continued focus on the current Switch model as it nears the end of its life cycle.

Next Year Could Bring a "Summer of Switch 2"

Developers Eyeing April/May 2025 Switch 2 Release

Industry whispers place the Switch 2's launch no earlier than April 2025. GamesIndustry.biz podcast host Chris Dring, citing developer sources, reports that developers have been advised to expect a post-March 2025 release. Many developers, according to Dring, are hoping for an April or May launch, avoiding a later release date.

This speculated timeframe might be a strategic move to avoid competing with major releases like the anticipated "GTA 6," rumored for a Fall 2025 release.

Adding fuel to the speculation fire, journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe hinted on the O X do Controle podcast (as reported by BGR) that a Switch 2 announcement might precede August's end. This aligns with Nintendo's stated intention to announce the Switch 2 before their fiscal year concludes on March 31, 2025. However, without official confirmation from Nintendo, these remain just rumors. Nintendo has confirmed an announcement within the current fiscal year.

Nintendo Stock and Switch Sales Soften

Switch Sales Remain Strong Despite Year-on-Year Decline

image via Google Finance Nintendo's stock experienced a 2.3% dip in Tokyo following a report of declining Switch sales. Q1 FY2025 results showed a significant year-on-year sales decrease (-46.4%) for the Switch platform, with 2.1 million units sold during the quarter. Despite this, the overall Switch sales for the year ending March 2024 surpassed expectations, reaching 15.7 million units.

Further Insights into Nintendo's Switch Strategy

Nintendo emphasized that over 128 million users engaged with the Switch family of systems between July 2023 and June 2024, demonstrating continued interest even as the console's lifecycle winds down. This metric is based on the number of Nintendo Accounts actively using Switch software.

Nintendo's latest financial report reaffirmed its commitment to maximizing both hardware and software sales for the current Switch, forecasting 13.5 million unit sales for FY2025, even with the Switch 2 on the horizon.