The Switch being moved is just a rumor [1](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/1asf2io/nintendo_switch_2_is_claimed_to_launch_in_q1_of/) [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/1auqpn6/nintendo_shares_tumble_after_game_makers_say/), but we know nothing about the second half of the year. Princess Peach is almost here, Thousand Year Door arrives in May, and Luigi’s Mansion 2 in June. If the plan for Christmas was a Switch 2 or Pro, does that push back the Christmas planned releases?
Beyond Nintendo announcements, there aren’t many third party announcements. If third parties were planning on releasing games with an updated Switch, they might push back releases. The only thing I know of with a Christmas season release date is Fantasy Life 2. And that was a 2023 release that got pushed back! Is there anything else I’m missing? I really want to see the Suikoden remasters that got pushed back, but I’m not very hopeful there. Some indies are coming, but I don’t feel like they can carry the holiday season.
So where does that leave us? I wonder if some of the games Nintendo is supposedly sitting on could be released? [There have been rumors about more Zelda ports and more Metroid Prime coming or even being done for years.](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/x3533g/jeff_grubbs_game_mess_podcast_says_they_expect/%20https://twitter.com/JeffGrubb/status/1625161163217547264) Really, being the year of remasters would make sense if Nintendo wants to hold big new games for a system release.
They could re-release limited games like 3D All Stars or Mario 35. Since 3D all-stars was incomplete, they could release a complete version with Galaxy 2 so it’s not the same game.
Could we see another Pokemon remake? [There was recent news Pokemon started a new subsidary company called Pokemon Works in the same building as ICLA.](https://twitter.com/JoeMerrick/status/1767241453200171456) ICLA is the dev for the Pokmeon Diamond/Pearl Switch remakes. They could just be helping make future Pokemon games in general.
It’s possible we could see a big game that we know is in development like Prime 4. Many have guessed with as long as development is taking that it will be a dual release for the Switch and the successor.
Of course there could be new games coming that just haven’t been announced yet. What do you think? Am I forgetting about anything big?
by pickledgreatness
36 Comments
$20 says they’ll have a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle for the holidays
The long rumored Metroid Prime 4?
That would sell a ton.
It would still be on December 25th.
Probably on December 25th like always. I doubt they’d move it just for the Switch 2
Roughly December 25th
It should be December 25th.
Maybe a hot take, but the Switch doesn’t need a big new game to sell this Christmas season.
People buying a Switch now are either getting a second system or aren’t swayed much by hot new things (either lack of interest or economic situation, etc).
For both of those groups, a small price drop or good (new) bundle options would likely be a far bigger incentive to pick up a Switch than any single game would be.
Christmas is staying on the 25th
My feeling is there won’t be any more major releases for Switch, at least this year. I think Pokemon Legends could be a Switch 1 only game depending on when in 2025 it comes out. There’s probably one/two more unannounced Nintendo games to come out between June-next February. Maybe something like a remake/remaster or a much smaller project. I know circumstances were different back then but wasn’t the last year of the Wii U like Twilight Princess HD and Paper Mario Color Splash and that was it? Maybe they would do like Nintendo Selects reprint of certain titles at a discounted rate to try to push out every last drop.
There were rumors of a Direct in April that would outline the back half of the year, and with the lineup (or lack of) so far, that would be just what they need to get a few things dated for June-December. Maybe even some new NSO announcements, like new N64 games and such to push the service. I also wouldn’t rule out another shadowdrop of some kind, whether it’s more Metroid Prime or something else from the GameCube/Wii era. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part lol.
I think the Zelda ports and Metroid remasters do have a lot of pull here – Prime 2 and 3 in particular, especially if 4 is coming towards the end of the year (or even early next year. Perhaps a cross-gen title?) Shadowdrop or short-date 2 and 3, end with a trailer for 4. A Zelda port or two would be great for that August-September slot.
We always get a Pokémon Presents around August too, so they could surprise us with something with a December release date as “the holiday title”. It also could (and by could, I mean should) give us Gens 1-3 on NSO, which would provide a bit of incentive for people to subscribe or upgrade their subscription before the end of the year. An early August announcement would still give them a 4 month marketing window for a bigger title, so it seems possible.
Regardless of how the rest of the year goes, there’s no doubt it’s a curious one. We haven’t really been this in the dark about their lineup since the Direct Drought of 2020, so I’m sure they’ll fire out some stuff soon.
Also, Silksong when?
> The Switch being moved is just a rumor
Isn’t everything related to “Switch 2” only a rumor anyway?
I would suspect that if the new console is coming in early 2025, they’ll punt on this holiday season (which would be the *8th holiday season* for the Switch) so they can load up 2025 for the successor console.
IIRC, the Wii U had basically nothing for holiday 2016.
I think we’ll see a price drop and a new bundle to clear out inventory. There may a few 3rd party games finishing up but I would be surprised to see any 1st party games.
It wouldn’t be completely nuts to introduce a new system as the focus of the September direct to be released in March, advertise a decent price for a new holiday bundle that drops around 11/15, maybe drop a few really desired NSO games and begin the death spiral for the Switch.
Holiday dead zone? Deploy the Zelda 3D remasters. If we are lucky a pokemon remaster as well
Given Nintendo’s tendencies to only announce release dates for their games, three months and advance, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about and at this point, I feel that it is pointless trying to speculate on what might come out
METROID
PRIME
FOUR
It sure makes it less expensive. Maybe the kids will appreciate the other gifts a little more this year now…
If they are coming out with a new system a few months into the new year, I don’t think a big Christmas release this year is necessary. Hardware and software sales for the next system will be huge at launch, so it’s basically just postponing that Christmas-like sales rush a few months.
I don’t see what difference it would make
The original Switch came out in March 2017, but there were new games that came out around the Holiday 2016 season
I’d assume Nintendo has a few cross gen games lined up and they can release the Switch versions this holiday season and then the Switch 2 versions when it releases. They don’t have to delay any current gen versions of upcoming games.
Maybe a Mario Galaxy Deluxe collection with both games and a bonus game mode?! (Fingers crossed)
Obviously, Mother 3
Yeah uh how many games/consoles have been hurt by trying to hit that holiday release? Dang people just let them work 🙄
It was never announced to us, so to us it was never moved/delayed/whatever. Ergo, there is absolutely no change in our lives, and nothing worth discussing.
Maybe they take a title that was going to be cross platform and release it on Switch before the holidays this year. But not whatever will be the flagship launch title for Switch 2, that will wait and is rumored to be the reason for the Switch 2 delay.
Christmas stays where it is
Final push for the console total units record. I’m expecting some pretty irresistible bundles and special editions. Items that will tempt current owners.
Plus a spate of new games and lots of classics for people to buy and play while they can.
Eh they can have a slightly down holiday. They’ll recover
They could just do what they did before the Switch came out and do a big discount push on handheld for the holidays. Drop the Switch Lite to like $140 and put a stack of first party games at $20-40 depending on the title. I’m sure there’s plenty of people out there willing to toss a Lite at some kids for the holidays, or for people to fill in any first party titles they missed.
I dont mind. I still have many games to play on my switch until a next generation comes
Christmas is still December 25th
I’m not overly concerned. They almost never announce their christmas lineup until June anyway, so you got a good 3 months to find out the second half of the year on a good year. I do think it will be a fairly light year but I’m pretty sure they’ll have something come out, especially if the rumor that Switch games will run better on Switch 2.
Personally I think Metroid Prime 2 & 3 remakes are pretty likely for release this year especially if they have 4 locked in as a launch window title for next year. Word has been that they’ve been sitting around ready to go for years so they make good filler titles. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Metroid Prime 4 or some other Switch 2 game release early on the switch 1 with a DX version type deal on the switch 2 similar to what Breath of the Wild or Twilight Princess did for Switch & Wii. (I actually think they have the intent to do with this with MP4 normally but with the delay they may just stagger the releases.) There’s also been a rumored Donkey Kong game that has been around for years as well that could be slid in if it’s ready. And I’m sure they have another rainy day title or two up their sleeves… they have a lot of titles they could whip up quick… random Mario Sports games, WarioWare, Mario Party, and pick your remake. And then you have repackages like Mario Kart with all DLC on cart… you could actually do similar with Animal Crossing or Splatoon.
Kit & Krysta also made a point a week or two ago that they could also whip up some hardware pretty quick to help fill the gap… maybe something like an N64 or GB mini or I always thought that Donkey Kong Game & Watch (if that DK game is still in existance) or a Metroid Game & Watch would be kinda neat.
It’ll be a weaker year, but I do think that they’ll have some things this year, they won’t just leave it at a void.
It’ll still sell the next Christmas as well. The switch had longevity and if the successor is good it will too
Don’t care when the next one comes. Plenty of great games already. It will come when it comes
Prob gonna be one more big release, or the Switch 2 is still coming this year and what we heard was just wrong bc it’s all rumor mill speculation. Who’s to say?
I grew up poor, Christmas looked the same every year… It looked poor.