The Switch 2’s Launch Lineup Could Be Missing One Big Game

As the Nintendo Switch nears the end of its lifespan, Nintendo seems to be gearing up for its next main console – a prospective Switch 2. Whereas the original Switch, launched in 2017, was able to accrue a strong library of games not long after launch, there could be a major gap in the Switch 2’s launch lineup, potentially depriving it of a major system seller. With Nintendo typically forgoing power in favor of other aspects, like the Wii’s motion controls or the Switch’s portability, the company’s consoles have typically relied on strong first-party lineups.

While there’s been no official confirmation of the Switch 2’s capabilities, features or games, rumors regarding the console have been popping up for years – originally regarding the existence of an upgraded “Switch Pro,” but eventually changing to an entirely new console as the Switch’s lifespan wore on. At Gamescom in 2023, Nintendo reportedly gave private demos of the Switch 2, but still no official announcement was made until a brief announcement confirming the Switch 2 would be revealed this fiscal year.

The Switch 2 (Probably) Won’t Have An Open-World Zelda At Launch

Long Development Times Mean TOTK Sequel Probably Won’t Be Ready

Unfortunately for the Switch 2, it’s unlikely that its launch lineup will include an open-world Zelda game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild, which acted as the primary launch title for the original Switch in 2017. While other first-party Nintendo titles, like Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, were released within the month of the Switch’s release, BOTW was the only major title available immediately at launch, and its subsequent breakout success, which saw it become by far the best-selling Zelda game ever released, was a major factor in the Switch’s early popularity.

However, the open-world nature of the game has also come at the cost of extended development times for 3D Zelda games – from the time of Skyward Sword in 2011, the development of BOTW would take an additional six years, eventually making it the Switch’s main launch title despite also being available on the Wii U, which it was originally announced for. Likewise, Tears of the Kingdom, despite being a direct sequel set in the same world as BOTW, took another six years to develop and release in 2023, owing to its complex physics and building mechanics.

While only two releases aren’t necessarily indicative of a pattern, the extended development times would put the next open-world Zelda sometime in 2028 at the earliest, but more likely in 2029 – well after the Switch 2’s release window, commonly assumed to be in 2025. While Nintendo has plenty of other flagship franchises to pick up the slack, losing out on an open-world, or even a more linear 3D Zelda right at the launch of the Switch 2 would mean that the console is missing out on one of the original Switch’s biggest advantages.

Which Games Could Be In The Switch 2’s Launch Lineup

Switch 2’s Launch Will Need Other Nintendo Games In Zelda’s Place

Of course, there are plenty of other possible launch titles for the Switch 2 – an entirely new 3D Mario game, for example, hasn’t been released since Super Mario Odyssey in 2017, with the Bowser’s Fury add-on to the re-release of Super Mario 3D World in 2021 possibly being a hint at what a new 3D Mario could look like. Odyssey, while not available immediately at launch, was released only five months after the Switch, making it one of the console’s earliest major titles, and a new 3D Mario could one-up that by being a true launch title for the Switch 2.

While not many other franchises can pull the same weight as Mario or Zelda, there is still some interesting potential for Switch 2 launch titles. The long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for example, which was announced in 2017, is scheduled for a 2025 release, potentially making it a cross-platform title between the Switch and Switch 2, similar to BOTW with the Switch and Wii U. A prospective Splatoon 4 could be in the works as well, mirroring the short wait between Splatoon on Wii U in 2015, and it’s sequel, Splatoon 2, releasing on Switch only two years later.

By far the biggest possible announcement, though, would be a new Smash Bros. – Ultimate, the latest entry, was released in 2018, four years after the Wii U entry, meaning that there’s been plenty of time for development on a new game to begin. While there are multiple question marks around a potential “Smash 6,” like what the game’s roster could look like after Ultimate brought back every fighter in the franchise’s history, and if longtime series director Masahiro Sakurai will be involved, it’s almost certain that Nintendo will continue the Smash series.

While Nintendo certainly has plenty of franchises to lean on for a strong Switch 2 launch lineup, it’s almost certain that the console won’t be able to repeat the original Switch’s feat of having an open-world Zelda available immediately at launch. While some other flagship Nintendo franchises are almost certain to pick up the slack, and possibly become system-sellers in their own right, the lack of a game like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom is still a big loss for the successor to the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.

Brand

Nintendo

Original Release Date

March 3, 2017

Original MSRP (USD)

$299.99

Weight

.71 lbs