According to UAGNA, an Italian website, a “reliable source” that wished to remain anonymous is claiming that the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be released on March 28, 2025. Considering that the Switch 2 has yet to even be showcased at this point, that’s much sooner than expected.
More specifically, UAGNA is claiming that Nintendo intends to release first-party and third-party accessories that exclusively work for the Switch 2 on March 28, 2025. Since it wouldn’t make sense to simply release these accessories before the console itself, it’s been deduced that the console will also be releasing on that date.
This seems to be lining up with other rumors that were suggesting that the Switch 2 was set to be revealed sometime in January and then released in late March. That’s a particularly short window between the reveal and release of a new console.
For comparison, the Nintendo Switch was initially revealed on October 20, 2016 and then released worldwide on March 3, 2017. This gave Nintendo 134 days to build up hype for the hybrid console before actually making it available in retail.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has already told fans that the Switch successor was slated to be unveiled within this fiscal year, which spans through March 31, 2025. Assuming the rumor is the truth, it’s surprising to hear that the hybrid device is also set to become available within that window as well.
Not many details surrounding the Switch successor have been officially announced, but we do know that it will feature backwards compatibility with the Switch. Of course, this does confirm many of the rumors that have been suggesting that the new device will be sporting the dock and handheld functionalities, just like with the previous device.
One rumor suggests that the Switch 2 will utilize Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology to enhance graphics and performance. Though it’s expected that the Nintendo Switch 2’s specs will overall be less impressive than the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, the implementation of DLSS will make these disadvantages more difficult to notice.
The developers for Yooka-Replaylee dropped a not-so-subtle hint that the rerelease will be one of the first games available on the Switch 2. Ultimately, a trailer indicated quite clearly that the game is set to be released on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and the PC, while only broadly stating that it’ll also be on the “Nintendo.”
Masahiro Sakurai has also informed fans that he’s been working on a secret game project since April 2022. He was originally tasked with the creation of the game proposal around July 2021, when he was still working on the Kazuya Mishima and Sora DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
It’s particularly curious that Sakurai has apparently been working on this secret game project for a period that has spanned longer than the time it took to release Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s first teaser trailer. As a result, it’s being speculated that Sakurai’s upcoming game is slated for the Switch 2 as well.
Notably, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate recently crossed a new milestone by achieving over 35.14 million sales, marking it as the third best-selling title on the Switch after Animal Crossing: New Horizons (46.45 million units sold) and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (64.27 million units sold).
Needless to say, it would make sense from a business perspective for Nintendo to push for a new Super Smash Bros. entry on the upcoming console. It’s been something of a tradition for Nintendo to release a new iteration in the series for every console starting with the Nintendo 64 to push console sales.
As of today, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 146.04 million units worldwide. This has placed the Switch as the third best-selling gaming device after the Nintendo DS (154.02 million units sold) and the PlayStation 2 (160 million units sold). Nintendo will likely want to continue gaining momentum brought on by the Switch.
With all of this in mind, it’s very likely that Super Smash Bros. will make its way to the Switch 2 at some point. Considering that the new console will have backwards compatibility, GameCube controller support is also expected.
Ultimately though, we won’t have to wait too much longer to know the validity of these sort of rumors. Nintendo has promised to reveal details about the Switch 2 within the next few months, so we’ll probably officially know the release date very soon.