Nintendo is preparing for an official direct focused on the upcoming Switch 2, but the company has been relatively quiet about what it can expect from the system in terms of software, hardware and even release dates. A new report courtesy of Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson shows that Nintendo may be targeting June for the launch of the Switch 2.
In addition to this, the report also shows that Nintendo has a more complicated plan to release the game on Switch 2. The original Switch had a mix of first-party and third-party titles about its launch, but Switch 2 reportedly gets a more structured rollout of the game, split into three different phases.
The first phase will focus primarily on Nintendo’s first-party games. This phase takes place in the console launch window, with major Nintendo franchises likely to win new titles. The second phase appears to be visible between October and November, so you will see the release of the third-party game for Switch 2. The details of the third phase are not clear, but timings are lined up close to the holidays in December and January.
It is also the fact that several developers that Henderson spoke to during GDC 2025 revealed they have not yet got the development kit for the Switch 2. These developers are hoping to get the hardware in the same time frame as the Switch 2 launch in June.
If the June launch report turns out to be correct, Nintendo appears to be taking steps to ensure retailers don’t run out of stock. A report earlier this month shows that the company has already begun shipping its Switch 2 to North America. According to the report, Vietnamese manufacturer HVBG had exported 383,000 units of fully assembled Switch 2 to the US. These consoles were noted for having USZ US/Canada region codes.
Nintendo also appears to have begun work on more peripherals on the Switch 2. An FCC filing discovered earlier this month shows that a new GameCube controller is being created exclusively for the new console. The idea for Switch 2 comes mainly from the fact that there was a BEE-021 list ID in the filing. The Bee prefix has been used so far in products related to Switch 2, but the original switch had a HAC prefix.
The first official view of the Nintendo Switch 2 was back through a video released by the company in January. Although not many proper details were revealed at the time, we were able to see how to design the new console and how to install and remove the Joycon controller to use the new mechanism. The use of the colors on Switch 2 also seems to be a bit more subtle than the original.
The new console features confirmed include a larger display and a mysterious new C button. The use of the new button has not been revealed yet, but the patent indicates that it may have something to do with OS-level voice chat integration.
