Nintendo has explained the rationale behind the Switch 2’s release date, but the actual reason might be more complicated.
If the Nintendo Switch 2 is a somewhat predictable upgrade, one of the more surprising aspects of the console is its summer release date.
Video game consoles are traditionally released in the run-up to Christmas or, like the original Switch, somewhere around March. However, the Switch 2 is set to drop on June 5, 2025, when most people are thinking about visiting the seaside rather than Mario Kart tournaments.
But it turns out, Nintendo is hoping to take advantage of that, and that the Switch 2 will be a companion on your summer escapades. Or at least that’s the official reason…
When asked in an interview with NPR about the Switch 2’s June release date, Nintendo of America president, Doug Bowser, said: ‘We like to think that the year is a year and that there are no specific time frames when you should or must launch video games. And so, as we looked at the games that we had prepared and ready to launch with the hardware, we thought June was a very good timing.
‘It’s the start of the summer season, and obviously, with a Nintendo Switch 2, you have a device that you can both play at home and play at home docked like a gaming console, or you can take it out of the dock and take it on the go. So it’s a perfect game for summer travel.’
While this feels like a thin reason to base an entire launch strategy around, Nintendo has some history with releasing hardware within the same timeframe – specifically with handhelds.
The Game Boy Advance launched in Europe and the US in June 2001, while the original Game Boy arrived in the US at the peak of summer on July 31, 1989. The latter date was an anomaly though, with the system launching in Europe and Japan in September 1990 and April 1989, respectively.
While it’s nice to think Nintendo is concerned about your downtime on your flight to Spain, the actual reason is probably more complicated.
Rumours last year claimed the Switch 2’s launch was pushed back to bolster its launch line-up, and Nintendo has been open about stockpiling enough units to meet demand – so it’s perhaps more likely these factors contributed to the summer release date.
There’s also the looming presence of GTA 6, slated to come out in autumn 2025, which might have been another consideration in Nintendo’s launch plans for the console. Nintendo likely don’t know when it’ll be out, but everyone can be pretty certain it won’t be early June.
Despite these preparations though, Nintendo is already struggling to meet demand. The company has apologised to customers in Japan for ‘failing to meet expectations’, after 2.2 million people signed up to a pre-order lottery on the My Nintendo Store.
In the US, meanwhile, Nintendo has warned it might not be able to guarantee delivery on June 5, for those who have registered interest through Nintendo’s website.
Many retailers across the UK and Europe have sold out already as well, although stock does seem to reappear sporadically. You can check out the best places to pre-order here.
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