Soon will probably be 2025, also called the yr Nintendo lastly pulls again the curtain on its subsequent console. After 2024 was full of shaky rumors, alleged leaks, and nonstop hypothesis concerning the Nintendo Switch successor, we all know for a reality Nintendo will share extra concerning the subsequent technology in lower than 100 days. If that’s not thrilling sufficient for you, the Nintendo Switch nonetheless has just a few playing cards up its sleeve and 2025 will lastly see the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, eight years after its preliminary announcement. And, as at all times, there’ll absolutely be some surprises alongside the best way, with some presumably tied to a sure plumber’s fortieth anniversary. Here’s what to anticipate from Nintendo in 2025.
Nintendo in 2025: What’s Already On the Books
Before we get into Switch 2, let’s recap what we already know is coming to Switch in 2025. Nintendo has been extremely constant at publishing a Switch sport most months for the final two years, and whereas I’m undecided they’ll sustain that tempo to the identical diploma in 2025, we already learn about a good variety of video games coming within the subsequent few months.
January 16 marks the discharge of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a remaster of the 2010 Wii platformer that features the additional ranges from the 2013 3DS port. That’s proper, that is the third time Nintendo is promoting us Country Returns and it’s now been greater than a decade because the final authentic Donkey Kong Country sport with Tropical Freeze’s launch on Wii U. Hopefully Donkey Kong’s current inclusion in Nintendo’s films and theme parks will ultimately end in a model new online game, however for now you’re getting Country Returns once more, and also you higher prefer it. As somebody who’s purchased and performed each earlier variations, it truly is a incredible platformer and one price making an attempt if you happen to’ve by no means performed it earlier than.
We’re getting one other HD remaster on March 20, however this one is way more thrilling. After years of fan demand, Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition is lastly touchdown on Switch, that means your entire Xenoblade Chronicles collection can be obtainable in a single place. Xenoblade Chronicles X is the odd one out within the collection: It’s not immediately tied to the trilogy and it was doomed to initially launch on Wii U again in 2015, so this second probability at life can be many gamers’ first probability to dive into this huge open world RPG. The visually enhanced Definitive Edition additionally provides model new story content material longtime followers will certainly dissect and theorize about for years to return.
Right now, these are the one agency launch dates we’ve got for Nintendo in 2025, however there are just a few enormous video games coming someday within the coming months. That contains Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak’s return to the Legends subseries after Arceus efficiently shook issues up again in 2022. We nonetheless know little or no about what Legends: Z-A will entail, aside from it facilities round an “city redevelopment plan” within the Kalos Region’s Lumiose City from Pokémon X & Y, and that Generation VI’s Mega Evolution is about to return not directly. Pokémon took a a lot wanted yr off in 2024 so it’s thrilling to see what Legends: Z-A will appear like after taking a bit extra time within the oven.
One huge third-party Nintendo Switch unique price shouting out is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which is scheduled for launch someday in 2025. It’s the large return of Professor Layton and his assistant Luke after greater than a decade out of the highlight. I’m hopeful it should truly make it out on time – Level-5 has been a bit too desirous to announce launch home windows earlier than video games are literally prepared, however every time this lastly comes out will probably be an thrilling return for a collection that’s at all times been closely related to Nintendo.
The closing TBA 2025 sport on Nintendo’s calendar proper now’s the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. First introduced at E3 2017, Prime 4 was MIA for years earlier than its re-reveal at June’s Nintendo Direct. Prime 4 is coming from Retro Studios, builders of the unique Metroid Prime trilogy, and it options the return of Sylux, a villain first launched within the Nintendo DS spinoff Metroid Prime Hunters. The most up-to-date trailer is completely attractive and I can’t wait to see how the total journey shapes up later this yr.
We’ll Know More About Switch 2 in Less Than Three Months
Enough messing round, let’s get into what you’re all right here for: the Nintendo Switch successor. Last May, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that Nintendo would make an announcement concerning the Nintendo Switch successor “inside this fiscal yr.” Nintendo’s fiscal yr ends on March 31, that means that we’re anticipating an official unveiling someday throughout the subsequent 90 days or so. Other than Nintendo’s current affirmation that Nintendo Switch software program can even be playable on the Switch 2, the corporate has been very quiet about what the console will truly be like.
However, March won’t be the tip of the story. It’s potential we’ll get a fast teaser trailer earlier than the tip of this fiscal yr, much like the Switch’s reveal trailer in October 2016, adopted by a full presentation forward of the official launch. Or Nintendo would possibly inform us every little thing we need to know straight away, which is the best-case state of affairs. Either means, I’m assured we’ll get a giant presentation in some unspecified time in the future this yr with all of the solutions we’re searching for.
Last time Nintendo held a giant in-person occasion in Japan to correctly unveil the Switch, which was broadcast dwell all over the world. I’m anticipating a barely completely different technique this time as I feel Nintendo will persist with its prerecorded Nintendo Direct-style presentation to indicate the successor off. But I feel the knowledge introduced can be largely the identical, the place Nintendo will doubtless share info on the next:
- Name
- Release Date
- Price
- Launch day/window sport lineup
- Specifications
- Unique options
As for what these console particulars will truly be, your guess is nearly as good as mine. But I can virtually assure the Switch successor will launch earlier than the tip of 2025 as I don’t see a world the place Nintendo publicizes it as early as March and waits till 2026 to launch it. And I’m personally anticipating the Switch successor to be very iterative of Nintendo Switch, sustaining the hybrid design that made it such a worldwide success.
A brand new console means new video games and Nintendo is certainly cooking up a giant lineup for the subsequent console’s first yr. Not counting tasks it was a co-developer on, Nintendo’s inside improvement groups solely put out one sport final yr: Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC. It’s clearly been full steam forward on Switch 2 video games for some time and I’m anticipating some heavy hitters at launch and within the first yr of Switch 2.
We are properly overdue for a brand new 3D Mario as a result of it’s been practically eight years since Super Mario Odyssey. That was the final model new 3D Mario aside from Bowser’s Fury, which was a bite-sized enlargement added onto 3D World’s Switch launch in 2021. I’m assured Nintendo is establishing the subsequent 3D Mario to be the Switch successor’s must-have sport at launch, to get all the hardcore Nintendo followers snap up the brand new console straight away. And it simply so occurs that 2025 is the fortieth anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and given how huge Nintendo went for the thirty fifth anniversary in 2020, I feel it’s a secure guess that Mario can be entrance and heart on the subsequent console launch.
But what about Mario Kart? We’re much more overdue for a model new Mario Kart entry provided that it’s been 11 years now since Mario Kart 8’s authentic launch. Yes, we obtained Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Tour, and the Booster Course Pass within the time since, but it surely’s nonetheless been means too lengthy since an entirely authentic dwelling console Mario Kart. I shuttle between considering 3D Mario or Mario Kart is the large launch sport, however both means I feel we get each earlier than the console’s first vacation season. Right now, I’m feeling a 3D Mario at launch as the large single-player showcase sport, with Mario Kart coming only a bit later to get households taken with selecting the console up over the vacations.
As a lot as everybody loves Mario although, Nintendo will need to diversify its launch lineup past its most iconic character. I might see some form of Zelda remake or remaster within the playing cards to get that franchise represented as quickly as potential on the subsequent {hardware}, with the 2 most certainly candidates feeling like an Ocarina of Time HD remake or a Breath of the Wild remaster that runs at a strong 60 fps.
I’m additionally anticipating Nintendo to unveil some form of model new IP to hit the console at launch or shortly after. The Wii had Wii Sports, Wii U had Nintendoland, and Switch had 1-2-Switch, so there’ll doubtless be some form of informal, family-friendly expertise to indicate off what the brand new {hardware} can do.
I’m additionally hopeful we’d get a glimpse of Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai’s new thriller sport in some unspecified time in the future in 2025. Sakurai dropped one of many greatest plot twists of 2024 when he revealed that he prepped his complete YouTube channel upfront and has been secretly engaged on a brand new online game since early 2022. It’s been in improvement for 3 years now so it’s not out of the realm of risk {that a} reveal is deliberate for someday this yr. It’s most certainly the subsequent Smash Bros., however I’d like to see Sakurai’s tackle a extra area of interest Nintendo collection like Star Fox or F-Zero.
Speaking of F-Zero, I wouldn’t be stunned if Switch 2 is dwelling to a remaster of F-Zero GX or a completely new sport within the collection. Nintendo has been increase hype for the F-Zero collection for the final yr now, first with the discharge and continued updates in F-Zero 99, adopted by the addition of practically each sport within the collection to the Nintendo Switch Online sport catalog. I really feel prefer it’s accelerating towards one thing huge for the collection and there’s virtually no higher strategy to exhibit new, highly effective {hardware} than a beautiful, futuristic racing sport working at an ideal framerate.
Switch 1 Support Will Continue
All eyes will certainly be on Switch 2 in 2025 however Nintendo will proceed to assist its 140 million-plus Switch 1 set up base with new video games. We already mentioned the Switch video games we all know are coming in 2025 however there will definitely be extra reveals because the yr goes on. I’m anticipating Kirby to indicate up on Switch 1 not directly – it’s been two years since Return to Dreamland Deluxe – both by a remaster of a fan favourite like Kirby Planet Robobot or a completely new sport. I additionally suppose it might be time for Nintendo to wheel out a few of its smaller collection and I’ve obtained a sense in my unhealthy knee that Rhythm Heaven might lastly make its Switch debut this yr similarly to Rhythm Heaven Megamix displaying up on 3DS after the Switch was already out.
Could Next Level Games Show Up?
Luigi’s Mansion 3 builders Next Level Games have put out a brand new sport each three years since 2013. The studio’s final full sport was Mario Strikers: Battle League in 2022, that means 2025 is the yr for its subsequent venture if this improvement cycle sample is to proceed. It might be time for Luigi’s Mansion 4 on the Switch successor however given how a lot Mario I already suppose is within the playing cards for 2025, I might additionally see this sport getting unveiled in some unspecified time in the future for a launch someday in 2026. While I positively suppose some studios will proceed creating video games for the older Switch {hardware}, I firmly count on to see Next Level Games’ new venture on the subsequent console and wouldn’t be shocked if we get a glimpse of it in 2025.
Nintendo’s Entertainment Endeavors Continue
Finally, Nintendo is way more than a online game firm at this level and it has some strong leisure plans lined up for 2025. Super Nintendo World is about to open in Florida this May and it contains the Donkey Kong Country enlargement that’s at present unique to Universal Studios Japan. And Nintendo is opening its second stateside retail retailer when Nintendo San Francisco opens at Union Square someday this yr. scheduled to hit theaters in April 2026 so I’m guessing we’ll get the primary trailer for the sequel someday earlier than the yr is up too.
And that’s every little thing we count on from Nintendo in 2025. Are you prepared for the Switch 2 or are you continue to excited concerning the Switch 1 video games we learn about? Let us know within the feedback. And for every little thing else Nintendo, change with IGN.
