Sources: Nintendo told game publishers the Switch 2's launch is delayed from late 2024 to Q1 2025; source: Nintendo needs more time to prepare its own games
That's according to Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe, who claims in a new OX do Controle video that he received the information from five separate sources.
Video Games ChronicleAndy Robinson
Context & Ripple Effects
Nintendo had already shown developers a Switch 2 demo at Gamescom, creating an expectation that the hardware was progressing toward a 2024 debut. This report shifts the constraint from device readiness to the availability of Nintendo-made launch software.
Later coverage characterized the schedule changes as repeated pushbacks sought by Nintendo’s game designers, reinforcing that the company was willing to protect gameplay and first-party readiness over an earlier launch window.
First-order effects
Nintendo’s internal studios gain additional time to finish launch-period games, while publishers that were planning around a late-2024 platform arrival must revisit release timing and support plans.
The reported Q1 2025 window concentrates attention on Nintendo’s own launch lineup: its readiness becomes the immediate determinant of when partners can coordinate Switch 2 releases.
Second-order effects
Third-party publishers may defer ports, marketing commitments, and development allocations tied to the new hardware until Nintendo provides a firmer schedule, reducing the value of speculative launch-window positioning.
An extended transition keeps the existing Switch ecosystem relevant for longer, while raising the opportunity cost of holding major first-party titles for the successor rather than using them on the installed platform.
Third-order effects
If Nintendo continues to treat software quality as the launch gate, console cycles may be managed increasingly as content-timed platform transitions rather than hardware-timed events.
The pattern favors a console-to-service flywheel in which durable engagement and a strong exclusive pipeline matter as much as the initial hardware date; the trade-off is less predictable planning for external publishers.
The trend: Nintendo’s reported delay fits a broader shift toward aligning new-console launches with a sufficiently strong first-party software slate rather than shipping on a hardware-led timetable.
Microsoft: We're struggling to not go third party Sony: We're struggling to release first party games Nintendo: We're struggling to even release a console
If Switch 2 launches Late 2024 or Early 2025, it doesn't make much difference to me. I'm still behind on all the games I want to play this year already. This is one thing I'll wait for Nintendo to confirm. Things are probably changing all the time as Nintendo plans the launch... …
I (and I'm sure, others) were planning to park and look further into this story after the weekend, but then as so often happens it broke elsewhere (via @phluttilippe) first. Reporters are then forced to act earlier than they planned with incomplete info.
Exclusive: Nintendo told developers Switch successor will not come this year, with some of them say launch target is now March next year “at the earliest.” The decision would hit next FY outlook of Nintendo partners. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Multiple sources are telling VGC that 3rd parties have been briefed Switch 2 is being delayed to Q1 2025 Pretty huge blow to the industry in terms of hardware performance. 2024 could be a year where we see all 3 platform holders in year over year decline https://www.videogameschr…
I've seen some confusion about why reporting on big stories sometimes comes out this way, with different outlets daisy-chaining together. Quite simply, we're human. I know for a fact multiple journalists were working on the Switch 2 delay story earlier today (including myself)
@Andy_VGC To add to this, a big part of why I chose to break the story was so that other journalists could use what I had to talk to other sources and contacts, and in turn find more information to paint a more complete picture of the situation at hand.
UPDATE: VGC has now heard from multiple sources who said Nintendo has told publishers its next console will now launch in Q1 2025. More in the story. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/ ...
Instead of answering each tweet asking for my take, I'll respond here: I became aware of industry chatter concerning a delay to Q1 2025 earlier this week. This info was only relayed to partners very recent. Beyond that, I've been checking how this may impact announcement timing.
this fucking thing is never coming out. (no but really, this is a sign of the same things that are causing reverberations with playstation and xbox. nintendo is very worried about the current market climate and exclusive software is their strength. waiting makes sense.)
VGC updated their story saying that publishers were briefed by Nintendo that their next system is launching Q1 2025. “One publishing source suggested the delay was so that Nintendo could prepare stronger first-party software for the console.” Nintendo's 2024 publishing lineup...
Nintendo Switch 2 could now be releasing in early 2025. VGC and Eurogamer say they've heard rumors of this behind the scenes but are unable to concretely verify them at this time. First reported by Brazilian journalist @phluttilippe. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/ ... [imag…