Nintendo Switch 2 seeks to avoid stock issues with March 2025 release date

27 February 2024 , 18:00

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The Nintendo Switch 2 release date is apparently set for March 2025 according to the latest rumours (Image: Nintendo)

The ongoing saga of the Nintendo Switch 2 release date continues, as the latest report pegs the launch of the new console for March 2025.

What Nintendo is doing next hardware-wise has been a hot topic for years, but in the last few weeks, rumours about the Nintendo Switch 2 release date have ramped up. First came rumours of a Nintendo Switch 2 reveal set for March with the launch date seemingly set for this year. However, just over a week later, a new batch of rumours appeared claiming Nintendo had delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 release internally, with the launch being pushed to early 2025 instead.

Now Japanese publication Nikkei (via VGC) has narrowed down the window even further, claiming that the Nintendo Switch 2 release date has been pushed to March 2025 – which would still see the console land in the 2024 fiscal year. The story goes on to mention that while Nintendo did plan on a late 2024 launch for the system, it was pushed back to make sure the initial inventory of the console was enough to hopefully avoid the mass stock and scalping issues that the PS5 and Xbox Series X suffered at launch.

While not as widespread or long-lasting as the stock issues the PS5 faced, the original Nintendo Switch also had stock and scalping issues of its own when it launched back in 2017. There were more shortages in 2020, in conjunction with the Covid lockdowns and the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Marching on

As much as I'm ready to see what's next for Nintendo, considering how difficult it was to get a PS5 at launch, I can't blame it for holding back on the Switch 2. When you look at the momentum Nintendo has built during this console generation, it's only natural for it to make transitioning players to the Nintendo Switch 2 a high priority, and the best way to do that is to make sure players can actually get one at launch.

Nintendo Switch 2 release set for next year as Zelda ushers in the end of Switch

The only issue I have with the rumoured delay is about how it could affect the Nintendo Switch's 2024 games lineup. It was also mentioned in the report that Nintendo wants to have a strong lineup of software ready for the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 as well, something that was mentioned in previous rumours about the system.

However, considering Pokemon Z-A was just announced with an early 2025 release date, Nintendo probably has some surprises in store for the Nintendo Switch, at the very least. I'm just not expecting anything on the level of a Super Mario Odyssey 2 or Metroid Prime 4 to arrive though, as developers wait for the Nintendo Switch 2 to arrive.

Scott McCrae