Pikmin 4 release time – here's when you can start playing Nintendo's latest

20 July 2023 , 17:00

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Pikmin 4 is almost here, and you'll be able to start playing it from later on today (Image: Nintendo)

Pikmin 4 is out very soon and if you've pre-ordered the game digitially and just can't wait to get started, here's when you can jump in.

Pikmin 4 is finally here after a 10-year wait and spoiler alert: it's another banger, perhaps the best in the series yet according to our 5/5 Pikmin 4 review (trust me, I'm the one who wrote it). The 10 long years since Pikmin 3 first graced the dearly departed Wii-U has been a long time to wait so I don't blame you for wanting to get your hands on it as soon as possible.

If you've still not pre-ordered the game, don't worry! We've got a handy Pikmin 4 buying guide to help you decide which version is best for you – including physical versions that come with pre-order bonuses (with the trade-off that you won't be able to play it until your copy arrives).

Pikmin 4 release time

Pikmin 4 will become available to play at 5am BST / 12am EDT on July 21 and 9pm PDT on July 20. According to the Nintendo Support page, digital Nintendo games that are also available physically will become available at 9pm PT on July 20, that way everyone in the US will get to play the game at the same time instead of certain areas waiting until midnight in their time zone.

However, if you're in the UK it's worth trying at 12am BST on July 21, it may not work, but from personal experience with other Nintendo titles like Animal Crossing, I was able to access them at midnight. Worst case scenario you can't boot the game up and you'll need to wait a few hours to start your Pikmin plucking adventure.

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Of course, if you have a physical copy of Pikmin 4, you'll be able to play it as soon as the postperson turns up, even if it comes earlier that expected.

Pikmin 4 preload

The download size for Pikmin 4 comes in at 10.4GB, you'll be able to preload the game to have access to it as soon as it goes live. If you can't wait that long there's also a Pikmin 4 Demo available on the Nintendo eShop which comes in at 4.8GB. The demo version lets you create your character, play through the opening of the game, and gives you 100% access to all of the first area of the game: 'Sun Speckled Terrace' which should take you around 2-3 hours to complete.

Best of all your progress in the demo will carry over to to the full game so you can literally get a head start on your adventure in Pikmin 4 before it becomes fully available.

Scott McCrae