Switch 2 After One Year: Games, Hardware and Reactions

Nintendo launched Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, with 25 title releases at retail. Third-party releases available at or shortly after launch included Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077. Nintendo published Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom with higher frame rates.

The console arrived amid higher manufacturing costs, US tariffs and shortages in memory components that affected pricing and production. Nintendo introduced Game-Key Cards and did not include a pack-in title after earlier criticism of Welcome Tour. Pricing debates during the year included an $80 retail price for Mario Kart World and reported differences between digital and physical prices in the US.

During the first year the Switch 2 library expanded with new first-party exclusives and third-party ports. Notable Nintendo releases included Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Pokémon Pokopia and Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition. Capcom released Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata on the platform. Square Enix delivered a Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth arrived in early June 2026. Several older titles received Switch 2 Editions with technical upgrades.

Independent developers reported limited early access to Switch 2 development kits, delaying some small-team projects. A number of indie eShop releases used features such as mouse controls and local in-game chat. In March 2026 Nintendo deployed Handheld Boost Mode, which applies improved docked performance and higher resolution settings to Switch 1 titles when played on Switch 2 in handheld.

Some ports and releases drew criticism for technical limits or pricing. A remastered platformer ran at a 30 frames-per-second cap on Switch 2. A major indie farm-sim’s European release was delayed until March 2026. Several smaller releases did not match expected sales or review levels. Pokémon Pokopia received strong reviews and was included in a summer console bundle.

Publishers more frequently released titles day one across multiple platforms during the console’s first year. Nintendo continued a steady schedule of first-party releases and announced additional entries and third-party ports planned for late 2026, including a delayed launch of Elden Ring, a Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy XIV Online and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 scheduled for an October day-and-date release. Hardware supply, component costs and developer access affected production and release timing during the first year.