Nintendo’s next console could launch later than expected, in early 2025, it’s claimed.
That’s according to Brazilian journalistPedro Henrique Lutti Lippe, who claims in a newOX do Controle videothat he received the information from five separate sources.
According to the sources, they are also working on games targeting Q1 2025, to launch alongside the console itself, which has internally slipped out of a previous 2024 target.
Eurogamerreports it’s heard “similar whispers” from industry sources this week, though has not been able to concretely substantiate them.
Previously,VGC reportedthatNintendowas targeting a launch for its next console in late 2024, per development sources. This was later supported by other outlets.
Update16th Feb 2024 / 7:20 pm
Since publishing this story, VGC has heard from multiple sources who said Nintendo has told publishers its next console will now launch in Q1 2025.
According to the sources, third-party game companies were recently briefed on an internal delay in Nintendo’s next-gen launch timing, from late 2024 to early the following year.
One publishing source suggested the delay was so that Nintendo could prepare stronger first-party software for the console.
It’s possible the next-gen Nintendo console will now follow a similar timeline to the Switch, which was released in March but announced the previous year.
VGC has asked Nintendo for comment on this story.
Update 216th Feb 2024 / 9:20 pm
Eurogamerhas now corroboated that theSwitch 2is set for a Q1 2025 release.
“Theconsole’s launch moving into early next year – but still within the coming financial year – is designed to ensure Switch 2’s launch line-up features as many titles as possible, Eurogamer understands,” it said.
Update 317th Feb 2024 / 8:10 am
Bloomberghas now corroborated this news via its own sources.
“Nintendo Co. is advising game publishers that its next-generation console will be delayed until the early months of 2025, according to people with knowledge of the matter,” it said.
“Nintendo has told some publishing executives not to expect the console until March 2025 at the earliest.“
A Nintendo spokesperson said the company has nothing to comment on.
Two development sources VGC spoke to on Friday indicated that they were working on Switch 2 games planned for release early next year but could not confirm if that meant a later-than-expected launch for the console itself.
Although the company is yet to comment publicly, Nintendo’s Switch successor was widely expected to launch this year.
In its latest earnings meeting earlier this month, Nintendo presidentShuntaro Furukawaagain declined to comment on plans for its next-generation console.
The exec instead insisted that the currentNintendo Switchiteration would be Nintendo’s “main business” heading into 2024. The company’s plan for the next fiscal year will be shared at its next earnings briefing in May, he said.
Nintendo’s next fiscal year will run until April 2025, so could include a console launch even if it has been delayed into calendar 2025.
Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based game industry consultancy Kantan Games, recentlypredicted that the new Nintendo console could launch at $400– which would make theSwitch 2 price$100 higher than the Switch’s launched price – and there’s a chance its games could adopt the $70 pricing of manyPS5andXbox Series X/Stitles.
According to the industry consultant, Nintendo’s next console will again have portable functionality, as VGC reported last year.
