The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has been met with tremendous consumer interest.
The gaming community has been eagerly awaiting the new console. Initial sales figures are strong, with over 5 million units sold during its debut month. Similarly, Mario Kart World has exceeded expectations, selling over 1.6 million copies. These numbers confirm the strong launch for the Nintendo Switch 2.
The excitement for the Switch 2 is also palpable among game developers. Suda51, from Grasshopper Manufacture, has publicly stated his desire to port his upcoming title, Romeo Is a Dead Man, to the console. His team is currently assessing the game’s performance on the Switch 2 hardware. Additionally, several key third-party games are scheduled for release on the Switch 2, including the eagerly awaited Borderlands 4.
However, a recent report from Digital Foundry suggests that widespread access to Switch 2 development resources isn’t necessarily the standard experience.
Third-Party Developers Are Still Struggling To Get Their Hands On Switch 2 Dev Kits
Following discussions at Gamescom, Digital Foundry shared information gathered from third-party developers concerning their attempts to acquire Switch 2 development kits. According to these reports, obtaining these kits is proving more challenging than anticipated.
John Linneman of Digital Foundry stated, “It seems Nintendo may be subtly discouraging development specifically for the Switch 2. Several developers have indicated they’ve been advised to release their games on the original Switch and leverage backward compatibility.”
Even three months following the console’s release, despite significant interest from third-party companies in creating Switch 2 versions of their games, securing the necessary tools has proved difficult. This situation is raising questions about the selection process for distributing development kits.
Oliver Mackenzie added, “Some time ago, through our industry contacts, we learned of certain noteworthy developers facing hurdles in obtaining development kits for their projects.”
Some developers have spoken publicly about these difficulties. NetEase, the studio behind Marvel Rivals, cited the lack of a development kit as a primary reason for the game’s absence on the Switch 2 as of last month. The developers at Digital Extremes for Warframe have conveyed a similar message. They explained that they’re unable to deliver Warframe on the Switch 2 as they’re yet to be provided a development kit.
The Switch 2’s strong demand seems to have caught the industry off guard. If Nintendo aims to sustain substantial third-party support alongside major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 4, and Elden Ring, streamlining the process for distributing development kits to a broader spectrum of developers will be crucial.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025