Nintendo Switch 2: Upcoming Releases and What’s Next for Major Nintendo Franchises

Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be a landmark launch in the Nintendo hardware lineage, headlined by a robust catalogue of first-year releases.

Confirmed titles such as Mario Kart World, Kirby Air Riders, and Donkey Kong Bananza are set to debut within 2024, alongside anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Editions for fan-favorites like Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

As excitement grows around these blockbuster launches, questions remain about the trajectory of other major Nintendo franchises on Switch 2—a subject of keen interest among dedicated fans and industry watchers alike. Mario fans may need to exercise patience before the next mainline 3D Mario adventure.

Sources close to development confirm that the team behind Super Mario Odyssey is currently focused on Donkey Kong Bananza, marking Donkey Kong’s long-awaited return to 3D after years of relative dormancy on Nintendo’s flagship hardware.

This focus suggests that, barring an overlapping development schedule, a new 3D Mario title likely remains a few years out.

However, anticipation remains high given the studio’s consistent track record of genre-defining platformers. The Paper Mario series demonstrates a consistent release cadence, with significant new entries appearing roughly every four years: Sticker Star in 2012, Color Splash in 2016, The Origami King in 2020, and the highly-praised The Thousand-Year Door remake in 2024.

Following this pattern, industry analysts anticipate that the next installment could be revealed around 2028, though Nintendo’s evolving development strategies could accelerate or extend this window. For Mario Sports and Mario Party, developer Camelot has been quiet since the release of Mario Golf: Super Rush in 2021.

Meanwhile, Next Level Games appears to be shifting resources toward the Luigi’s Mansion franchise, and NDcube is extending the value of Super Mario Party Jamboree with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition—a first for the series in terms of substantial post-launch content updates.

All signs point to a pause before new entries in these subseries, as Nintendo leverages its existing portfolio with enhanced editions and content expansions. The Legend of Zelda’s future on Switch 2 is equally momentous.

Following the critically acclaimed gap between The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, fans may wait several years for the next flagship Zelda release.

With development studios like Grezzo now offering their own take on 2D Zelda experiences—exemplified by The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom—enthusiasts can look forward to a mix of remakes and original entries, complemented by enhanced performance updates for the Switch 2 generation. Kirby aficionados have much to celebrate, with Kirby and the Forgotten Land receiving notable upgrades and new narrative content on Switch 2.

Alongside the imminent launch of Kirby Air Riders, the franchise is well-represented in the platform’s early cycle, reducing the likelihood of a brand-new core Kirby title in the near future. Development cycles for beloved franchises like Yoshi, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon remain unpredictable.

Good-Feel, fresh from Princess Peach: Showtime, could pivot back to Yoshi in the coming years, while both Animal Crossing and Splatoon are believed to be in development but have not been officially announced for Nintendo Switch 2.

The positioning of these franchises will likely become clearer in forthcoming Nintendo Direct presentations. Intelligent Systems’ Fire Emblem series stands out as particularly poised for growth, with Fire Emblem Engage debuting in 2023 and fans already eager for the next major announcement.

Similarly, Monolith Soft continues its prolific streak, delivering consecutive Xenoblade Chronicles entries and contributing to cornerstone Nintendo titles—a testament to the studio’s capacity and pace. While Pikmin and WarioWare both saw new entries in 2023, their next mainline releases are likely a few years away.

Other franchises, including F-Zero, Golden Sun, Kid Icarus, Wario Land, Punch-Out, and EarthBound, have not been confirmed for Switch 2, but remakes or ports are always a possibility as Nintendo assesses market demand. Super Smash Bros.

remains a focal point of fan speculation.

With Masahiro Sakurai currently dedicated to Kirby Air Riders—his focus since April 2022—there is no official word on a new Smash Bros.

project.

Given the sweeping success of Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate, future plans for the series are eagerly awaited, but any new entry may be several years out or developed by a different team should Sakurai’s involvement not continue. With the first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 titles set to delight longtime fans and new players alike, Nintendo’s ongoing stewardship of its iconic franchises continues to inspire widespread anticipation.

Additional details are expected in upcoming Nintendo Direct showcases, where more news about remakes, ports, and fresh entries will undoubtedly keep the community engaged throughout the Switch 2’s lifecycle.

Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Mario Kart Donkey Kong Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza Mario Switch 2 Switch Paper Mario Kart Kirby Air Riders Pokemon Legends ZA Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Super Mario Odyssey Camelot Next Level Games NDcube Mario & Luigi The Legend of Zelda Grezzo Kirby and the Forgotten Land Good-Feel Yoshi's Woolly World Animal Crossing Splatoon Tomodachi Life Fire Emblem Xenoblade Chronicles Monolith Soft Pikmin WarioWare F-Zero Golden Sun Kid Icarus Wario Land Punch-Out EarthBound Super Smash Bros Masahiro Sakurai