Nintendo Switch 2 Product Codes Reveal Insights Into Game Development Timelines

Nintendo's approach to product codes on its hardware platforms is providing fans and industry watchers new insights into the development and planning stages of upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Recent updates to the official Nintendo websites in Japan and other Asian regions have revealed a series of product codes associated with anticipated Switch 2 titles, allowing for a clearer view of when these games may have entered production or strategic planning.

For decades, every game released on a Nintendo system has been accompanied by a unique product code, a tradition that dates back to the Game & Watch era.

For the Nintendo Switch, products are labeled with the platform code “HAC”—for example, "HAC-P-AAAAA" refers to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The final set of characters denotes the specific game and, following the transition to five-character codes on the Switch, can also indicate variants linked to a title, such as downloadable content or special editions.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for instance, uses "AABPA" while its Booster Course Pass receives "AABPK." Other examples include "AAABA" for Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate and "AAB6A" for Splatoon 2.

These codes serve as subtle markers not only for cataloguing but also, through analytical comparison, for hinting at the timeline of a game's inception. A recent series of URLs on Nintendo’s Japanese website have highlighted the product codes for five upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games: - Mario Kart World – BEE-P-AAAAA - Kirby Air Riders – BEE-P-AAABA - Donkey Kong Bananza – BEE-P-AAACA - Drag x Drive – BEE-P-AAAQA - Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – BEE-P-AAHEA By examining these codes, a pattern emerges: Mario Kart World, holding the code BEE-P-AAAAA, is positioned as the earliest title to enter planning or development for Nintendo Switch 2, drawing a parallel with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s early start on the original Switch.

Kirby Air Riders, coded as BEE-P-AAABA, appears to have begun development shortly before Donkey Kong Bananza, yet Donkey Kong Bananza is scheduled for release ahead of Kirby Air Riders.

This chronology serves as a testament to Nintendo’s intricate scheduling and project management tactics. Notably, Nintendo is known for initiating development on projects led by industry figures like Masahiro Sakurai at an early stage.

Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate and Kirby Air Riders both share a similar “AAABA” code, underscoring Nintendo’s confidence in Sakurai-led ventures. The launch timetable provides additional context: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is confirmed to debut on June 5, while Drag x Drive, which has a development code predating Welcome Tour, is aiming for a summer release.

These code sequences, now publicly linked via official Nintendo web pages, offer valuable glimpses into the scheduling and planning priorities within Nintendo’s renowned development studios. For fans and analysts closely following the evolution of Nintendo Switch 2’s gaming lineup, the structure and order of these product codes represent an innovative, data-driven approach to understanding how the platform’s next generation of titles is being shaped.

As Nintendo continues to update its catalog and share new developments through its online portals, product codes will remain a quiet but insightful window into the company's creative pipeline.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart Kirby Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World Nintendo Kirby Air Riders Mario Switch 2 Switch Kart