Developers reportedly told not to expect Switch 2 to launch before April 2025 | VGC

Developers have reportedly been briefed not to expect Nintendo’s next console to launch before April 2025.

That’s according to GamesIndustry.biz head Chris Dring, who discussed launch plans for Switch’s successor on the publication’s latest podcast.

Nintendo confirmed in May that it will announce its next console during it current fiscal year, which runs until March 31, 2025.

“No developer I’ve spoken to expects it to be launching this financial year,” Dring said. “In fact, they’ve been told not to expect it in the [current] financial year. A bunch of people I spoke to hope it’s out in April or May time, still early next year, not late.

“I don’t think any of us wants a late launch for Switch 2 because we all want a new Nintendo console, everyone gets very excited for it, and we don’t want that crunch of Grand Theft Auto 6 and Switch and all that kind of stuff on top of each other.”

Having launched in March 2017, Switch is in its eighth year on the market. In July, it surpassed the Famicom as the Nintendo console with the longest lifespan before being replaced.

Reporting its first quarter earnings this month, Nintendo said Switch had sold 143.42 million units as of June 30, 2024. It expects to sell 13.5 million Switch consoles this financial year, having sold 2.1 million in the first quarter.

If Nintendo hits its hardware sales target, Switch will be within touching distance of the all-time record for console sales, which is currently held by PS2.