Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored to Have Third-Party Support at Launch

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Last week, the unveiling of the Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t include a list of software titles. However, we won’t see that line-up until the forthcoming Nintendo Direct in April.

However, we may have an idea of some of the third-party support Nintendo will see at launch.

There’s talk that a number of popular video games might debut in the initial release period of the Switch 2. Among these could be titles originating from Microsoft, who are said to be shifting their strategy to make some of their first-party games available beyond just the Xbox platform.

Rumor: According to eXtas1s, these games are headed to Switch 2:

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Halo The Master Chief collection

Diablo 4

Call of Duty game

Fallout 4

Starfield

Tekken 8

Elden Ring

— Stealth (@Stealth40k)
January 20, 2025

There’s been plenty of chatter surrounding the possibility of games like Tekken 8 and Elden Ring coming to the Nintendo Switch, along with rumors suggesting Red Dead Redemption 2 might join them on the Nintendo Switch 2. Given that the Switch 2’s hardware is comparable to a PS4 Pro, it seems logical that third-party support for Nintendo will grow due to its enhanced technical capabilities.

Again, none of this has been confirmed, so take these games as a grain of salt for now.

Nintendo Has Had A Third-Party Problem For Decades

As a dedicated fan, I’ve noticed that Nintendo has chosen to step back from the competitive graphical race, which has made it challenging for them to attract high-profile games from third parties. Iconic gaming series like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Madden, and others have been absent on Nintendo consoles for years, if not entirely (like GTA).

More contemporary third-party games such as “The Witcher 3”, “Cyberpunk 2077”, “EA Sports College Football 25”, and “Dragon’s Dogma 2” were not planned for launch on the Nintendo Switch.

As a gamer, I gotta say, my current Xbox and PlayStation systems have got some serious horsepower compared to what the Nintendo Switch can muster. This isn’t a new thing – even back when it first hit the market in 2017, the Switch was trailing behind its competitors in terms of power. The upcoming Switch 2 seems to be following suit, struggling to keep up with the Xbox Series and PS5 in terms of gaming capabilities.

In the past, third-party developers have attempted to create games for Nintendo consoles such as the GameCube and the Wii. The GameCube, despite being equally powerful as an Xbox and more powerful than a PlayStation 2, failed to attract a large audience for third-party games. Similarly, the Wii, with its unique motion controls, also struggled to find success for third-party titles due to lack of demand. Consequently, developers ended up abandoning their efforts.

As time goes by, we’ll see if this trend persists, but considering the widespread appeal of the Nintendo Switch and the growing preference for portable gaming systems such as the SteamDeck and Lenovo Legion Go, it’s possible that Nintendo could receive increased backing from third-party developers.

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2025-01-20 22:09