Nintendo says a new Mario game will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 at some point. In an interview this month, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser asked eager fans to “stay tuned” when asked about the next Mario game. Many are expecting a new Mario game to come to the Switch 2, possibly a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey. However, Nintendo revealed that “Mario Kart World” and “Donkey Kong Banana” are first-party games that will be coming to Switch 2.
Nintendo hints at new Mario game
Bowser said in an interview with CNN earlier this month that the next Mario game may come to Switch 2 as soon as possible.
“Stay tuned,” Bowser said. “You know, we have a long catalog and a long list of (intellectual property) that I’m sure will make their way into the platform.”
Aside from the Switch 2 games confirmed for 2025, Nintendo has yet to reveal the Switch 2’s slate of first-party games. During the Switch 2-themed Nintendo Direct on April 2, the company revealed some first-party games in addition to launching third-party games on the new platform.
Only two first-party games have been confirmed to be released when the Switch 2 launches on June 5. These include open-world racing game Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, an interactive guide to the new console.
In addition, the 3D action platform game “Donkey Kong Bananza” will be released on July 17, while “Kirby Air Riders”, “Drag X Drive” and “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Captivity” are confirmed to be launched in 2025. The first-party slate announcement could mean there won’t be a mainline Mario or Zelda game this year.
However, Nintendo will release upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch 2 versions of a slew of existing and released Switch 1 games in 2025, such as Metroid Beyond, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom Tears, Super Mario Party, Kirby and the Forgotten Lands, and Pokémon Legends: ZA — all of which will be released in 2025, including two from the original Switch. The critically acclaimed 3D Legend of Zelda game will also be available on launch day.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows may be coming to Switch 2
Image source: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows may be coming to Switch 2
While first-party blockbusters like Mario and Zelda are nowhere to be seen, third-party developers have announced a strong lineup of games coming to Switch 2 this year and beyond. These include FromSoftware’s new Switch 2 exclusive game “Twilight Blood” as well as popular games such as “Hogwarts Legacy”, “Split Novel”, “Cyberpunk 2077”, “Elden Rings”, “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4”, and “Star Wars Desperados”.
Recently, information listed on the PEGI ratings website suggested that Assassin’s Creed: Shadows may also be coming to Switch 2. According to VGC’s report, the Switch 2 appears to be a supported platform for the game, as shown by the most searched games section of the site.
The list appears to have since changed, with the Assassin’s Creed Shadows page on PEGI’s website now only showing PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X as supported platforms. However, an earlier listing revealed that Ubisoft’s latest action-adventure game will reportedly be releasing on Switch 2. Note that while Ubisoft has confirmed that Star Wars: Desperados will release on Switch 2 on September 4, the company has yet to announce that the latest Assassin’s Creed game will be coming to Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was fully unveiled on April 2 and was originally scheduled to be available for pre-order in the United States starting on April 9. However, the broad reciprocal trade tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump caused Nintendo to push back the pre-order date to April 24. The hybrid console will be available from June 5th.
