Nintendo’s hourlong Direct on Friday is perfectly timed to answer the one question hanging over the newly minted Switch 2: what’s next. The hardware narrative is set; now it’s about software that justifies the upgrade and anchors the next 12 months.
With rumors swirling and dev kits reportedly in wide circulation, this showcase needs clear release dates and gameplay specifics. Here are five Switch 2 games that should headline—and why they matter.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Announced in 2017 and rebooted at Retro Studios in 2019, Prime 4 has become the litmus test for Nintendo’s blockbuster ambitions. After years of silence punctuated by brief reassurances, this Direct is the moment for a firm date and a systems-level deep dive.
Metroid Dread delivered series-best sales, according to Nintendo’s financial disclosures, proving the audience is there. On Switch 2, fans should expect 60 fps targets, modernized controls, and bold IO tricks for seamless planet traversal. If Nintendo wants confidence in the platform’s power profile, a meticulous, developer-narrated segment on Prime 4’s design and performance would do it.
Hades II
Supergiant Games has built Hades II into an early-access phenomenon, with robust community telemetry and iteration that most studios envy. It’s already a critical darling; what the Switch 2 needs is a precise console window and feature parity details.
The wishlist: a locked 60 fps in handheld and docked modes, fast suspend-resume, and smart use of rumble and audio latency to sustain the “one more run” loop. If Nintendo can position a near-term console rollout—ideally with post-launch roadmap beats straight from Supergiant—that’s a software momentum play heading into the holidays.
The Duskbloods
FromSoftware’s new Switch 2 exclusive has been teased with moody, steampunk-adjacent imagery and not much else. That’s thrilling, but clarity is overdue: is this a co-op-first action RPG, a shared-world experiment, or something closer to the studio’s uncompromising single-player roots?
Context matters. Elden Ring has surpassed 25 million copies sold, per the publisher, setting expectations for network stability, encounter density, and buildcraft depth. If The Duskbloods targets 2026, an early gameplay slice—enemy AI behavior, stance break mechanics, and a hint of its progression economy—would reassure fans that Switch 2 can carry a top-tier, system-driven action game without compromise.
Splatoon Raiders
Positioned as a single-player survival spin on Nintendo’s vibrant shooter, Splatoon Raiders could be the series’ long-requested offline pillar. The key is defining its loop: scavenging runs, semi-procedural arenas, and escalating “horde ecology” that mirrors Salmon Run’s best ideas without feeling like a repackaged mode.
Splatoon is community gold—Splatfests and user-generated art sustain engagement well beyond launch. With Splatoon 3 already north of 10 million sales globally, according to Nintendo, a robust solo experience with meaningful meta progression, cosmetic carryover, and optional co-op hooks would broaden the franchise without cannibalizing its PvP identity. A release window and a design diary-style segment would land well.
Animal Crossing (next entry)
The Switch-era Animal Crossing became a cultural and commercial juggernaut—more than 42 million sold, per Nintendo’s earnings—by turning cozy simulation into a daily ritual. A new installment on Switch 2 doesn’t need reinvention; it needs permanence, smarter villagers, and richer social systems.
Two asks stand out. First, save continuity: a path to migrate islands or, at minimum, to preserve key collections and catalog history. Second, dynamic neighborhoods where villager routines, hobbies, and dialogue evolve in ways players can measure. Layer in seasonal events that refresh server-side and a creator economy that respects moderation standards, and you’ve got a platform title that drives hardware adoption across demographics, as Circana has repeatedly highlighted for lifestyle genre leaders.
One more note for Friday: clarity on Switch 2 upgrade paths for legacy hits would complement the new slate. Even a short reel announcing free performance patches for a handful of fan favorites—paired with paid “Deluxe” upgrades that add content—would signal a cohesive software strategy.
But the headline still writes itself. Give Prime 4 a date, lock Hades II’s console plan, demystify The Duskbloods, reveal what Splatoon Raiders really is, and tease the next Animal Crossing. Do that, and the Switch 2’s second act starts with confidence instead of questions.