As the gaming community eagerly anticipates the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, a significant piece of news has emerged that IGN readers should be aware of: Nintendo has decided to forego traditional pre-launch review access for the Switch 2 hardware. This departure from the norm means that there won't be an opportunity for us to test and review games like Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, and the upgraded Zelda titles before their release. This change disrupts the usual flow of providing timely reviews that you've come to expect from us at IGN.
This development is less than ideal and has thrown a wrench into the plans not just for us, but for the entire gaming media landscape, including our colleagues at Digital Foundry. At IGN, we take immense pride in being able to offer you detailed insights into new hardware and games right when you're making those crucial decisions about where to invest your time and money. It's a core part of what makes our work so rewarding.
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While this isn't the first time we've had to navigate such a situation, we're committed to adapting and delivering the next best thing to our readers. It will require more hustle than we'd prefer, but we're ready to get you the answers you need without compromising on quality. The moment our preordered Switch 2 units arrive, we'll dive straight into our coverage. This will include an ongoing review of Mario Kart World led by our in-house champion and NVC host, Logan Plant, as well as in-depth impressions of the Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and third-party ports such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy. We'll focus on how these games perform and compare to their versions on other platforms.
Simultaneously, our team will conduct thorough evaluations of all the hardware. This includes the Switch 2 console itself, reviewed by our expert on Switch and Switch Lite, Tom Marks, as well as the new Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller 2, which will be analyzed by controller expert Michael Higham, and every other accessory we can get our hands on.
AnswerSee ResultsOur aim is to have the bulk of these reviews published within a week of the launch, ensuring we can address the major questions that arise as early adopters around the globe start using their new consoles. There's a lot to cover, but we're prepared and eager to get started.
