Today, gamers worldwide eagerly await the Nintendo Switch 2 launch on June 5, poised to make their purchase decisions. However, there’s important news for IGN readers: Nintendo has confirmed there will be no early review access to Switch 2 hardware prior to launch - a departure from standard console release practices. This means we won’t be able to evaluate Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, or enhanced Zelda titles ahead of time to provide the timely reviews you expect from us.
This development has disrupted our planned coverage strategy (along with other media outlets, including our technical experts at Digital Foundry) for answering your most pressing questions at launch. Providing comprehensive hardware and game evaluations during this crucial decision-making period is something we pride ourselves on at IGN - it's fundamental to our mission of serving gamers.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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While this situation isn't unprecedented, it requires us to adapt quickly. Here's our game plan to deliver the next best thing: We'll race to provide comprehensive coverage the moment our preordered Switch 2 units arrive, maintaining our quality standards throughout. Our team will immediately begin:
- An ongoing review of Mario Kart World by Logan Plant (NVC host and our racing game specialist)
- Performance analysis of Switch 2 Editions including Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and third-party ports like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy
- Hardware evaluations covering the Switch 2 console (reviewed by Tom Marks, our Switch expert), new Joy-Cons, Pro Controller 2 (assessed by controller specialist Michael Higham), camera, and all available accessories
We aim to publish most reviews within about a week of launch, while also monitoring feedback from early adopters worldwide. Though it's an accelerated timeline, our team is prepared to deliver the thorough coverage you deserve during this exciting console launch.
