Nintendo Switch 2 likely to launch in mid-May

Nintendo buyers may not have to wait much longer for the highly anticipated Switch 2 [File]
| Photo Credit: Screengrab from a Nintendo video

Nintendo buyers may not have to wait much longer for the highly anticipated Switch 2, as new speculation suggests the console could launch as early as in mid-May. While Nintendo has yet to confirm a release date, patterns and recent industry events indicate a spring launch is increasingly likely.

The latest speculation comes from ThunderStash Gaming handle on X platform, arguing that multiple factors point toward a mid-May release. Unlike traditional leaks or insider sources, this handle’s theory is based on patterns, industry timelines, and Nintendo’s own history.

Some of the biggest clues the social media account shared that points to a mid-May launch were connected to paired launches, gap in dates between events, and Lego’s unusual launch timeline.

The X handle pointed out that Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15, and rumours suggest this title will be a Switch 2 launch game as Nintendo has a long-standing history with the Doom franchise.

Next, Nintendo’s hands-on Switch 2 experience tour will run across major cities in the U.S. from April 4 to May 11, followed by a break before resuming in Seoul, South Korea on May 31. The gap in dates indicates a console launch in between.

The final clue is linked to LEGO and Nintendo’s new Mario Kart, which is set to drop on May 15. While LEGO often releases new sets at the start of a month, this mid-week launch is unusual, fueling speculation that it could tie into Mario Kart 9, a potential Switch 2 launch title.

Additionally, reports suggest that nearly 400,000 Switch 2 units were shipped from a Vietnamese manufacturing plant to North America in January. Analysts believe it is unlikely Nintendo would stockpile those units for months, hinting at an imminent launch.

Historically, Nintendo has favoured spring launches for major hardware and software launches. For example, Mario Kart 8 was launched in May 2014, with the Switch version following in April 2017. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released in May 2023. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is set for a May 2025 release.

While Nintendo has yet to make an official announcement, expectations are high for an imminent reveal—possibly during the April 2 Nintendo Direct, where the company is expected to share technical details about the Switch 2.

If the May 15 theory proves correct, it would mean a relatively short marketing window between the reveal and launch.