This Nintendo Switch exclusive could be releasing sooner than we thought
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It looks like a much-anticipated Nintendo Switch exclusive could be launching sooner than we thought, if a retailer’s listing for it is to be believed.
TheNintendo Switchgame in question,Pikmin 4, has been in development for years now. However,My Nintendo Newsspotted a May 23 release date for the game, listed by Greek retailer Game Explorers. Given that we’ve seen relatively little ofPikmin 4so far, that launch date feels a little sooner than we expected.
A brief glimpse ofPikmin 4was shown off during the September 2022 Nintendo Direct presentation, alongside the Niantic-developedPikmin Bloommobile app. At the time, a loose ‘2023’ release window was given by producer Shigeru Miyamoto.
This retail listing forPikmin 4comes hot off the heels of February Nintendo Direct rumors (thanks,Game Rant), which industry insider Jeff Grubb believes could happen as soon as this week.
That would of course line up with Nintendo’s previous Direct output. The Kyoto-based tech giant typically hosts a Nintendo Direct presentation in the month of February. This collation of rumors, if true, points toPikmin 4being a marquee game for the next Nintendo Direct showcase.
A Pikmin-sized grain of salt
While it’s very possible forPikmin 4to launch in late May, I’d argue it’s not the best time for the game to come out. That’s because May 12 sees the release of what is perhaps the biggest Nintendo Switch game since its 2017 launch; that beingThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Come May 23, the potential release date forPikmin 4, I imagine millions of Switch owners will still too busy exploring the skies above Hyrule to be mucking about in the infested gardens and damp undergrowths ofPikmin 4.
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That’s not to say Pikmin is unpopular, as it’s maintained a strong cult following since the Gamecube days. However, it’s typically overshadowed by Nintendo’s A-team. Your Zeldas, your Marios. Hell, even your Xenoblades and Fire Emblems at this point.
Even still, whetherPikmin 4hits or misses that supposed May 23 date, Nintendo Switch owners will be looking for all the first-party support they can get. Zelda and Pikmin aside, we’re hotly awaiting post-launch DLC forXenoblade Chronicles 3,Fire Emblem EngageandMarioKart 8 Deluxe.
With Nintendo rumored to be skipping E3 alongside its competitorsMicrosoftandSony, there’s a chance that Nintendo doesn’t have much to offer in terms of first-party output for its flagship console; and could instead be putting all its eggs in theNintendo Switch 2basket.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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