Today, the gaming world collectively hovers a metaphorical thumb over the A button, watching the Nintendo Switch 2 launch clock count down to June 5 to get that all-important boost off the starting line. However, there’s been a bit of news that IGN readers should know: Nintendo has informed us that there will be no traditional pre-launch review access to Switch 2 hardware, as there usually is with console launches. This also means there’s no way to test out Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, or the upgraded Zelda games and other ports in time to post the usual timely review coverage you expect from us.
That’s not ideal, and it’s thrown a wrench in the gears of how we (and the rest of the media, including our tech-savvy colleagues at Digital Foundry) planned to answer your questions at or ahead of launch. Being able to tell you everything you’d want to know about what it’s like to use new hardware and games at the moment you want to make big decisions about how you’ll spend your money and time is something we take pride in – and one of the most satisfying parts of what we do at IGN.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve had to adapt to a situation like this, so we’re lined up to deliver you the next best thing. It’ll be more of a hustle than we’d like, but we’re going to set about getting you those answers as soon as we’re able, without compromising on quality. The moment our preordered Switch 2s arrive we’ll get started on, among other things: a review in progress of Mario Kart World (from in-house champion and NVC host Logan Plant), more in-depth impressions of the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and third-party ports like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, with an eye on how they perform and compare to previous versions on other hardware. At the same time, our team will spin up evaluations of all the hardware, including the Switch 2 console itself (from Switch and Switch Lite reviewer Tom Marks), the new Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller 2 (from controller expert Michael Higham), the camera, and every other accessory we can get our hands on.
Our goal is to have most if not all of these reviews posted within a week or so of launch, and to field any big questions that often develop as early adopters around the world put a shiny new console through its paces. There’s a lot to do, but we’re ready to go.
Dan Stapleton is IGN's Director of Reviews. Follow him on Bluesky.
