Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews Delayed Until June 5

As the countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 launch on June 5 continues, excitement is palpable among gamers eager to get a head start. However, IGN readers should be aware of a significant change in Nintendo's approach: there will be no traditional pre-launch review access to the Switch 2 hardware. This departure from the norm means that we won't be able to provide our usual timely reviews of key titles such as Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, and the enhanced versions of Zelda games and other ports before the console hits the market.

This development is less than ideal and has disrupted our plans, as well as those of other media outlets, including the tech experts at Digital Foundry, to deliver comprehensive coverage and answers to your questions ahead of the launch. At IGN, we take great pride in helping you make informed decisions about your purchases and time investment, which is a cornerstone of our mission and one of the most rewarding aspects of our work.

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While this isn't the first time we've faced such a challenge, we're prepared to adapt and deliver the best possible coverage. It will require more effort than usual, but rest assured, we're committed to providing you with timely and quality reviews. As soon as our preordered Switch 2 units arrive, we'll dive into a comprehensive review in progress of Mario Kart World, led by our in-house champion and NVC host, Logan Plant. Additionally, we'll offer 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, focusing on their performance and how they stack up against previous versions on other platforms. Our team will also evaluate the hardware, including the Switch 2 console itself, reviewed by Switch and Switch Lite expert Tom Marks, along with the new Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller 2, the camera, and other accessories.

Our objective is to have the majority, if not all, of these reviews published within a week of the launch. We'll also be on hand to address the significant questions that often arise as early adopters worldwide begin to explore the capabilities of this new console. There's much to do, but we're fully prepared to meet this challenge head-on.