According to TechRadar, Nintendo is heading into 2026 with strong momentum from the Switch 2’s June 2025 launch, aiming to maintain it with a packed first-quarter lineup. Between January and March 2026, exclusives like Mario Tennis Fever, Pokopia, and a Switch 2 Edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons are slated. Third-party support is unusually strong, with titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Elden Ring, and a FromSoftware exclusive called The Duskbloods arriving. However, with a Mario movie sequel hitting in 2026, the notable absence is a new 3D Mario platformer, especially since Super Mario Odyssey will be nine years old. The report also questions the future of the original Switch and whether the current third-party support will last.
The 2026 Game Plan
So, Nintendo seems to be avoiding the dreaded “year two slump” by just… throwing a ton of games at the wall. And it’s a pretty interesting mix. You’ve got your safe bets, like upgrading the second-best-selling Switch 1 game (Animal Crossing) to the new hardware. That’s basically printing money. Then you have the new entries in reliable franchises like Fire Emblem and Yoshi. It’s a solid, if somewhat predictable, foundation.
But here’s the thing that really stands out: the third-party situation. For the first time in… forever, maybe? Nintendo isn’t just getting late ports of old games years later. They’re getting *Elden Ring* and *Final Fantasy 7 Remake*. That’s huge. It signals that big publishers actually believe in the Switch 2’s power and market size from day one, which is a complete reversal from the original Switch’s early days. If this keeps up, it changes the entire value proposition of the console.
The Mario-Shaped Hole
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Where is Mario? I mean, a new Mario Kart is out, and a 2D Mario got an upgrade, but the flagship 3D adventure? Nowhere to be seen. TechRadar’s bet is spot-on: with a Mario movie sequel in theaters in 2026, it seems almost unthinkable that Nintendo wouldn’t have a major new 3D Mario game ready to ride that hype wave. Super Mario Odyssey is going to be *nine*. In video game years, that’s practically ancient history. The fact we haven’t heard a peep about it yet is either brilliant secrecy or slightly worrying. My money’s on a big reveal at a Nintendo Direct in the first half of the year.
Hardware, Bundles, and Questions
Don’t expect a new Switch 2 model in 2026. No OLED screen, no “Lite” version. That feels right. The console is selling well, and it’s way too early for a revision. Instead, get ready for more bundles and a rainbow of new Joy-Con 2 colors. Bundling a hot game with the hardware is Nintendo 101, and they’ll keep doing it. The more interesting hardware story might be the old Switch. What does Nintendo do with it? Do they kill it to force everyone onto the new platform, or keep it around as a budget option? That decision will tell us a lot about how confident they are in the Switch 2’s price point and momentum.
The Big Unknowns
So, the momentum is there. But can it last? The third-party support looks amazing for the next six months, but what about late 2026? If a port of a six-year-old game like FF7 Remake doesn’t sell, will Square Enix pull back? And when will Nintendo finally cut the cord on cross-gen development to really let the Switch 2’s specs shine? Those are the real tests. For now, though, Nintendo’s 2026 calendar looks fuller than most. They’ve bought themselves some time. But everyone, deep down, is waiting for that one game. You know the one.
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