A month after the Nintendo Switch 2 launched, many developers still don’t have access to dev kits, according to a new report.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched last month to huge anticipation. Fans rushed to grab the sleek new console, hoping to try out improved versions of their favorite games, and maybe some brand-new ones. But now that the launch excitement has started to cool off, people are starting to notice something’s missing: where are all the third-party games?
Turns out, there might be a reason for that. According to multiple insiders, a surprising number of developers, even ones who’ve worked on Switch games before, still don’t have access to the hardware they need to make or update their games for Switch 2.
Switch 2 Dev Kit Access Still Limited, Insider Claims
This report comes from a new episode of the Nate the Hate podcast, where longtime Nintendo insider Nate says the rollout of Switch 2 dev kits has been far more restricted than usual. Not only are some studios still waiting to get one, but they’re not even hearing back from Nintendo.
“These individuals I have spoken to,” Nate explained, “requested devkit access months ago only to be told by their regional representatives that they will get back to them when the time is right.”
Nate said developers ranging from indie studios to mid-sized and even some low-AAA teams are sitting in limbo, completely unsure when, or if, they’ll be approved. Some just want to patch older Switch 1 games to run better on the new system. Others are working on brand-new titles they’d love to release natively for Switch 2. But they can’t do much of anything without the proper tools.
Nate even said some developers are being essentially “ghosted” entirely. According to Nate, Nintendo is following a strategy similar to past hardware generations, prioritizing major partners first. Those studios not only get dev kits earlier, but they also help shape the final hardware by offering feedback. However, this time around, the lack of communication and transparency seems to be bothering smaller studios more than usual.
In one case, Nate said Nintendo told a developer they didn’t need a Switch 2 kit because they were still working on Switch 1 software. When the studio explained they were planning to support both systems, Nintendo replied that those releases weren’t a priority.
“One curious conversation I did have with a developer friend is that they had conversations with Nintendo and they were wondering when they could get access to a dev kit for the Switch 2. And as is the case with all console manufacturers, Nintendo inquired about some of their upcoming projects. And Nintendo’s conclusion to them was, ‘You don’t need a Switch 2 devkit right now because you’re still focusing on Switch One software.’
“And this partner studio is like, ‘Well, you know, we’d like to do native Switch 2 releases for these games.’ And Nintendo basically told them, ‘Well, no, these releases aren’t a priority for us.’ So, you’re going to continue to wait.”
This lines up with earlier reports where it was said that many developers still hadn’t received Switch 2 hardware. Even some larger publishers like Embracer Group were reportedly denied kits due to concerns about internal restructuring and the risk of hardware mismanagement.
All of this could change later this month. Reports suggest that Nintendo is planning a new Direct presentation later this month, but not until after the release of Donkey Kong Bonanza on July 17. As with any rumor, we suggest taking all the above details with a grain of salt.
What do you think about Nintendo’s approach to handling dev kits this time? Is it smart planning, or are they leaving too many developers and players out of the loop? Let us know in the comments.
