It appears that Nintendo held back Switch 2 dev kits from a major publisher due to worries about studio closures and hardware security, according to a new report.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is easily one of the most anticipated pieces of hardware this year. With a reveal set for later this week on April 2 during a special Nintendo Direct, excitement is building fast. From big rumors about a new Mario Kart to leaks pointing at titles like Metroid Prime 4 and Elden Ring, there’s a lot of speculation going around.
But as the spotlight gets brighter, we’re also learning more about what’s happening behind the scenes, and Nintendo’s cautious approach to sharing development kits to third-party developers.
Nintendo’s Playing It Safe with Switch 2 Dev Kit Access
Recently, there have been multiple reports that Nintendo has been slow to roll out Switch 2 dev kits, even with the console reportedly launching in late June. On an episode of Direct Weekly, Digital Foundry’s John Linneman said that “many, many, many, many” developers still don’t have access to development hardware.
According to what he heard at GDC, Nintendo is being extremely selective, with smaller and mid-sized studios especially left out for now. But it doesn’t stop there.
Now, Imran Khan, a writer and reporter who has contributed to outlets like VentureBeat, Fanbyte, and Game Informer, added another layer to the story. In a post on ResetEra, he said a large third-party publisher was also kept out of the loop.
Why? Because Nintendo thought the company was too unstable at the time, worried they might shut down studios and possibly misplace or lose the dev kits in the process. He later confirmed the publisher in question was Embracer Group, a company known for its recent mass layoffs and restructuring.
“I know of at least one kind of big third party that didn’t get anything because Nintendo deemed them too chaotic at the moment. They were afraid the kits would go to studios that would then be closed down and then the kits might have gone missing,” Khan wrote. “It was Embracer.”
Khan also mentioned that some companies that split off from Embracer went back to Nintendo afterward, and the platform holder was more open to working with them.
“I don’t know if their plan changed (this story was from maybe eight months ago), but I know companies that split off from Embracer ended up going back to Nintendo and renegotiating, and they were more amenable.”
So not only are smaller developers still waiting, but even big publishers aren’t guaranteed early access if Nintendo doesn’t trust their stability. That’s a bold move, but maybe one that makes sense if it’s trying to avoid leaks or complications.
Meanwhile, leaks continue to suggest a Switch 2 pre-order date of April 9 and, again, a release window of late June.
What do you think about Nintendo’s selective approach here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!