Last week, theNintendo Switch 2reveal didn’t come with a software line-up. That isn’t expected until the upcoming Nintendo Direct in April.
However, we may have an idea of some of the third-party supportNintendowill see at launch.
Nintendo Switch 2 Trailer Hints At 24-Player Mario Kart Races
Who ordered 23 blue shells coming their way?
A new rumor suggests several high-profile games will be part of the Switch 2’s launch window. This includes several games from Microsoft, which is reportedlymoving away from having its first-party games exclusive to Xbox.
Rumor: According to eXtas1s, these games are headed to Switch 2:
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Halo The Master Chief collection
Call of Duty game
Elden Ringhttps://t.co/ezrOq5YA7Cpic.twitter.com/5TdshZKFWk
— Stealth (@Stealth40k)August 20, 2025
There has been a lot of smoke aboutTekken 8andElden Ring, in particular, coming to Nintendo Switch. Additional reports suggest thatRed Dead Redemption 2could also make its way to Nintendo Switch 2. With the Switch 2 hardware being on par with a PS4 Pro, it makes sense that Nintendo’s third-party support will increase thanks to improved technical capabilities.
Again, none of this has been confirmed, so take these games as a grain of salt for now.
Since Nintendo has forgone the graphical arms race, it has had problems securing high profile third-party games. Major gaming franchises likeGrand Theft Auto,Call of Duty,Madden, and more haven’t appeared on a Nintendo console in years, or in the case ofGTA, ever.
Newer, modern third-party hits likeThe Witcher 3,Cyberpunk 2077,EA Sports College Football 25, andDragon’s Domga 2were never considered for release on Nintendo Switch.
Today’s Xbox and PlayStation hardware is far more powerful than what the Nintendo Switch is capable of. That’s due to the Switch’s age, having launched in 2017, but even then, it was underpowered compared to its competitors. The Switch 2 continues this trend, lagging behind the capabilities of the Xbox Series and PS5.
Analysts Predict Nintendo Switch 2 to Sell 20M+ Units Within a Year
Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been announced, and predictions say it’s going to sell more than 20 million units within a year.
Third-party developers have tried supporting Nintendo consoles in the past, whether it was the GameCube, which was just as powerful as an Xbox and more powerful than the PlayStation 2, or the Nintendo Wii, offering unique hooks and gimmicks thanks to the Wii’s motion controls. Third-party games couldn’t find an audience, so developers simply cut their losses.
Time will tell if that trend continues, but given the popularity of the Nintendo Switch, combined with the rise in popularity of handheld gaming devices like the SteamDeck and Lenovo Legion Go, the tides may favor more third-party support for Nintendo.
