The gaming community is eagerly awaiting the Nintendo Switch 2 launch on June 5, but there’s a key update for IGN readers: Nintendo has confirmed that pre-launch review access to Switch 2 hardware will not be provided, unlike typical console launches. This means we won’t be able to test titles like Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, or enhanced Zelda games and other ports in time for our usual prompt review coverage.

This change disrupts our plans—and those of other media, including our colleagues at Digital Foundry—to deliver timely insights. At IGN, we take pride in providing detailed information about new hardware and games to help you make informed decisions about your purchases and playtime, and this delay impacts one of the most rewarding aspects of our work.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

We’ve faced similar challenges before and are prepared to adapt. While it’s a tougher task than we’d prefer, we’re committed to delivering high-quality answers as soon as possible. Once our preordered Switch 2 consoles arrive, we’ll dive into a review-in-progress of Mario Kart World (led by in-house expert and NVC host Logan Plant), along with detailed impressions of Switch 2 versions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, focusing on performance compared to earlier versions. Our team will also evaluate the Switch 2 console (by Switch and Switch Lite reviewer Tom Marks), new Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller 2 (by controller specialist Michael Higham), the camera, and all available accessories.

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We aim to publish most, if not all, of these reviews within a week of the launch, addressing key questions as early adopters worldwide explore the new console. It’s a big task, but we’re ready to tackle it.