Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews Delayed Until June 5

As the gaming community eagerly anticipates the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, IGN readers have been hit with a significant piece of news: Nintendo has announced that there will be no traditional pre-launch review access for the Switch 2. This means our team, along with other media outlets like Digital Foundry, won't have the opportunity to test and review key titles like Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, and the upgraded versions of Zelda games before the console hits the market. This lack of early access disrupts our usual process of delivering timely and comprehensive reviews that help you make informed decisions about your gaming purchases.

At IGN, providing you with detailed insights into new hardware and games right when you need them is a core part of what we do, and it's something we take great pride in. While this change presents a challenge, we've faced similar situations before and are prepared to adapt. We're committed to working hard to bring you the information you need without sacrificing quality.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 ImagesAs soon as our preordered Switch 2 consoles arrive, our team will dive right in. We'll start with an in-progress review of Mario Kart World, led by our in-house champion and NVC host, Logan Plant. We'll also provide in-depth impressions of the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and third-party ports like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, focusing on their performance and how they stack up against previous versions on other platforms. Simultaneously, our experts will evaluate the hardware, including the Switch 2 console itself (reviewed by Tom Marks, who has experience with the Switch and Switch Lite), the new Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller 2 (analyzed by controller expert Michael Higham), the camera, and other accessories we can get our hands on.