We’ve finished Nintendo predictions in the beginning of yearly for a bit now, and for the previous couple of years it’s all been Change successor this, Change Professional that, 3D Mario one thing possibly. We’ve had a reasonably good hit fee, however we’re in an odd place now in 2026.
We’ve received a model new Change 2 console, we’ve received a brand new 3D Donkey Kong made by the Mario group, it’s promoting tremendous properly on the Change 2, so what are we really anticipating to occur this 12 months? Does Nintendo have something extra left within the tank so quickly after launch, or are we going to see a little bit of a drought? Appears not.
We’re additionally within the inevitable place that we already know quite a lot of 2026. Animal Crossing will get a Change 2 Version and an enormous improve in simply a few weeks, we’ve received a brand new Mario Tennis and a Digital Boy factor the month after. Then there’s Pokopia, which may very well be big, Tomodachi Life, a brand new Yoshi recreation, a brand new Splatoon recreation, a brand new Hearth Emblem, and extra, all confirmed for this 12 months. So what’s left to foretell?
I’m certain we are able to determine one thing out. However first let’s have a look at our guesses from final 12 months, and the way we did.
2025 Prediction Report Card
🥴 Mario Kart isn’t a Change successor launch title, however makes 2025
Half proper? It did launch in 2025, nevertheless it was a launch title.
✅ We get plenty of current-gen ports, however not the latest
Appropriate, but in addition incorrect, the Change 2 is getting increasingly day and date ports – principally because of Capcom
✅ There’s a minimum of 2 BIG BANG video games on the extent of Skyrim within the Change successor reveal trailer
Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, a model new From Software program recreation? Appropriate
✅ Change 2 is dear, costly for Nintendo, however not for gaming handhelds
✅ Change 2 launch schedule consistency
Nintendo had a minimum of 1 or 2 video games each month within the first 6 months of the console, correct
✅ Lastly, a brand new Donkey Kong recreation
New Donkey Kong recreation, and a brand new Donkey Kong design
✅ Nintendo solves the eShop garbage (type of)
Properly, the Change store continues to be filled with garbage however Nintendo limiting who will get dev kits for the Change 2 has finished this by default. So count on the garbage to stream in as soon as they offer one to anybody and everybody.
Recreation Key Playing cards to stay the selection for overwhelming majority of publishers
Hooray, Nintendo introduced smaller recreation card sizes – or did they? As a result of final time I checked, Nintendo didn’t announce something, however a number of individuals took it upon themselves to announce that Nintendo is now providing them. So are they really? In all probability. However anyway, simply because they exist, don’t count on a bunch of video games to all of the sudden ship on these smaller playing cards simply because they’re obtainable. Pandora’s field is open. Publishers love Recreation Key Playing cards as a result of they’re low cost, and there’s no getting back from that.
So who’s going to make use of these smaller playing cards then? Smaller publishers and boutique releases. The Change has a extremely sturdy amassing scene in terms of bodily video games. Not a day goes by the place I don’t see individuals shopping for a mattress filled with indie Change video games bodily, and that’s what’s going to proceed. You gained’t see Sq., Capcom, or different large publishers use these playing cards. Their video games principally don’t match anyway.
No extra free recreation updates for Change 2 options
We had been all shocked to see Nintendo providing a wide variety of free updates to Nintendo Change video games with Nintendo Change 2 graphics and options at launch. Now that the likes of Panic Button have revealed they labored on the video games, we suspect no matter contract that they had for that work is now over and no extra are coming. The proof is in Nintendo’s personal video games. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is getting a free replace, however that’s a content material replace and it’s additionally coming to the unique Change; the paid improve is the Nintendo Change 2 half.
The handful of video games you may count on Nintendo to improve to Change 2 additionally lend themselves – and we are saying this respectfully to fanbases which are prepared to pay – to paid upgrades. One thing like all of the Xenoblade video games, which want an replace: that consumer base will fortunately chuck $10 at an improve. So count on a Xenoblade recreation to get a Nintendo Change 2 Version any minute now.
Change 2 Editions (from Nintendo) to die off fairly quickly
Now, I simply mentioned all that above, and mentioned that as a substitute of free updates we’ll get Change 2 Editions as a substitute, however we reckon by the tip of the 12 months they’ll be a factor of the previous. Nintendo is all in on the Change 2, and it’s promoting properly. Change 2 Editions had been all the time simply bridging content material between the 2 consoles, hangovers from improvement already began or bolted-on content material for issues already completed.
So, like earlier than, large issues like Xenoblade are going to get Change 2 Editions ultimately, and may for a while. However the little add-ons for content material like Tremendous Mario Get together or Kirby aren’t going to maintain taking place; we’ll simply get new Kirby and Mario Get together video games for the Change 2.
Third events although? They’ll hold pumping them out.
Mario Kart World’s DLC will value cash, and that’ll set off the Tubers
Mario Kart World is an costly recreation. Fortunate you acquire it with the console earlier than Nintendo eliminated the bundle from sale like they mentioned they might at launch, proper? Nintendo’s finished fairly a bit with the sport because it launched, for worse and for good, however there haven’t been any content material updates, occasions, or something like that – however that ought to change in 2026.
We’re anticipating new tracks, new racers, costumes, and tie-ins to the Mario Galaxy film – and yeah, it’ll value cash.
Nintendo Releases the final first-party Change recreation
Regardless of what Nintendo say, they actually do need you to purchase a Nintendo Change 2 and transfer on to the brand new console to allow them to promote you new video games. They’re not going to maintain making Change video games without end, however this 12 months we’ll nonetheless see some from Nintendo, and we already know what they’re: Rhythm Heaven, Tomodachi Life, and no matter that live-service check recreation was that we by no means received to play right here in Australia.
Mega Man is perhaps coming to the Change in 2027, and there’ll be broad assist from indies, and the eShop can be pumped with slop for years. However Nintendo has a brand new console to promote, and so they need you to purchase it.
Nintendo extends the GameChat paywall deadline
GameChat is destined to go behind a paywall on March thirty first, 2026, which is basically not very lengthy away. After that, do you actually assume anybody who’s utilizing it now and never paying for Nintendo Change On-line goes to maintain utilizing it then? GameChat has featured prominently in Nintendo’s advertising and marketing for the console. They actually consider in it, and you understand what – it doesn’t suck. It really works completely with audio and video, even when the framerate on the video feed is, a minimum of, refreshingly and truthfully gradual within the advertising and marketing as properly.
However individuals want extra time to try it out, after which not use it like the remainder of us.
The subsequent Nintendo Classics system is the Nintendo DS
Nintendo’s already added one new console to the Nintendo Change 2 lineup for Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Change On-line, the GameCube, and we adore it. So what’s subsequent? The Wii?
Properly, we predict they’ll go to the Nintendo DS first. It’s been there up to now on the Wii U, and with the Change 2 having mouse controls inbuilt, you possibly can replicate that touchscreen management fairly simply. You may additionally GameShare to a second system and use that display if you’d like. Nintendo’s doing zany stuff with the Change 2, we’re getting a complete plastic Digital Boy encompass for it, so Nintendo DS on the Change 2 doing zany stuff too? Not so far-fetched.
