Nintendo Confirms Pokemon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 Will Release on Original Switch

Nintendo has confirmed that both Pokemon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 Beyond will launch on the original Nintendo Switch hardware, despite the upcoming release of Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.

The confirmation came during a recent investor Q&A session, where Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed questions about the company’s software strategy. Furukawa stated that both titles remain scheduled for release this year on the current Switch platform, adding that Nintendo intends to maintain support for the original hardware as long as consumer demand exists.

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Pokemon Legends Z-A, which was unveiled during Pokemon Day 2024, has seen no additional information released since its initial announcement. Meanwhile, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond has been previously showcased through a gameplay trailer released last year.

The statement marks Nintendo’s first official communication regarding these titles since the Nintendo Switch 2’s announcement last month. While both games are targeting the original Switch, they will be playable on the Switch 2 through backwards compatibility, a feature Nintendo has officially confirmed for the new console. Industry analysts suggest this compatibility could positively impact the Switch 2’s launch performance, given the immediate access to an extensive game library.

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Questions remain about whether backwards-compatible titles will receive automatic performance improvements on the new hardware, or if dedicated patches will be necessary to leverage the Switch 2’s enhanced capabilities. There’s also speculation about potential dual releases, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s launch on both Switch and Wii U.

Industry expert Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games in Tokyo, has expressed concerns about the timing, stating that the Switch 2 “cannot come soon enough” and raising questions about Nintendo’s interim release strategy.