Digital Foundry: Developers struggling to access Switch 2 kits
John Linneman of Digital Foundry described it as a puzzling strategy: “Nintendo seems to be almost discouraging Switch 2 development to some degree. Plenty of developers told us they would love to ship Switch 2 versions of their games, but they just can’t get the hardware.”
A confusing distribution strategy
What’s striking is not just the shortage of kits, but how they’re being distributed. According to Oliver Mackenzie, some AAA studios are still waiting for access while smaller indie projects have already received hardware. “There were some weird exclusions with big developers struggling to get kits, and some weird inclusions as well — like an indie campfire game getting kits while larger publishers remain on the sidelines,” Mackenzie noted.
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This scattershot approach raises questions about Nintendo’s priorities. It may reflect an effort to encourage indie creativity early, or it could signal that Nintendo is tightly controlling the rollout as it finalizes its own first-party slate. Either way, developers told Digital Foundry they are eager to build for Switch 2 but are frustrated by the lack of access.
Final Thoughts:
Developers want in. Players expect launch games. Yet Nintendo’s tight control over Switch 2 dev kits leaves both groups waiting. Whether this approach will pay off in surprise reveals or risks thinning third-party support at launch remains to be seen. Right now, the lack of access is the story.
