Nintendo Switch 2 Secures Major Game as a Timed-Console Exclusive

Supergiant Games has confirmed that Hades 2 will arrive first as a timed-console exclusive on Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2. The game, already available in early access on PC, follows the same path as the original title, which debuted on Switch in 2020 before launching on other platforms in 2021. Hades 2 is set for a full release later this year but without a defined date.

Hades 2 entered early access in May 2024 for PC and in October for Mac. Since then, the game has received numerous updates based on player feedback and its roadmap. Among the additions, the early access has already introduced a new weapon called Xinth, the Olympus region, encounters with characters like Athena, Dionysus, and Prometheus, new familiars, and an expanded story. Since its early access launch, Hades 2 has surpassed 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, doubling the CCU numbers compared to the first Hades. Some console players, however, will have to wait a bit more to play it.

Related

Why Now is the Best Time to Play Hades 2

Hades 2’s newest Warsong Update adds more content that brings fans closer to the endgame, so this is the perfect time to start now.

As Nintendo and Supergiant Games announced, Hades 2 will be a timed-console exclusive on both Switch and Switch 2. This is nothing new since the first Hades also made its debut on Switch before hitting other consoles a year later. With Hades 2 scheduled for release in 2025, speculation is that the roguelike will arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026. PC players will get the 1.0 version on the same day as the version for both Switch models. Still, anyone wanting to play on cutting-edge console technology will have to get in line to grab a Switch 2 when it launches.

Hades 2 Will Be a Switch 2 Timed-Console Exclusive at Launch

That’s because, according to Nintendo, the game’s version of Switch 2 will take advantage of the new hardware features. This means Hades 2 will support high-definition display and responsive gameplay with a 60 FPS performance. The timed exclusivity is part of Nintendo’s strategy to beef up the initial Switch 2 lineup of third-party games, including titles like Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Ridge Racer, and The Duskbloods. In this way, the partnership between Nintendo and Supergiant repeats the successful formula of Hades, which stood out both commercially and among critics.

The biggest issue with this strategy of strengthening third-party releases on Switch 2 is that the console’s own launch is still up in the air in the US, one of its largest markets. Due to Trump’s tariffs, Nintendo revealed it is delaying Switch 2 pre-orders in the US, although the release date remains June 5. For now, it is unknown whether Nintendo will stick to the same suggested price for the Switch 2 in the US or raise it to offset the tariffs, or even if the tariffs will still be in place two months from now.

Hades 2

Systems

Released

May 6, 2024

Engine

Proprietary Engine