We’re nearly three months on from the Nintendo Change 2’s launch, and whereas now we have loads of third-party video games to return on the newer hybrid console, many builders say that they are nonetheless having points getting maintain of dev kits.
This comes from the parents at Digital Foundry in response to a query from a listener throughout this week’s DF Direct (timestamped, 8:20). A part of the query focuses on Change 2 kits, significantly stating Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, which runs at 30fps on the newer console (although it does not have a selected Change 2 model both): “Do you assume Nintendo are regretting not sharing the dev kits wider, sooner?”
Host John Linneman, who was at Gamescom 2025, spoke to a number of builders on the present flooring the place “so lots of them mentioned the identical factor,” and that “It is actually troublesome proper now” to even pay money for a dev package.
It feels like the passion is there — “They’d like to do Change 2 variations. They will’t get the {hardware}.” — however the potential to get the {hardware} groups must make Change 2 video games is hard. Some had been apparently informed “they need to simply ship it on Change 1 and depend on backwards compatibility.”
Co-host Oliver Mackenzie additionally weighed in, saying “I do not actually perceive the technique” Nintendo is implementing in handing out dev kits.
The group experiences “listening to issues by way of the grapevine and speaking to folks” on some “bizarre exclusions” and “bizarre inclusions” , highlighting Chillin’ by the Fireplace as one of many latter video games: “…Some huge builders, alternatively, who developed AAA stuff aren’t essentially within the pipeline there for kits.”
After all, the one individuals who know what’s truly occurring with these dev kits are at Nintendo; Mouse Work, a sport particularly designed to be performed in Mouse Mode, cannot launch on Change 2 till the devs get a package. Nintendo is reportedly specializing in indie builders and smaller studios, however that also leaves a variety of groups out.
If you get experiences about some third-party video games working higher on Change 2 than others; for instance, Remaining Fantasy VII Remake impressed at Gamescom whereas Elden Ring… didn’t.
Tell us what you consider the Change 2 dev package scenario within the feedback.
