It’s hard to believe that we’re already looking ahead to 2023, but that’s exactly what we’re doing with Nintendo. The publisher is notoriously secretive, so it’s tough to say for certain what they have in store for us next year. However, we do know a few things that are on the schedule. Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Fire Emblem: Engage, and Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe are all set to release in 2023. But there are still plenty of question marks on the calendar. Will we finally get Metroid Prime 4? Is Pikmin 4 really a 2023 game? And will there be a Switch Pro?
Nintendo’s Confirmed Releases for 2023
One of the most certain releases for next year is Fire Emblem: Engage, which is set to hit shelves on January 20th, 2023. If you enjoyed the gameplay of Fire Emblem: Three Houses and can’t wait to see the return of fan-favorite characters like Marth, you’ll want to start the year off strong with this one. February 24th brings us Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe, a remake of the Wii four-player platformer of the same name. And then we have a bit of a lull until May 12th, when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release. This highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild has already been pushed back a few times, so we’ll have to wait and see if the May date sticks.
Rumored and Speculated Releases
While those are the games we know for sure are coming in 2023, there are a couple more that are likely to make an appearance at some point. Advanced Wars: Reboot Camp was originally set to release in April 2022, but was delayed due to the war in Ukraine. Nintendo assured fans that it wasn’t a cancellation, and we actually know the game is finished already. It’s possible we’ll see it released in 2023 to fill a gap in the schedule. And then there’s Pikmin 4, which Nintendo officially revealed earlier this year with a promise of a 2023 release window. Rumor has it that the game has been nearly finished for a while, so hopefully we’ll get our hands on it soon.
There are also some wild card possibilities for 2023. A report from fan site Nintendo Life suggests that Nintendo is nearly finished with a sequel to the bizarre launch game One Two Switch, tentatively titled Everybody’s One Two Switch. The report claims the game will include a game show theme and games big enough for “the whole family to enjoy.” It’s unclear if this is a real project or just a rumor, but it’s certainly interesting to think about. And then there’s the question of a Switch Pro. We’ve seen rumors and speculation about a more powerful version of the Switch for a while now, and it’s possible we could see it released in 2023.
Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be a bit of a mystery when it comes to Nintendo. We have a few certainties on the schedule, but there are still plenty of question marks. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers and more information as the year progresses. But one thing is for sure, we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Nintendo and all the exciting releases they have planned for us.
