Sales are booming, software is quiet: 'Release it on Switch 1 first' — The scarcity of development kits leads to the strange dual speed of Switch 2

Prologue—"Selling Well, But Can't Produce"

Just a few weeks after its release on June 5, 2025, the Switch 2 surpassed 6 million units sold worldwide, breaking Nintendo's "fastest record." It also set a new launch month sales record in the United States, with an initial spread that is historic. However, behind this success, there are unbelievable reports from the game development field saying, "The development kits aren't arriving." Why is the "fuel" being restricted at a time when the acceleration pedal for success should be pressed?ReutersGameSpot

1. The "Same Lament" Heard at Gamescom

The spark reignited at the venue of Gamescom 2025. Digital Foundry, known for its technical analysis, reported hearing from many developers on-site that they couldn't get their hands on the Switch 2 development kits. Moreover, it wasn't just "slow." There were even testimonies that Nintendo communicated, "For now, release on Switch 1 and rely on backward compatibility for Switch 2."VGC

This testimony was followed by reports from multiple media outlets, and the core of the news largely matches. The scarcity of kits continues even after the release, and the supply demarcation is hard to decipher.TechRadarGameSpot

2. The Curious "Distribution"—Indies Receive While AAA Waits

What deepens the confusion is the "distortion" in distribution. Digital Foundry pointed out that while the studio behind the indie title 'Chillin’ by the Fire,' which utilizes the Switch 2's camera feature, received kits, some AAA developers still haven't obtained them. In the early stages, where they should want to stock up on "optimized versions of popular titles" while the heat of popularity is high, why does this allocation occur?VGCGameSpot

3. What is Nintendo Afraid of, and What is it Protecting?

There are three hypotheses.

(1) Quality Control
The Switch 2 has higher resolution and frame rate limits, making optimization issues more apparent. They might aim to select the quality of early "Switch 2 editions" and organize the crowded launch window. In fact, there are indications that third-party "Switch 2 optimized versions" remain few even after the release.VGC

(2) Minimizing the Risk of Information Leaks
Next-generation consoles are targets for leaks even before shipment. By limiting distribution, the probability of hardware specifications and SDK leaks can be reduced. This has a rationality that aligns with Nintendo's "firmness."

(3) Resource Constraints and "Two-Stage Launch"
Securing development kits is more challenging than consumer consoles when the mass production line has just started. They might plan to thicken distribution towards the latter half of the spread and create a rush of third-party optimized versions as a "second-stage rocket."

However, it's also true that these hypotheses come with "side effects." If kits are delayed, rendering paths, I/O optimization, and AI upscaling tuning tailored for Switch 2 will be postponed. As a result, ports will rely on backward compatibility with the Switch 1 version, and the utilization of Switch 2's unique features (camera and additional I/F) will be deferred.TechRadar

4. Voices from the Field: Backward Compatibility is Not a "Cure-All"

DF also points out the limitations of the "make do with backward compatibility" policy. Simply transferring assets and pipelines created with the assumption of Switch 1's 720p/1080p to Switch 2 (handheld 1080p/dock 4K) does not match the "optimized version" in terms of appearance and performance. A noticeable difference remains in the user experience, as if a layer is placed over it.VGC

5. How Did Social Media React? (Key Snapshots)

Frustration and Confusion
Questions like "I don't understand the strategy" and "Why are AAA developers waiting?" are numerous on Reddit and forums.RedditResetEra

Points of Defense
Interpretations like "Quality control to avoid mixed quality early on," "Leak prevention," and "Kits are not as plentiful as mass-produced machines" are also seen.Nintendo Life

"Users Won't Be Troubled" Argument
Voices from a consumer perspective, like "There won't be a shortage of things to play with backward compatibility for the time being" and "There's a mountain of backlog," are also seen.Nintendo Life

Counterargument: "Is It Really Lacking?"
There are rebuttals like "Most major companies should already have them" and skepticism towards DF. The debate is divided.My Nintendo News

6. The Twist of "Selling Well but Quiet Shelves"

In terms of numbers, the Switch 2's cumulative sales exceeded 6 million units in the quarterly report, boosting Nintendo's profits. Nevertheless, the exposure of third-party optimized versions hasn't increased as expected. This suggests that the kit distribution strategy is "asynchronous" with the sales momentum. To sustain the momentum with software depth, it's necessary to increase the third-party optimization line.The Wall Street JournalReuters

7. So, How Should Each Player Act?

Third Parties
In the short term, survive with technical investments to minimize the "Switch 1→2 visual difference" (resolution scaling, dual texture sets, variable rate shadows, load I/O abstraction). Prepare build pipelines in stages to immediately transition to "2 optimization" after acquiring kits.

Indies
The key is the ability to propose utilizing Switch 2's unique features (camera, etc.). The fact that there are examples where the priority of kit distribution has increased is good news.GameSpot

Nintendo
While the initial focus on quality and safety is understandable, the perception that there are few third-party "Switch 2 editions" could be a marketing disadvantage. It would be wise to review the distribution policy quarterly and expand the publication of technical materials and samples (guides for transitioning from backward compatibility to optimization).

Conclusion—Timing the Second Ignition

The spread of the Switch 2 is extremely smooth. Precisely because of this, the next step is to expand the "state of being able to create." The initial "cautiousness" may pay off, and in 1-2 years, we might look back and say, "It was a bold strategy, but it succeeded." However, for that to happen, when and with what intensity to conduct the "second ignition"—Nintendo's steering is being tested.VGCReuters

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