Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition Lands Nov 12, Demo Drops Tomorrow

Nintendo confirmed during its Pikmin Day Direct that Pikmin 4's Switch 2 version arrives November 12, with a demo hitting the eShop a day earlier on November 2.

Well, that Direct came out of nowhere. Nintendo had warned viewers not to expect any new game announcements, then turned around and dropped the full details on the Pikmin 4 Switch 2 edition — release date, demo plans, and fresh content included. According to Eurogamer, the upgraded version launches on November 12, with a playable demo arriving first on the Nintendo eShop on November 2.

If you're still on the fence, the demo basically hands you an early ticket in. Better yet, your progress carries over to the full game, provided you pick it up afterward — so no painful replaying of the opening hours. And if you already own the original Switch version of Pikmin 4, you won't need to double-dip: you can grab an upgrade pack from the eShop instead.

The Switch 2 edition also bundles in a brand-new mode called Dandori Academy, a timed exam-style challenge. The Direct showed off one of its tests, "Giant Garden," where you race the clock to collect gold nuggets before time runs out. There's another neat touch too — the Switch 2 version supports voice commands directed at Oatchi, your loyal dog companion.

Pikmin 4 first landed on the Switch back in July 2023. Per the report, this Switch 2 edition is one of Nintendo's two major releases this month, alongside the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on November 5.

The Direct also officially confirmed November 1 as Pikmin Day, with Shigeru Miyamoto on hand to introduce Japanese actress Fuka Koshiba as the series' new ambassador.

So, are you planning to test the waters with the demo first, or are you jumping straight in with that upgrade pack? Let us know!