During Wednesday's Nintendo Direct, the company announced that Pikmin 4 is making the jump to the upcoming Switch 2 hardware. The new edition is scheduled for release on November 12, offering both physical and digital options for players, including upgrade packs available through the Nintendo eShop.
Alongside the hardware transition, Nintendo is introducing a new gameplay feature titled 'Dandori Academy.' This mode focuses on specialized challenges and puzzles spanning three difficulty tiers, which will be accessible to players during weekends. To foster competition, the mode includes a global leaderboard, allowing players to compare their strategic efficiency against others.
Originally released for the Nintendo Switch in July 2023, Pikmin 4 marked the first mainline entry in the series in a decade. The franchise has seen a significant resurgence on the current generation of hardware, including the HD release of the original two titles and the 2020 launch of Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
With the addition of the Switch 2 edition, the series continues to bridge its legacy—which began on the GameCube in 2001—with modern platform features. Given the focus on leaderboard-driven content in the new Dandori Academy mode, it remains to be seen if these competitive elements will be integrated into the base game's campaign or remain strictly as standalone weekend challenges.
