Where Are the Indie Games for Switch 2?
▼ Summary
– Many indie developers, including Gareth Damian Martin, were unable to launch games on Switch 2 due to limited access to development kits.
– Nintendo prioritized Switch 2 dev kits for games requiring the console’s enhanced capabilities, leaving many indies without early access.
– Major game engines like Unity and Unreal already support Switch 2, but indie studios still face delays in obtaining dev kits for testing and development.
– The Switch 2’s improved specs and competition from high-profile titles like Cyberpunk 2077 pose challenges for indie developers on the platform.
– Indie developers and publishers are urging Nintendo for clearer communication and faster distribution of dev kits to avoid a potential content drought.
The absence of indie games on the Switch 2 at launch has left many developers waiting for their chance to join Nintendo’s next-gen platform. While major titles like Deltarune and No Man’s Sky made the cut, smaller studios are still struggling to secure development kits, raising questions about accessibility for independent creators.
Gareth Damian Martin, developer of Citizen Sleeper 2, expressed disappointment at missing the launch window. “I would’ve loved to see our game on Switch 2 from day one,” they admit. The sentiment is echoed across the indie scene, where limited access to dev kits has slowed progress. Tony Gowland of Ant Workshop notes this mirrors the original Switch’s early days, when kits were scarce for months after release.
Nintendo appears to be prioritizing projects that leverage the Switch 2’s enhanced capabilities, according to Gowland. “Teams working on games that need the extra power seem to be getting kits first,” he explains. Backward compatibility means most Switch titles run smoothly on the new console, but without early access, many developers couldn’t test their games beforehand.
Chris Wright of Fellow Traveller, publisher of Citizen Sleeper 2, acknowledges the challenges. “It’s normal for kits to be restricted around launch,” he says. Still, the lack of clarity on when indies might gain access remains frustrating. “We’d love clearer communication from Nintendo about timelines,” Wright adds. “Knowing when kits will be available would help us plan better.”
The technical groundwork is already in place, with both Unity and Unreal Engine offering full Switch 2 support. Unity even developed Survival Kids as an exclusive to test its tools. Unreal Engine 5’s compatibility opens doors for ports of high-end titles, though developers may need to optimize for the Switch 2’s handheld limitations.
GameMaker, the engine behind Deltarune, also prepared early. Russell Kay, its senior product manager, recalls strict security measures during development. “Only a handful of people had access to the kits,” he says. While more studios are gradually gaining approval, Kay confirms Nintendo hasn’t fully opened the gates yet.
The Switch 2’s improved hardware brings both opportunities and challenges for indies. While the new eShop addresses past discoverability issues, competition from AAA ports like Cyberpunk 2077 could overshadow smaller titles. The rise of PC handhelds like the Steam Deck adds another layer of complexity, potentially diverting indie focus away from Nintendo’s ecosystem.
Looking ahead, developers hope for faster kit distribution to avoid a content drought. “Next year’s pipeline is a concern,” Wright admits. “We’d love to see Nintendo speed things up now that launch is behind them.” Kay remains optimistic, predicting a flood of Switch 2 games within a year. “The library will grow,” he assures. “Patience will pay off.”
For now, indie creators are left waiting, eager to bring their visions to Nintendo’s latest platform but held back by logistical hurdles. The question isn’t if more indies will arrive on Switch 2, but when.
(Source: Games Industry)
