Hades 2 Confirmed To Be A Console Launch Exclusive For Nintendo Switch 2
Hades 2 will be a Nintendo Switch 2 console exclusive at launch. Naturally a sequel to the original Hades, Hades 2 is a story-driven roguelike in which you play as Melinoë, sister to Hades 1 protagonist Zagreus and mentee to legendary witch Hecate, as she seeks to find and defeat the vengeful titan Chronos and free her family from his clutches. Hades 2 is still in early access and doesn't have a definitive release date just yet.
But we now know that when it does launch, Hades 2 only be available on PC, Switch, and Switch 2, according to a new announcement by developer Supergiant Games. In other words, it won't be on PlayStation or Xbox at launch, though ports are possible later. This is functionally identical to the original Hades' release strategy: on its own launch, it was only on PC and the original Switch. This was first revealed via a Nintendo press release last week, but was made more public as part of Supergiant's extensive Hades 2 FAQ, released on its website to provide updates on Hades 2's development progress and eventual launch.
But When Is Hades 2 Releasing?
Short Answer: We Still Don't Know
There's still a lot we don't know about Hades 2, though, including its actual release date. Hades 2 is currently in early access on Steam, as it has been for almost a year now. It's received pretty regular content updates, and is apparently due for at least one more, according to Supergiant.
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In other words, it's hard to say when Hades 2 will actually come out. We can assume that it's at least a few months away, since Supergiant is hedging its bets on launching for the Switch 2, which doesn't come out until June (possibly later, if tariff-related delays get any worse). But Hades 2's developer is leaving things decidedly open-ended. There's "at least" one more big update coming, but there could be even more later. For now, we'll just have to wait for further details from Supergiant and Nintendo.
What Makes Hades 2 A Great Fit For Switch 2
Hades 2 Is The Perfect Handheld Game
For a plethora of reasons, Hades 2 really is a perfect fit for Switch 2 - or for handheld consoles in general. I should know, as I only ever bought the original Hades as something to play on the Steam Deck, a purpose it served brilliantly. As roguelikes, Hades and its sequel have this brilliant plug-and-play style that lends itself well to portable gaming sessions; runs can be as long or as short as the dice decide. But at the same time, there are always new surprises to discover, and it all adds up cumulatively into an epic story worthy of its mythical inspirations.
Between that and the Switch 2's improved specs, Supergiant acknowledges, Hades 2 lends itself well to the console. In fact, as Studio Director Amir Rao says in the Creator's Voice feature above, the Switch 2's hardware allowed the team to push some of Hades 2's graphics further than ever before, while still allowing the game to play at a steady 60 frames per second on the platform.
Nintendo Switch 2 Has Me Worried For The Future Of Physical Games
With Switch 2 games becoming more expensive in multiple regions, one concerning change paints a bleak future for physical releases in general.
This is also a really heartwarming full-circle moment for Hades and the development team at Supergiant. Hades was a massive hit for this indie studio, in no small part because of its release on the Switch. That helped bring it to a wider audience that normally wouldn't seek out PC-exclusive indie games. It's one of many indie success stories borne out of Nintendo's embrace of third-party games on the original Switch, so it only seems fitting for the sequel game to come to the sequel console. For these reasons among many others, Switch 2 is the perfect platform for Hades 2.
Sources: Supergiant Games, Nintendo of America/YouTube
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