The Nintendo Switch 2’s launch lineup just got better thanks to Sonic

By Patrick Hearn Published April 23, 2025

Old Sonic runs away from Metal Sonic in Sonic Generations X Shadow. — Sega

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup just got a lot more enticing for Sega fans, with Sonic X Shadows Generations, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S all receiving June 5 release dates. Preorders for these titles (and more) start April 24, and each of these three titles have been improved to offer Nintendo Switch 2 players a little something extra.

Sonic X Shadow Generations has enhanced graphics and gameplay, and also includes a total remaster of Sonic Generations with bonus content. It’s particularly appealing for fans of Sonic lore and explains exactly what Shadow is considered the “ultimate lifeform.” You can preorder the game for $50 starting tomorrow.

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Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is more of the same puzzle game you know and love, but it comes with new features and game modes. The Puyo Tetris Doubles Mode takes advantage of the Switch 2 mouse controls and introduces 2v2 battles on a single board. There’s also a lineup of 40 different playable characters, including familiar faces from Sonic the Hedgehog. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is expected to be $40.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut comes with a new trailer that highlights never-before-seen cutscenes and story content and a brand-new multiplayer mode called Red Light Raid that joins players together to bring down hordes of enemies. There are also a slew of new subtitle languages available to bring the game to even more players across the globe. Like Sonic, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut will retail for $50.

In addition to these three new launch titles, the long-awaited RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army will launch on June 19, and Two Point Museum will launch later in the year. The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup continues to grow with multiple cross-generational titles and several Switch 2 exclusives that make the console an even more appealing buy.

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Gaming

Nintendo reveals which games aren’t backwards compatible with Switch 2

The Switch 2 next to a TV with Mario Kart.

Ahead of the Switch 2's June 5 launch, Nintendo provided an update on which Switch games aren't fully backwards compatible with the new console. The list includes several games with issues that are currently being investigated, as well as some video streaming apps.

Ever since the Switch 2's announcement, Nintendo has been vague about what Switch games would and wouldn't work on its new console. Many fans previously assumed that backwards compatibility issues would be limited to games that utilized the Joy-con's IR sensors. Nintendo has now clarified exactly what won't work on the new system, as well as what games currently have problems that it plans to address around launch day.

Gaming

6 Nintendo Switch games we can’t wait to replay on Switch 2

Nintendo music key art that spotlights several different franchises.

The most exciting thing about unboxing your brand new game console is booting up a new experience that shows off what that upgraded hardware can do. The Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup isn't thin by any means, but aside from Mario Kart World, most of it is made up of ports like Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. Plus, it can be a big strain on your wallet to buy a new console and more than a couple of games.

That's where backwards compatibility becomes such a valuable feature. We know that a select few major Switch games are getting special Switch 2 editions, but other games will also benefit from the more powerful hardware. After the dust has settled and we're waiting for the next upcoming Switch 2 game, these are the six Switch games we plan on replaying on Switch 2.

Gaming

The Switch 2’s most important launch game isn’t Mario Kart World

Peach jumping on a motorcyle in Mario Kart World.

On June 5, the Nintendo Switch 2 will finally grace us with its presence. Nintendo is rolling out the big guns for the big day too, as it will launch the system with Mario Kart World. The racing game is all but assured to be a hit, giving the console a Breath of the Wild-like water cooler game that everyone will be playing at the same time. A lot is riding on that one game, as it has the burden of being the Switch 2's all-important killer app. If it fails to move millions of units in its first month, Nintendo might have to rethink its whole strategy for its new generation. While those are some high stakes, they're ones that Mario Kart World will realistically clear without issue.

With that in mind, there's another Switch 2 launch game coming on June 5 that's just as important, if not more so, from my perspective. That would be Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. While it won't be crucial to Nintendo's bottom line, it's the first real test of the hardware, which looks to make a name for itself in a much more crowded portable landscape than the one the original Switch launched in.