Hades II Will Be a Timed Exclusive on Nintendo Switch 2

Like its predecessor, Hades II will be a timed console exclusive for Nintendo. In a video published on Nintendo’s official channel, Supergiant Games confirmed that the roguelike will launch first on Switch 2 before arriving on other consoles. A release date, however, has yet to be nailed down. The strategy follows the same playbook used for the first Hades. Back then, the game launched simultaneously on PC and Nintendo Switch but took almost a year to become available on PlayStation and Xbox. It’s still unclear if the Switch exclusivity will last just as long for the new game.

Besides the partnership with Nintendo, the video features Greg Kasavin, director of Hades and Hades II, talking briefly about Supergiant’s story and the studio’s development process. Early in the video, he says he never imagined the studio would have another shot at making good games after its first project, Bastion. Fortunately, the studio has gone much further than that.

Hades 2 Will Launch First on Switch 2

Hades 1 is available on almost every platform, including mobile devices via Netflix. Its successor, Hades 2, is still in early access exclusively on Steam. Released in May 2024 in its test version, the game already offers more content than the original title but hasn’t received a definitive release window yet. Since early access launched, the game has been getting new updates, adding content like weapons, new areas, characters, storylines, and bosses. According to SteamDB, Hades 2 has already surpassed 100,000 concurrent players, while the first Hades peaked at 50,000.

The biggest catch with this strategy of securing Switch 2 exclusives is the uncertainty surrounding the console’s own release in some markets. Due to Trump's tariffs, Nintendo has said it will delay Switch 2 pre-orders in the US and Canada. The company reiterated that the console is still set to launch on June 5, but pre-orders will remain closed until further notice. In other regions of the world, like the UK, Switch 2 pre-orders sold out within minutes, though retailers are expected to restock soon.

Hades 2 is another third-party title showing support for the Switch 2 launch. FromSoftware itself will release a Nintendo-exclusive game with The Duskbloods, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki himself. If you enjoyed the first Hades and are looking forward to the second, keep an eye on our price comparison tool to find the cheapest Hades II CD Keys. The game is scheduled to launch in 2025 for PC, Switch 1, and Switch 2.