Nintendo seems like it's trying to bring every franchise it can muster to the Switch right now. In the last few years, Nintendo fans have seen the company stage unexpected revivals of nostalgic franchises, including Metroid, Mario Strikers, and even Wii Sports by way of Nintendo Switch Sports. In spite of all that, though, there's one Nintendo franchise that still has a somewhat complicated relationship with the Switch: Pikmin. Fans have been waiting for Pikmin 4 for more than seven years now, and yet Nintendo still hasn't released the game. That's in spite of repeated assurances that Pikmin 4 is in development and doing well.
It's really a shame that Pikmin 4 hasn't shown its face yet; the adorable puzzle strategy franchise is arguably one of Nintendo's unique IPs, thanks to the titular plant-like Pikmin and the various challenges players have to overcome with the help of Pikmin. Nevertheless, since Nintendo hasn't publicly canceled Pikmin 4, one can only assume that the game is still in the works for the Switch. If that's the case, then Pikmin 4 may thrive in the Switch's late years. The console will apparently stick around for a few more years, so Nintendo still has time to release Pikmin 4 as a core Switch game.
Pikmin 4's Eventual Release
The more content Nintendo reveals for 2022, the less likely it seems that Pikmin 4 will get a surprise release this year. The first half of 2022 is stacked so far thanks to Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Mario Strikers: Battle League, and Nintendo Switch Sports. Later in the year, Switch users have Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 to look forward to, alongside rumors of a new Fire Emblem game. With all these exciting games on their way, Pikmin 4 might struggle to get a word in edgewise if it tries to debut in 2022.
Thankfully, the Switch will remain Nintendo's flagship console for a little while yet, which means Pikmin 4 can wait to release until 2023 or so. 2022 looks like an exciting year for Nintendo fans, but the company still needs to hang on to a few new games in order to extend the Switch's lifespan. Releasing every game possible in 2022 could create a drought of Nintendo exclusives in the Switch's final years. That's why Pikmin 4's long journey through development might ultimately be a good thing. By waiting its turn, Pikmin 4 can be a cherry on top of the Switch's library as support for the console starts to wind down.
Pikmin's Place on the Switch
Odds do seem good that Pikmin 4 will release for the Switch, rather than remaining unseen until another Nintendo console rolls around. Pikmin 4 may be elusive, but the Pikmin franchise as a whole is actually doing well right now. Pikmin 3 Deluxe, an enhanced Switch port of the franchise's Wii U installation, has become the best-selling Pikmin game to date. Pikmin Bloom has also given the franchise a presence on mobile. Thanks to these games, there's a good appetite for a new mainline Pikmin installation right now, so Pikmin 4 would be very valuable to the Switch.
Pikmin 4 certainly occupies a strange place in the Nintendo library right now. Years ago, Shigeru Miyamoto assured fans that Pikmin 4 was going smoothly, but since then, Nintendo hasn't addressed the game. Nintendo's other Pikmin games don't give off the impression that the company has given up on the franchise, so development is probably just taking longer than expected. Pikmin 4 probably isn't destined for a 2022 release, but the game has good reason to release on the Switch sometime soon.
Pikmin 4 is reportedly in development.
