Why Microsoft Missing the Switch 2 Direct May Impact June's…

Ever since Microsoft announced last year that it was adopting a multiplatform business strategy, there have been numerous rumors about the prospect of former Xbox exclusives being released on the Nintendo Switch 2. Some credible insiders reported a few months ago that Microsoft had plans to launch Switch 2 ports of both Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 later this year, while others claimed that Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 were also on the docket. Because of this, prior to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, many pundits were convinced that Microsoft would have a major presence at the event.

In spite of all these leaks and rumors, the Switch 2 Direct came and went last week, but there was almost nothing Microsoft-related to be found. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, in fact, was the only Xbox first-party game at the showcase. Although it was a Microsoft-owned title, its presence at the Direct wasn't that surprising, given that it had already been announced for all modern platforms beforehand, including the original Nintendo Switch. Microsoft's relative absence at Nintendo's latest Direct may have disappointed some aspiring Switch 2 owners, but they shouldn't lose hope yet, as it's possible the company has some surprise multiplatform announcements in store for its own upcoming event, the June Xbox showcase.

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By Sarah Fields

Xbox Could Announce Some Switch 2 Ports at Its Upcoming June Showcase

Microsoft is Hosting a Major Games Showcase Later this Year

Microsoft confirmed earlier this week that its annual Xbox Games Showcase would return on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The company didn't provide many details about the event, but it did confirm that it would feature an extensive deep-dive presentation on Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming sci-fi RPG, The Outer Worlds 2. Notably, even though Microsoft did state that the Xbox Games Showcase would give players a sneak peek at some upcoming first- and third-party titles, it didn't mention anything about Xbox exclusives being featured at the event. This, of course, doesn't necessarily prove that there won't be any Xbox-only titles whatsoever, but it does give credence to the notion that many of the games at the event will indeed be multiplatform, a fact that Microsoft seemingly won't be afraid to hide.

Microsoft Will Likely Confirm Games for Switch 2 & PS5 During the Xbox Showcase

In January, Microsoft hosted an Xbox Developer Direct, where it showcased five titles that were coming to Xbox Game Pass. Interestingly, almost all the games shown were multiplatform titles, but instead of excluding that information from the event like it usually does, Microsoft explicitly mentioned that they would be released on PS5, which came as a big surprise to some. Commenting on this matter, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated that players should expect PlayStation and Nintendo logos to appear in Xbox showcases from now on, since Microsoft apparently wants to be more "honest and transparent" about where games are being released.

Excluding the games at the Xbox Developer Direct, Microsoft has already committed to releasing at least some of its titles on the Nintendo Switch 2. Phil recently said in an interview with Gamertag Radio that he is "really looking forward" to supporting Nintendo's forthcoming console, adding that he believes the system will be a massive success, just like the original Switch. This year's Call of Duty game will likely be one of the first titles that Microsoft will support the console with, as the company has signed a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring the FPS franchise to the Switch and Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Will Probably Be Able to Run Most Xbox Games

Taking Phil's statements into account, fans should probably expect to see a lot of Switch 2 and PS5 logos during the Xbox Games Showcase, even for major first-party titles like Halo and Gears. Microsoft's support for the original Switch was very limited, in part because the aging system could not handle the majority of the games that the Xbox manufacturer had developed. However, since the Nintendo Switch 2 is much more powerful than its predecessor, it will probably be able to run most, if not all, of the games that Microsoft makes.

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