The long wait for the Nintendo Switch 2's true potential to be realized is finally over. While the console hit shelves mid-2025, this week marks the beginning of the January Wave, a massive influx of software that promises to define the 2026 gaming calendar. With confirmed specs for the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition revealing stunning 4K visuals and the imminent arrival of the sandbox giant Hytale, Nintendo is starting the year with unprecedented momentum. If you've been waiting for a reason to upgrade, the next few days are delivering the killer apps we've been promised.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition Stuns with 4K & New Controls
Nintendo has officially dropped the final performance specifications for the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition ahead of its January 15 launch, and the upgrade is far more substantial than a simple resolution bump. The headline feature is native 4K resolution in TV mode, transforming your island getaway with crisp, high-fidelity textures that were previously impossible on the original hardware. Handheld players aren't left out, with the game locking to a rock-solid 1080p on the Switch 2's OLED screen.
Perhaps the most game-changing addition is the new control scheme utilizing the Joy-Con 2's pointer capabilities. Players can now use mouse-like cursor controls to decorate interiors and design custom patterns with precision, addressing one of the community's longest-standing requests. The update also expands multiplayer capabilities, allowing for up to 12 players on a single island with no performance hiccups, thanks to the console's increased RAM overhead. A free Version 3.0 update will roll out simultaneously for existing owners, though the 4K assets and pointer controls remain exclusive to the new hardware.
Hytale Finally Enters Early Access on January 13
After a tumultuous development cycle that saw the project cancelled by Riot Games and subsequently bought back by its original founders, Hytale is finally ready for the public. Hypixel Studios has confirmed the game will enter Early Access on January 13, 2026—just two days from now. This launch is a significant victory for the independent development scene, as the team has reverted to a "legacy engine" build to deliver the gameplay fans fell in love with back in the 2018 trailer, rather than the troubled cross-platform rewrite.
Early reports from the closed beta suggest that while the game is still in a raw state, the core pillars of adventure and creativity are intact. The Switch 2 version (launching alongside PC) supports cross-progression and takes advantage of the system's SSD for near-instant chunk loading. While the "Frankenstein" nature of the build means bugs are expected, the $19.99 entry price point makes it an attractive proposition for sandbox fans hungry for the next Minecraft successor.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade & The RPG Renaissance
The January Wave isn't just about life sims and blocks; it's also a massive month for RPG enthusiasts. Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will land on the Switch 2 eShop on January 22. In a surprising technical feat, the port reportedly offers two graphical modes: a "Fidelity Mode" running at 4K/30fps and a "Performance Mode" targeting 1080p/60fps. This level of optimization was a major question mark for the handheld hybrid, but early previews indicate the Switch 2 is punching well above its weight class.
Joining Cloud Strife later this month is Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Jan 22) and The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (Jan 15). This density of high-profile releases in a single two-week window suggests third-party publishers have finally unlocked the development kits' full potential, moving past the cross-gen growing pains of late 2025.
Backwards Compatibility: Your Library Just Got Better
For those still on the fence about upgrading, Nintendo's commitment to backwards compatibility remains a strong selling point. As confirmed last year and reiterated in this week's press briefings, virtually your entire digital and physical Switch library carries over. However, the Switch 2's "Game Boost" feature is the real star here. Titles like Pokémon Scarlet/Violet and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity—games notorious for performance issues—are reportedly running at stable frame rates on the new hardware without any developer patches required.
The only exceptions to full compatibility remain peripherals requiring the original Joy-Con rail dimensions, such as Nintendo Labo kits or Ring Fit Adventure (though a new Ring-Con adapter is rumored for March). For the vast majority of players, the Switch 2 is effectively the "Pro" model we always wanted, breathing new life into a decade of backlogs while ushering in the next generation of 4K Nintendo experiences.
