The tweet by Nintendo of America that made all people think a lot and even gave a little hype?? Little Nightmares III has just come out, a piece of good news for the fans of the terrifying story. Yet the platform listing is the main surprise. The Tweet informs that it is available for Nintendo Switch and… Nintendo Switch 2. Yes, you did hear it right. The console which, according to all, has not even been officially declared by Nintendo yet. So, what’s really going on? Is this a gigantic unintentional leak, or just a very strange mistake that makes the whole gaming community ponder?
The tweet from Nintendo America is a mixture of spookiness and inviting players to a message ‘hold your hands tight’ and come back to the Nowhere. The atmosphere is exactly that which Little Nightmares is characterized by, that unsettlingly soothing ambiance and intelligent environmental puzzles. The third saga’s release should be nothing but a relaxed celebrating period. But then that hashtag comes up. #NintendoSwitch2. And the next second the comments section is filled up with perplexity.
One user, Chirag S kotian, put it in a very good way. “sigh Another day, another premature announcement for a game on a console that doesn’t officially exist.” That pretty much encapsulates the mood. Why is a top-tier account referring to a gadget that is yet to be disclosed? Is this a kind of secret, unannounced reveal that just… happened? Or was there a major slip of the tongue in the social media department, and they accidentally mixed up their drafts? It’s the kind of mystery that is almost more captivating than the game itself, and that is quite a statement considering how enthralling Little Nightmares is.
The reactions were not only chaotic but also mixed with excitement, which was anticipated. Some players were really happy, like Chirag (again!) who admitted he is a huge fan and couldn’t wait to plunge back into that world, even asking if the game would leverage any of the Switch 2’s unique features. That’s the thing, people are already imagining the possibilities.
One of the players was just fooling around, like Shadow Survival, who wanted to know if they were sure that “the little nightmare isn’t a big nightmare?” which is a legitimate point. And then there’s the guy, Noob Bacon, who is facing the most relatable gamer problem, saying he would love to play but is broke “from buying the accessories for the ‘Welcome Tour’” and now, “on the streets with a Switch 2 that I try to keep charging in a fucking Walmart.” The drama is definitely real, folks.
There is another aspect of this situation, however. The Switch 2 reference is significant since Nintendo has been very careful about communicating anything related to a successor to the highly popular Switch. It has long been speculated, but for a company to casually mention it in an announcement for a game release? That has never been done before. It either suggests that the console is about to be launched or that it is the funniest corporate slip since… well, since the last one. Another user, Lost, simply begged “Nintendo switch 2 achievements please,” showing that gamers are already thinking about the next-gen features.
We should not overlook the game itself, Little Nightmares III. The series’ fate is still determined by its graphics, gameplay tension, and the invasive grotesque baby characters trying to survive in a large monstrous land. “Escape the Nightmare” hints at the return of the same fear-inducing experience. For the gamers who have been keeping track of the plot, a journey back to the Nowhere is a good thing. One gamer, Pixel, articulated it as “Welp, looks like we’re diving back into the Nightmare. Wish me luck, folks!” That’s the spirit.
Still, the whole scenario gives rise to a strange paradox. In what way can one be thrilled over a game that is played on a non-existent console? It’s like receiving an invitation to a party at an address that is still under construction. The excitement surrounding Little Nightmares III is indeed authentic, but it is now entirely enveloped in the mystery of the Nintendo Switch 2’s unclear existence.
Some comments even went so far as to talk about the upgrade paths being a nuisance, with JoMnT2 asking why original game owners can’t get a free update to an enhanced edition on the new hardware, which is a whole different can of worms that gamers are very sensitive about.
So what happens next? Well, Little Nightmares III has been launched. Most likely, you can start playing it on your regular Nintendo Switch right now if you want to. But the Switch 2 mention is going to linger for some time. It is the ghost in the machine, the uninvited guest at the release party. This is either the most bizarre way of teasing the beginning of a new console generation or a social media manager having the absolute worst day ever.
Regardless, the gaming community is waiting closely, watching for either a confirmation of the future by Nintendo or a correction to be made. For now, the nightmare has come back and so has the side of delicious, puzzling speculation. Meanwhile, players on PlayStation and Xbox continue enjoying their own gaming experiences.
