Monster Hunter Wilds, Rayman Revival, and The DuskBloods: Big Moves Brewing for Switch 2

Nintendo's next big reveal is getting a lot of attention, and three big names are at the center of it all: Monster Hunter Wilds, Rayman, and The DuskBloods. New data-mining findings, anniversary teases, and targeted advertising campaigns suggest the Nintendo Switch 2 might be gearing up for a wave of big announcements.

The most important change is happening around Monster Hunter Wilds. What seemed like a guess at first is now looking more and more like a sure thing. Earlier data mining found several references to the Nintendo Switch 2 in the game's code, sparking early rumors that Capcom was working on a port. 

The fact that there is still proof has made fans even more sure that the game will come out on Nintendo's new hardware—the question is now when.

Now, some of those mentions are said to have been removed, but the files still include illustrations of local multiplayer between multiple Switch 2 systems. Capcom's approach may also be affected by how sales are going. Monster Hunter Wilds didn't get a lot of attention after it came out last year, especially in Japan.

A developer even said that the PlayStation 5's performance in that area might have played a role in the game not reaching its full potential. As the number of Nintendo Switch 2s being sold in Japan grows quickly, the business case for bringing the series over becomes stronger. There's also a history of this. Dragon Quest and other big titles have become more popular on Nintendo systems in Japan, and Capcom would probably want to reach those people.

Given how important optimization has been for Monster Hunter Wilds—especially after early performance problems on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One—a Switch 2 version would need to be fine-tuned with great care. Mistakes in performance, especially on a brand-new machine advertised as portable, could hurt how people see it.

When a possible reveal might happen depends on when Nintendo's next Direct is.

Some fans weren't impressed by the recent partner demo, but now everyone is looking forward to what many people think will be a bigger and better Nintendo Direct in the next few months, maybe in March or April.

Nintendo still has a few first-party projects that need more information and release dates. Games like Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave, Yoshi: The Mysterious Book, and Splatoon Raiders are all likely to get longer trailers. Adding a big third-party game like Monster Hunter Wilds to that list would make the Switch 2's 2026 lineup a lot stronger.

If Capcom is really making the game work better with Nintendo's hardware, a big Direct would be the best place to say so.

Capcom's plans seem to be coming together behind the scenes, but Ubisoft is talking more about its own famous series. Ubisoft has said more is coming, though they aren't saying exactly what. They did this to celebrate Rayman's 30th anniversary.

Rayman has been one of Ubisoft's most famous characters since his first appearance in 1995. Recently, the company released a statement about the event. It called the party "the first step in the brand's comeback" and said it was looking forward to sharing more news soon.

Rayman Legends, the most recent big entry, came out when the Wii U and PlayStation 3 were new. It was one of the best 2D platformers of its time. Even though the game got good reviews and was ported to many other platforms, Ubisoft has said in the past that it had hoped for better sales.

There are signs that energy is building up within the company again. It is said that developers who worked on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown were moved to work on Rayman-related projects after that game didn't do as well as expected. That makes it sound like something has been planned for a while.

Because Rayman has worked with Nintendo platforms before, as in Mario + Rabbids, and because the brand is strongly linked to the Wii era, a Nintendo Direct reveal would make strategic sense. A new Rayman game that works well on Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC might have better marketing coordination and a better business climate than it did in 2013.

Modern 2D graphics and changing trends in game design could also help Rayman stand out in the market, especially if Ubisoft puts it in the right place.

The DuskBloods, on the other hand, may be the most interesting development. A Finnish store briefly mentioned March 27 as the release date before taking it down, which was mostly seen as a placeholder. But more solid proof has since emerged: Nintendo has started running online ads for the game in some places, such as Australia and New Zealand.

When you see that kind of paid advertising, it usually means that something bigger is coming soon, like a dedicated Direct-style showcase or a presentation for developers.

The DuskBloods are a big change. It was made by FromSoftware with money straight from Nintendo. While FromSoftware games are usually released on PlayStation and Xbox, and sometimes even have deals that make them exclusive, this project is said to be available only on the Nintendo Switch 2 because Nintendo is releasing and distributing it.

People have compared this to the situation with Bayonetta 2, which Nintendo funded after other companies turned down the sequel. Nintendo seems to be betting that FromSoftware's large global fan base will bring new players into the Switch 2 environment.

The DuskBloods is different from other single-player FromSoftware games like Elden Ring because it is said to be a multiplayer-focused game with both PvE and PvP features. Fans who like the studio's story-driven, solo adventures are both excited and cautiously optimistic about this change in structure.

If Nintendo wants The DuskBloods to be a key Switch 2 game, a focused showcase that covers how to play, multiplayer, and available single-player choices would probably help make that clear.

All of these signs point to the same thing: Nintendo and its partners seem to be preparing for a major information drop. Capcom is finishing up optimization for Monster Hunter Wilds, Ubisoft is bringing Rayman back for a new generation, and FromSoftware is putting out The DuskBloods, a bold multiplayer project.

This is a very important year for Nintendo. The Switch 2's long-term path will depend a lot on the software that comes out first. Strong third-party support and exciting first-party releases could strengthen the system's position in Japan and worldwide. There are many signs that a big Direct is coming up, and when it does, it may include proof that fans have been waiting for months.