A senior Microsoft official reaffirmed the company’s commitment to bringing Xbox games to the Nintendo Switch 2. This move reaffirms the gaming giant’s current trend of cross-platform publishing, which has seen many former Xbox console exclusives appear on the original Switch.
Faced with declining sales in console markets and longer development cycles, Microsoft began increasing its gaming revenues through multi-platform releases starting early 2024. For instance, the newly announced Halo 1 remake is set for the PS5 release alongside the Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2026.
Switch 2 Didn’t Get Halo (Yet) but More Xbox Titles Are in the Works
Although the details about supporting the Switch 2 were not disclosed during the October 24 announcement, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated that the new console would indeed receive support from Xbox. In a recent interview with Famitsu prior to the announcement of Halo’s multi-platform strategy, he remarked, “We’re trying to lower the barriers for players to access our games,” emphasizing their initiatives like Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere. He also confirmed that Microsoft intends to continue releasing games for both the Switch 2 and PS5.
Spencer commended Nintendo for their “great support” during this multi-platform transition and echoed similar sentiments for PlayStation. His previous statements have reinforced Microsoft’s commitment to supporting the Switch 2 with Xbox games, recognizing Nintendo as a valuable partner.
While Halo isn’t scheduled for release on Nintendo’s platform just yet, another significant Microsoft franchise will be available: the Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is confirmed for the Switch 2 with a targeted launch in 2026. This will mark the first main Fallout title to appear on a Nintendo console, even though Fallout Shelter was previously ported to the Switch back in June 2018 before Microsoft acquired the franchise through ZeniMax Media.
All Xbox Games Released or Confirmed for Nintendo Switch Consoles
| Game | PC/Xbox Release | Switch / Switch 2 Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | November 18, 2011 | May 11, 2017 | |
| Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition | March 11, 2016 | September 27, 2019 | Published by Microsoft Studios |
| Minecraft Dungeons | May 26, 2020 | ||
| Quake (remaster) | August 19, 2021 | ||
| Minecraft Legends | April 18, 2023 | ||
| Quake 2 (remaster) | August 10, 2023 | ||
| Pentiment | November 15, 2022 | February 22, 2024 | |
| Grounded | September 27, 2022 | April 16, 2024 | |
| Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 | July 11, 2025 | ||
| Heretic + Hexen (remaster) | August 7, 2025 | Co-developed with Nightdive Studios. | |
| Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition | 2026 | Exact release date TBA. |
Xbox Game Studios also published Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but that title’s Switch version was published by Iam8bit, which is why it is excluded from the list above. Microsoft originally sporadically published titles on Nintendo systems since the Switch’s launch, with Heretic + Hexen and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 making their way to the Switch in the summer of 2025, while Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition represents Microsoft’s first title officially confirmed for the new Switch 2.
