The Nintendo Switch continues to be a hit for the company, with a steady stream of quality releases being made available to players.Kirby and the Forgotten Landjust launched, andSplatoon 3is due out in September. However, for some gamers,Bayonetta 3is the main attraction, as the threequel has been a long time coming. In a time when many major video games are consistently delayed, Nintendo assures fans thatBayonetta 3will still launch sometime in 2022.That being said, Nintendo and PlatinumGames have yet to announce an actual release date forBayonetta 3, and with the year nearly halfway over, there is some cause for concern that it may end up being pushed to 2023 in the end. However, if the studios are adamant that the game will indeed launch on Switch this year, then taking a look at past release strategies as well as the console’s upcoming lineup, can help give an idea of whenBayonetta 3may land.RELATED:Platinum Games Hints at New Gameplay Types in Bayonetta 3
The Rest of Nintendo’s 2022 Lineup
With several months left in the year, Nintendo looks to have spaced out its many titles to give everything a chance to shine.Splatoon 3is scheduled for September, whilePokemon: ScarletandPokemon: Violetare likely launching in November, making them the big games going into the holiday season. Even before that isXenoblades Chronicles 3, which recently moved up from September to a launch in July, and thenMario Strikers: Battle Leaguewhich will kick onto the Switch in June.
This gives Switch owners a healthy amount of options to choose from and touches upon nearly every genre and interest, ensuring there’s something for everyone. However, based on this information, the month of October is noticeably empty, lacking a standout title to call its own. While nothing has been confirmed, Nintendo could be leaving that month open asBayonetta 3’s time in the spotlight. As stated,Xenoblade Chronicles 3recently moved away from a September releaseand that really shows its 1 major game per month plan.
Nintendo’s Reveal/Release Strategy
Generally speaking, Nintendo keeps things quiet on its upcoming projects until closer to the planned release date. There are of course exceptions to this, asBreath of the Wild 2has been revealedwell before its launch, but the game is still very much a mystery at this point. Nintendo likes to have a huge blowout for information and gameplay reveals to build hype just a few months before a game is available.Super Smash Bros Ultimatewas the company’s main focus at E3 2018 before its release in December of that year, as an example.
Bearing that in mind,Bayonetta 3still has yet to do a deep dive into its many features, changes to combat, and other aspects of the game. As of now, all gamers have had is a brief teaser in 2017 and a proper reveal trailer late last year. If October is the month that Nintendo is zeroing in on releasingBayonetta 3, then a full-on showcase for the game may be right around the corner, perhaps in an upcomingNintendo Direct presentation. The only other month without a major title is December, but even then the same logic would apply, based on theSuper Smash Bros Ultimateexample above. Between the two, however, October seems like a better fit forBayonetta 3.
Of course, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt, and nothing is confirmed until Nintendo itself says otherwise. All the same though, if the company is truly confident thatBayonetta 3will be available before 2022 is over, time is running out and there are only a few clear options for where the game can fit snuggly in the upcoming Nintendo Switch game lineup. Hopefully, Nintendo orPlatinumGamessheds some light on when players can play the game in the near future.
