Nintendo has announced that it will discontinue support for two major games—Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Animal Crossing: New Horizons—on the Nintendo Switch, citing a shift in platform compatibility and long-term maintenance challenges. The decision comes amid Nintendo's broader strategy to transition toward next-generation hardware and optimize software support for newer systems. While neither game will be removed from the Switch's library immediately, players will no longer receive online updates, DLC releases, or technical support for these titles after a specified end-of-life date in early 2025. This marks a significant departure from Nintendo's traditionally long-term software support, underscoring the company's move to focus on future platforms, including the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions from fans. Supporters argue that the move reflects a natural evolution in gaming, while others express disappointment over the loss of active online communities, particularly in Smash Bros., where competitive multiplayer remains strong. Nintendo emphasized that both games will remain playable on existing hardware, and digital purchases will still be accessible to users who own them. However, new players will no longer be able to access online features or future content. This shift highlights Nintendo’s increasing emphasis on hardware lifecycle management and cloud-based gaming integration—signaling a new era in how the company approaches game longevity and platform transitions.

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Limited Run Games Requests Temporary Delisting of Gex Trilogy from Nintendo Switch 2 eShop

In a recent statement, Limited Run Games has formally requested that Nintendo temporarily delist the Gex Trilogy from the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop, pending resolution of a critical backward compatibility issue affecting the remastered release.

The publisher cited unforeseen delays in firmware patch approval—attributed to the U.S. Juneteenth federal holiday—as the reason the corrective patch for Gex Trilogy will not be released this week. Although Limited Run submitted the fix last week, approval was postponed, prompting the company to seek Nintendo’s cooperation in suspending sales until the issue is resolved.

The Gex Trilogy—a remaster of the iconic 1990s platformer series featuring the sarcastic, pop-culture-quoting gecko—was released on June 16 across PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch/Switch 2, and last-gen platforms. Originally developed for 3DO and later ported to PlayStation, Saturn, and PC, the series returned to modern audiences under a new remaster by Square Enix, marking the franchise’s first official release in over two decades.

While a recent firmware update has resolved backward compatibility issues for most Switch 1-era titles on the Switch 2, Gex Trilogy remains incompatible due to unresolved technical challenges. Limited Run confirmed it has prepared a targeted patch, but its deployment is contingent upon Nintendo’s final approval.

"Without certainty on when Nintendo's firmware would address the GEX Trilogy issue, we submitted our patch last week," Limited Run explained. "The Juneteenth holiday postponed approval, but we anticipate deploying the fix early next week. Meanwhile, we've requested Nintendo to remove the game from the Switch 2 eShop. We appreciate players' patience as we collaborate with Nintendo on this solution."

The publisher also urged players to verify whether other previously affected titles now function properly, referencing a checklist of confirmed fixes:

• Clock Tower: Rewind
• Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection
• Tomba! Special Edition
• River City Girls Zero
• A Boy and His Blob Collection
• Rocket Knight Adventures
• Shantae
• Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection
• Xtreme Sports
• Trip World DX
• Felix the Cat
• Rendering Ranger R-2: Rewind

Despite a strong launch for the Nintendo Switch 2, with 3.5 million units sold in its first week, third-party performance has varied. While major titles have seen robust adoption, the Gex Trilogy issue highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring seamless backward compatibility for select remasters.

Limited Run Games continues to work closely with Nintendo to restore access to the game as soon as the patch is approved. Players are encouraged to monitor official channels for updates.

Note: The Gex Trilogy remains available on other platforms, including PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. The Switch 2 version remains temporarily unavailable in the eShop until the fix is approved and deployed.