Nintendo brings Pikmin 4 to Switch 2 with voice controls and timed challenges

Nintendo will release Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on November 12, following a playable demo arriving on the Nintendo eShop on November 2. Players who test the demo can carry over their saved progress to the full game. Existing owners of Pikmin 4 on the original Nintendo Switch can purchase an upgrade pack from the eShop rather than rebuying the entire release. [1]

The upgraded edition leverages the Switch 2's built-in microphone so players can speak voice commands directly to the canine companion Oatchi. It also introduces Dandori Academy, a mode featuring timed skill exams such as Gargantuan Garden, which tasks players with gathering gold nuggets before the clock expires. The mode includes limited-time weekend tests on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday alongside competitive leaderboards. [1][2]

The announcement arrived during a surprise Pikmin Day Direct hosted by Shigeru Miyamoto, which established November 1 as the first annual Pikmin Day and introduced Japanese actor Fuka Koshiba as a series ambassador. The updated release stands alongside an upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, scheduled for launch on November 5. [1][2]