Phil Spencer Reaffirms Support for Switch 2, Praises Nintendo Partnership

Following the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, the partnership between Nintendo and Xbox appears poised to continue and evolve. Phil Spencer, Microsoft's head of gaming, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Switch platform, emphasizing its importance in reaching gamers who aren't on Xbox or PC.

In a recent interview with Variety, Spencer was asked about specific projects planned for the Nintendo Switch 2. He reiterated Xbox's strategy of supporting the new console, much like they have with the original Switch.

"Nintendo has been a great partner," Spencer stated. "We think it is a unique way for us to reach players who aren’t PC players, who aren’t players on Xbox. It lets us continue to grow our community of people that care about the franchises that we have, and that’s really important for us to make sure we continue to invest in our games."

He further expressed his admiration for Nintendo's role in the gaming industry and the mutual support between the two companies. "I’m really a big believer in what Nintendo means for this industry and us continuing to support them. And getting the support from them for our franchises, I think, is an important part of our future."

Spencer has been a vocal advocate for the Nintendo Switch 2, praising Nintendo's innovative approach even during the console's initial teaser phase. He confirmed that Xbox aims to expand its game distribution across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Steam, and Nintendo's consoles.

When questioned about whether the Switch 2 reveal spurred any urgency in announcing Xbox's upcoming console plans, Spencer remained focused on Xbox's current strategy. "No. I think all of us in this industry should focus on our communities and the player base that we’re building," he said. "I get inspired by what a lot of different creators do and other platform holders. But I believe in the plans that we have."

Spencer reiterated Xbox's commitment to making its games available "in as many places as possible," including cloud, PC, and consoles. Titles like Pentiment and Obsidian's Grounded have already been ported to Nintendo platforms, and it will be interesting to see which Xbox games make their way to the Switch 2 once it launches.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to officially debut on June 5, 2025. While pre-orders have not yet started, interested buyers should keep an eye on our Switch 2 pre-order hub page for updates on when pre-orders will become available.