Honestly, it feels like we spent a decade in a fever dream waiting for this game. If you were lurking on Nintendo forums back in 2015, you probably remember that famous Shigeru Miyamoto interview where he casually dropped that Pikmin 4 was "very close to completion." We all thought we’d be playing it by Christmas. Instead, we got eight years of radio silence, a 3DS spinoff that nobody asked for, and enough "is it canceled?" rumors to fill a Spreadsheet.
The wait finally ended when the Pikmin 4 release date officially landed on July 21, 2023.
But here’s the thing: people still get the timeline mixed up because of how messy that development cycle was. It wasn't just a late game; it was a total reimagining of what the series could be. Now that we’re well into 2026, looking back at that launch reveals why the date kept slipping and how the game has actually changed since you last checked your Switch library.
Why the Pikmin 4 release date took forever
Nintendo is usually a "keep it close to the chest" kind of company, but Pikmin 4 was the exception. Miyamoto’s 2015 comments weren't a lie, exactly, but they were definitely... optimistic.
Director Yuji Kando eventually cleared the air, explaining that while a small team had a "shape" of the game early on, they kept getting pulled away to higher-priority projects. Basically, Pikmin 4 was the project that kept getting its lunch money stolen by Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
When they finally sat down to finish it, they didn't just polish up an old Wii U build. They moved the whole thing to Unreal Engine 4. That’s a massive technical shift for a first-party Nintendo title. It explains the jump in visual fidelity—those high-res textures on the "treasures" (aka human trash) look startlingly real compared to the stylized blur of Pikmin 3.
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What actually happened on July 21, 2023?
The launch wasn't just a "here’s the game, goodbye" moment. Nintendo went hard on making sure this wasn't just another niche RTS.
- The Demo Factor: A massive demo dropped on June 29, 2023. It let you play the entire first area and carry over your save. This was a genius move. It hooked people who were intimidated by the "scary" time limits of the older games.
- Sales Numbers: By the end of 2023, it had already moved 3.33 million units. To put that in perspective, it outperformed Pikmin 3 Deluxe by nearly 45% in its first week in the UK.
- The "Oatchi" Effect: July 21st wasn't just about Pikmin; it was about the dog. Oatchi changed the game’s DNA. Suddenly, you weren't just managing a crowd; you had a mount, a tank, and a second commander all in one.
It’s worth noting that the game we have now in 2026 is actually different from the version that launched that summer.
The secret "second" release: The 2025 updates
If you haven't touched the game since the Pikmin 4 release date in 2023, you’ve missed a lot. Nintendo didn't do traditional paid DLC, but they dropped a massive "Version 1.1.1" and subsequent patches that changed the balance significantly.
Most notably, the November 2025 update added the "Fierce" and "Relaxed" difficulty modes. Veterans complained that the base game was too easy because of the rewind feature. Nintendo listened. The Fierce mode caps your Pikmin count at 60 (total Pikmin 3 vibes) and makes enemies way more aggressive. On the flip side, Relaxed mode makes the creatures leave you alone unless you swing first, which is great for just zoning out.
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They also integrated "Decor Pikmin" from the Pikmin Bloom mobile app. It’s a small touch, but seeing your squad wearing tiny hats and burger skins makes the "Rescue Command" feel a lot more personal.
Common misconceptions about the launch
I see people asking if there was a "Switch 2" version at launch. No. Pikmin 4 was strictly a base Switch title.
However, we did see those eShop listings in late 2025 that hinted at "enhanced" features for the newer hardware. If you’re playing on a Switch 2 today, you’re getting a more stable frame rate and those nasty screen-flicker fixes that rolled out in June 2025. It’s the same game, just... less crunchy.
Another weird myth: "The game was rebooted three times."
Probably not. While the engine changed, the core concept of the "Dandori" challenges—that's Japanese for "efficient planning"—was always the North Star. The developers wanted to focus on the satisfaction of work, not just the stress of survival.
What you should do now
If you’re just getting into it or thinking about a second playthrough, keep these three things in mind:
- Don't skip the Night Missions: They felt like a weird tower-defense side quest at launch, but they’re essential for the "Glow Pikmin," which are arguably the most broken (in a good way) units in the series.
- Check your version number: Make sure you’re on at least Version 1.1.2. The auto-target lock-on was famously sticky at launch, and they finally added a toggle for it. Your sanity will thank you.
- Sync with Pikmin Bloom: If you still play the mobile game, the cross-progression rewards for your Nintendo Account are actually decent now, including exclusive Mii outfits and Decor types that didn't exist in 2023.
Pikmin 4 might have taken nearly a decade to arrive, but it’s arguably the most "complete" feeling game Nintendo has released in the Switch era. It’s weird, it’s cozy, and it’s occasionally brutal—exactly what we waited all those years for.
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Next Steps: If you're still working through the post-game, head back to the Sun-Speckled Terrace and try the new "Fierce" difficulty setting. It completely changes how you approach the early-game caves, forcing you to actually care about every single Pikmin death again. Also, make sure to check the "Nautical Notes" section in the Nintendo Music app for the latest Brothership-inspired tracks that were added to the game's soundscape earlier this month.