Minecraft is undergoing closed beta testing for the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of its scheduled release in October 2026.
This week, the most significant development in the Nintendo realm involves Minecraft and its transition to the Nintendo Switch 2, with a closed beta now live for selected players. According to My Nintendo News, this closed beta aims to smoothen out any remaining bugs before the general release, set for October 27, 2026. Nintendo Everything also notes that players who are part of the beta are receiving notifications directly on the game’s title screen, though the criteria for selection remain opaque. It is a part of preparations for a digital upgrade path, allowing existing users to transition smoothly to the Switch 2 version (Nintendo Life).
On the infrastructure front, Nintendo Everything reports a scheduled maintenance session, likely to temporarily impact Nintendo Switch Online services. This will involve downtime affecting Switch to Switch 2 data transfers and save data cloud management. Users should prepare for some disruptions as these sessions take place.
In gaming updates unrelated to Minecraft, the Japanese eShop saw updates for upcoming releases slated for August 13, 2026. Highlights include “CloverPit,” “Duskfade,” and “BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.” It’s a testament to the growing lineup of titles optimized for the upgraded hardware.
In the realm of game development, My Nintendo News provides insights from developers of “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book,” who have opted for a lower difficulty to enhance accessibility and enjoyment across all player demographics.
Meanwhile, Nintendo Life rounds up reviews for “Pokémon Pokopia: Bubbly Basin,” the newest addition to the Pokémon series expansion pass. It has been well-received with an 8/10 rating, praised for its immersive underwater theme.
Lastly, there is no announcement yet for “Octopath Traveler III,” although Nintendo Life reports that Team Asano acknowledges the anticipation surrounding a possible new title in the series. Fans will need to remain patient for updates.
