Skip to main content

Kingdom Hearts games come to Nintendo Switch, but as Cloud versions

Near the end of today’s Super Smash Bros. “Mr. Sakurai Presents” video, Sakurai himself shared that the Kingdom Hearts franchise will be coming to Nintendo Switch. Kingdom Hearts – HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind will come to the console as cloud versions, meaning that they require a persistent internet connection in order to be played, even if the console is in handheld mode.

No release date was announced, though Sakurai shared that more information would be available at a later date.

Recommended Videos

The #KingdomHearts games are coming to #NintendoSwitch as cloud versions!

– KINGDOM HEARTS – HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX – Cloud Version
– KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Cloud Version
– KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind Cloud Version pic.twitter.com/ksKjd5jqhz

— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) October 5, 2021

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The collection of games includes all of the major entries in the Kingdom Hearts franchise alongside a couple of other remastered side entries. A remaster of the Nintendo 3DS game Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is included in the 2.8 packages for instance.

Fans have been asking to experience Kingdom Hearts on Switch for a while, particularly since competing consoles like the PlayStation 4 have hosted the series for a while, but there’s some discontent that the games will be accessible only via Cloud versions. Some fans are disappointed that they won’t be able to play the series on the go or while they don’t have a persistent internet connection, which is required for cloud gaming.

The news comes alongside the announcement of Sora as the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter and Sakurai’s last presentation. Nintendo has been teasing the final Smash character for a long time, most recently in September’s Nintendo Direct. Prior to today’s video, there was significant speculation as to who the final character was going to be. Many claimed it would be Sora, as unreleased Kingdom Hearts music had been leaked prior to the presentation.

Emily Morrow
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Emily Morrow is a games journalist and narrative designer who has written for a variety of online publications. If she’s…
I want the Nintendo Switch 2 to steal this one Wii U feature
A black and pink Switch 2 joy-con.

When Nintendo revealed the Switch 2, there was a tinge of disappointment in some corners of the internet over the fact that the console wasn't a major departure from the original Switch. It is still a hybrid console that you slide in and out of a dock to play games on the go or via your TV, only with prettier graphics, a bigger screen, and new Joy-cons. However, Nintendo still has a gimmick up its sleeve, only it isn't as in-your-face as it was with something like the Wii's motion controls.

The Switch 2's new Joy-cons aren't just bigger and magnetic but also appear to have new mouse-like functionality. This opens up the doors for a ton of new games we want to see on the Switch 2 that could take advantage of that unique control scheme.

Read more
How to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 on a blue background.

Now that the Switch 2 has made its official debut, everyone is ready to put their money down to get their hands on this new console. The initial trailer showcased just a glimpse of the system but did put many minds at ease by confirming backwards compatibility. Sadly, the one major piece of information we were hoping for, the release date, was missing from the reveal. We know it is coming in 2025, and that there will be events held around the world to play it early, but most of us just want to preorder the system so we know we will have it when it does finally launch. You can't technically preorder the Switch 2 quite yet, but we can show you how to be the first to know when you can.
How to preorder the Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer

As of the time of this writing, preorders for the Switch 2 are not open at any retailer. We suspect they will open once the full release date and price is shared, likely on April 2 during the next Direct. However, there are some retailers that are currently allowing customers to sign up for email notifications when preorders become available. Here are all the current places you can go to sign up for notifications:
Best Buy
You can visit the Best Buy store and sign up for their email notifications. Emails will include information about the console, but also games and other things related to the Switch 2.
GameStop
GameStop has launched its product page for the Switch 2 and also offers emails related to pre-orders, news, and upcoming games.
When will preorders start for the Switch 2?

Read more
5 games we want to see on the Nintendo Switch 2
Astrion holds his chin in Baldur's Gate 3.

Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has had its formal reveal and will be arriving in 2025, we can finally shift our focus from all hardware leaks and rumors to the most important part of any console: the software. The Switch 2 was revealed with footage of Mario Kart 9 and details about its backwards compatibility, but that leaves a lot of room to hope and speculate for other games to fill the lineup of upcoming games. With a host of new features, as well as more power to keep up with games that wouldn't be possible on the Switch, a world of possibility has opened up for games we would love to play on the Switch 2. These are our top seven games that we would love to see hit Nintendo's latest console.
Crusader Kings 3

Hardcore strategy games have typically been a genre locked to PCs. While plenty of recent games have done an admiral job of adapting the complex controls and systems for controllers, the genre is clearly best played with a mouse in almost every example. The Switch 2's new Joy-cons may look like a larger version of the original, but they come with a simple yet brilliant feature that opens the doors for these types of experiences to sing. By holding the Joy-con on its side and placing it on a flat surface, you can use it as a mouse pointer. This would be the ideal way to play a game like Crusader Kings 3, which is built on being one of the most dynamic and deep simulations set in the Middle Ages. Being able to take your empire on the go and still be able to easily manage all the systems without fumbling over the controls would easily get us addicted all over again.
Baldur's Gate 3

Read more