GRcade

Nintendo are changing the traditional "game release day" from Friday to Thursday.

For many years, Friday has been the usual day for releasing "AAA" games. In recent times, and with the rise of various different editions of games, Tuesday has become a release day, too. It seems that Nintendo are changing things up now by making Thursday the key day for their own new titles.

Nintendo Life wrote:When Nintendo confirmed the release dates of some upcoming Switch games recently, certain eagle-eyed fans noted how as of the next financial year, the company would seemingly be shifting release dates from Friday to Thursday in the US.

So far, this includes the launch dates for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (23 May 2024) and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD (27 June 2024), and also Endless Ocean: Luminous (2 May 2024). Before now, games like Another Code: Recollection, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and this week's upcoming release Princess Peach: Showtime! have all been scheduled for Friday.

Source: Nintendo Life

Of course, this situation currently only reflects the US but it would perhaps be surprising if the release day wasn't changed in other regions, too - surely we won't be returning to different release dates around the world? And I wonder if other companies will change their own release day to reflect Nintendo's approach?

Good. It’s an anachronism from the days of physical in-store retail. No need for a fixed release day any more. And it will help people to get copies shipped/downloaded so they have them for the weekend.

Thursday is much better, long may it continue.

agree with rinks - especially for physical media.

always felt a "ships from manufacture" date would be better. i.e retailers can send them or sell them as soon as they receive physical stock

I don't exactly have to bide my time waiting for maths or whatever to be over so I can go home and buy/play the game I've been reading random tidbits, previews and a Big Exclusive Review in a magazine for anymore, so yeah, I don't see a point in it.

In our own way, we all have to wait for maths to be over.

The only difference this makes (if its a change they're making for all releases, rather than just the three games we know are releasing on a Thursday this year), is that it should mean physical versions should definitely be delivered by the weekend for people who have the aim of playing said game over the weekend.