Pikmin 3 Deluxe Rated for Switch 2, Hinting at Upcoming Update Before Pikmin 4 Release

In a surprising twist from Nintendo, Pikmin 3 Deluxe has been rated for the Switch 2 by PEGI.

Looking at the current lineup of Nintendo Switch games enhanced for the Switch 2, it’s hard to ignore the absence of Pikmin 4. Just last month, the two-year-old Pikmin 4 received a fresh update that introduced a Photo Mode, new difficulty levels, and Decor Pikmin—those adorable little creatures dressed up in random items, reminiscent of Pikmin Bloom. However, it missed out on any enhancements for the Switch 2, such as performance boosts, visual upgrades, and the much-desired mouse controls.

So, it was quite the surprise when PEGI, Europe’s ratings board, posted a rating for Pikmin on the Switch 2, but it was for the five-year-old Pikmin 3 Deluxe, a re-release of the 12-year-old Wii U title. Other games like Super Mario Odyssey also have this secondary rating on the PEGI site, suggesting that Pikmin 3 Deluxe might be getting a free update for the Switch 2. However, it won’t be labeled as a ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition,’ which have their own distinct ratings, as seen with titles like Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The decision to prioritize Pikmin 3 for an update is unexpected given its age, but it could hint at bigger plans for Pikmin 4. Titles like Kirby and the Forgotten Land received DLC expansions alongside their Switch 2 Edition launches, so perhaps we can look forward to new areas to explore in Pikmin 4, along with the anticipated upgrades? Fingers crossed.

Despite being the creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto has once again declared Pikmin as his favorite franchise: “I spent a lot of time the past 5, 6 years really wanting to grow Pikmin.”