Nintendo Declares November 1 Pikmin Day and Dates Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition for November 12

Nintendo declared November 1 Pikmin Day and used a surprise Direct to date Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy for November 12, 2026, IGN reported. The presentation ran a little more than nine minutes and included new information about Pikmin 4.

What the Pikmin Day Direct Showed

Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto appeared in the Direct and explained the date. The series first launched in Japan in October 2001 and reached North America in December, so November 1 does not mark a release anniversary. Miyamoto said the date comes from the original three Pikmin, which standing side by side resemble "11.1."

Miyamoto also addressed the franchise's future: "going forward, I want people to know more about Pikmin." The Direct included no Pikmin 5 reveal.

The Switch 2 Edition adds microphone commands for Oatchi, letting players issue instructions such as "rush" and "go to work." The Dandori Academy mode adds challenges, including exams held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays that give players timed tasks and a chance to earn medals. A demo of the Switch 2 version arrives November 2 with access to the Sun-Speckled Terrace opening area and two Dandori Academy stages, and its save data can be carried into the full release.

Nintendo's Switch 2 Software Push

Nintendo's recent moves include a September 2026 product launch that raised the Switch 2 manufacturer's suggested retail price from $449.99 to $499.99 effective September 1, 2026, citing DRAM memory shortages, according to akta.pro company records. In June 2026, FromSoftware partnered with Nintendo to develop The Duskbloods as a Switch 2 exclusive. Nintendo reported 19.86 million Switch 2 hardware units and 48.71 million software units sold for the fiscal year ended March 2026.

Earlier Nintendo Announcements

On October 29, 2026, Kura Sushi USA announced a partnership with Nintendo of America for a Yoshi and the Mysterious Book themed promotion starting November 1, featuring limited-time menu items and collectible prizes, Stock Titan reported. On October 30, 2026, IGN reported that Woot was selling a Nintendo Switch 2 "Choose Your Game" bundle for $479 after a $40 coupon code, limited to supplies. Nintendo also ended the Kirby Air Riders Halloween event early on October 30, 2026 because of performance issues including screen freezes, and said the event will return without giving details, Gamerant reported.

Pikmin 4 Demo and Launch Dates

The Pikmin 4 Switch 2 demo opens November 2, and the full Switch 2 Edition launches November 12, 2026. Nintendo's Pikmin Day announcement covers the Direct's lineup.