This morning, Nintendo shared some updates related to the Pikmin franchise and has officially claimed November 1 as Pikmin Day, starting today and moving forward presumably forever.
Aside from the announcement of Pikmin Day as a general idea, Pikmin creator Shigeru Miyamoto appeared on camera to remind everyone that Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy is coming November 12. A free demo for the game, which will include one standard level and two Dandori Academy levels, will be available on November 2.
The Switch 2 version of the game (you can read Game Informer’s Pikmin 4 review here) will have improved visuals and take advantage of the Switch 2’s mic to let you say things like “Rush” and “Go to work” to Oatchi. The Dandori Academy side of the game is essentially time trials you can practice, and then on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, you will have one chance to post your best time. You can read more about the Switch 2 version of the game here.
Miyamoto also shared that the mobile game, Pikmin Bloom, is also getting a fairly substantial update soon with secret caves. In Bloom, players will be able to find maps that reveal caves that you can send your Pikmin into to battle and find treasure. You can also find maps for Bloom by playing Pikmin 4. Caves will be coming to Pikmin Bloom later this year.
The Pikmin Day presentation also reminded viewers that every Pikmin game is available on Switch and Switch 2, though no announcements or hints were made implying that Pikmin 1 and 2 would be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, which includes GameCube games on Switch 2. Those games can be purchased individually on the eShop.
Finally, Miyamoto brought actress Fuka Koshiba on the presentation (best known for voicing Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service) to share her appreciation for the Pikmin franchise (she likes to knit Pikmin hats that she shares on social media) and introduce a Pikmin short film. In the short, a Pikmin interacts with a toad, but I won’t spoil what happens. Miyamoto promised more shorts are on the way and in the future, they will be found in the Nintendo Today app.
Unfortunately, the stream concluded without a single reference to 2017’s Hey! Pikmin. I wouldn’t expect it to get a port to Switch 2 anytime soon.
