Nintendo has announced that a demo of Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy will release on November 2. The full game will launch on November 12.
The demo will allow players to try out a bit of the main story, Dandori Battle, and Dandori Academy modes. Players will be able to transfer their saves from the demo to the full game upon its release. The upgrade to the main game will feature voice controls using the Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in microphone. It will allow the player to directly talk to Oatchi with nine commands. The new Dandori Academy mode also provides challenges across Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. High scores can be recorded in exams available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. There will be leaderboards for both friends and worldwide players. 72 stages are planned to come to the mode.
Recently, Nintendo held the Pikmin Day Direct, which focused on updates to pre-existing Pikmin games. Shigeru Miyamoto narrated the direct, who declares November 1 to be Pikmin Day. He elaborates on the choice saying that “In the first Pikmin game…the red, blue, and yellow Pikmin made their debut. If you imagine those three Pikmin as the number 1, that makes November 1st Pikmin Day!”
The direct reveals a new major update for Pikmin Bloom, which adds “Secret Caves.” The update allows players to explore these darker areas, fight “familiar creatures,” and uncover hidden treasures. It will release before the end of the year. Its biggest reveal are the new Hello! Pikmin shorts. These serve as a spiritual successor to the Close to You short and focus on the activities of the Pikmin. The first episode is available now, with the second set to release later in November. Subsequent episodes will release monthly on the Nintendo Today app and other Nintendo social media accounts starting in December.
Pikmin 4 is available now for Nintendo Switch. The demo will release on the Nintendo eShop.
