Is Switch 2 exclusivity a legitimate reason to skip these games?
What the comments really say about Orbitals, The Duskbloods and the Ocarina of Time remake, backed by numbers.
The context
On April 2, 2025, during a Nintendo Direct dedicated to the new console, FromSoftware revealed The Duskbloods, a PvPvE multiplayer action game billed as exclusive to the Switch 2 and slated for release in 2026.
In December 2025, at The Game Awards, developer Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive unveiled Orbitals, a two-player co-op adventure also exclusive to the Switch 2, with a launch date set for September 3, 2026.
On June 9, 2026, Nintendo used a Nintendo Direct to announce a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, originally released in 1998 on the Nintendo 64, describing it as being "reborn" exclusively for the Switch 2 later that year, without a firm release date or gameplay footage.
Sources: FromSoftware Announces The Duskbloods, Exclusive to Switch 2 (GameSpot) · Orbitals annoncé exclusivement sur Nintendo Switch 2 (Nintendo Everything) · The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – annonce officielle (Nintendo)
Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.
How we got here
as told by the commentsOrbitals is revealed at the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase; amid jokes about the visual style, early comments already flag Switch 2 exclusivity as a potential dealbreaker.
Enthusiasm for the 80s art direction grows, but the first regrets about the lack of a multiplatform version start showing up in comments.
The Duskbloods and the Ocarina of Time remake are confirmed as Switch 2 exclusives, widening the controversy to two more games and crystallizing the debate over the cost of entry into Nintendo's ecosystem.
The Duskbloods gameplay showcase triggers a massive wave of resigned or hostile comments, turning the game into the epicenter of the exclusivity legitimacy debate.
On Orbitals, the tone softens thanks to the announcement of a full physical edition, while on the Ocarina of Time remake the exclusivity question stays secondary to content expectations.
The Duskbloods
~25% of the discussion on this gameThe Duskbloods draws most of the anger: thousands of comments repeat that they'll never get to play this potential spiritual successor to Bloodborne without the dedicated console.
Skip justified 75 %
Purchase justified 25 %
Orbitals
~20% of the discussion on this gameOn Orbitals, the exclusivity question mixes with genuine excitement for the art direction: some fans admit they'd get a Switch 2 just for this game, others resent having to buy a console for a single title.
Skip justified 55 %
Purchase justified 45 %
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake
~9% of the discussion on this gameOn the Ocarina of Time remake, exclusivity takes a back seat to content expectations, though some read it as an obvious Nintendo sales tactic.
Skip justified 60 %
Purchase justified 40 %
Frequently asked questions
- Which games are caught up in the Switch 2 exclusivity debate?
- Three titles dominate the comments: Orbitals, The Duskbloods and the Ocarina of Time remake, each criticized for requiring a dedicated console purchase for a single game.
- Why does The Duskbloods draw the most criticism on this topic?
- Because it's seen as a potential spiritual successor to Bloodborne, thousands of comments express frustration at never being able to play it without a Switch 2.
- Does Nintendo's Game Share solve the exclusivity issue?
- For some Orbitals commenters, yes — being able to share the game across consoles eases the need to buy multiple Switch 2 units, though it doesn't convince everyone.
- Could Switch 2 exclusivity hurt these games' sales?
- Several commenters worry about it, citing lost sales from players unwilling to buy a console for one game, though this can't be verified from the numbers alone.