Pikmin 4 gameplay, release date details from Nintendo Direct

After an extended hiatus, the Pikmin series is coming back with Pikmin 4 confirmed for 2023.

When the Nintendo Direct was suddenly announced a day before the live stream, Pikmin was one of the most-talked-about franchises that Nintendo fans hoped would have a new installment. Luckily, the action-packed Nintendo Direct didn’t disappoint. In the Nintendo Direct, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that Pikmin 4 was coming to the Nintendo Switch an entire decade after the release of Pikmin 3 on the Wii U.

When is Pikmin 4 coming out?

Pikmin 4 was given a vague release window of “2023” but no specific date was given. It’s unclear what month or quarter the game may come out in.

While this is a bit frustrating, Pikmin fans have been waiting since 2013 for a new game, so it may not be the biggest deal to wait another year at this point. It’s unclear how long the game has been in development for but fans should look towards the end of the year rather than being hopeful for something hitting shelves in six months.

What do we know about Pikmin 4?

The announcement trailer didn’t reveal a lot about Pikmin 4.

The short trailer featured a beautiful green environment similar to past Pikmin game settings. Bulborbs could be seen scurrying around in the seemingly peaceful world. At one point, there was a view from underneath a bench, showing the possible perspective of the game, but the storyline and gameplay were not revealed.

Miyamoto said that the game would indeed be from the perspective of the Pikmin “near the ground.” Miyamoto also explained a bit of the core gameplay, saying it will revolve around “strategically planning, deploying, and commanding” the Pikmin.

Pikmin 4 has been a long time coming for the Nintendo community. The game was mentioned in 2015, with Miyamoto even claiming it was close to completion. But in 2016, the game seemed to no longer be a priority. Nothing was really heard about the game since 2017 until now.

For Pikmin fans anxiously awaiting a new title can check out Pikmin Bloom AR game, a game created by Niantic and Nintendo together.