Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition and Dandori Academy: Release Date & New Features

Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy launches on Thursday, November 12, 2026, and the headline addition is exactly what the name says: Dandori Academy, a full exam mode of 72 timed challenge stages that will roll out over the year after launch. Existing Pikmin 4 owners can upgrade for $9.99 instead of buying the game again at $69.99, a free demo is already live on the Nintendo eShop, and the Switch 2 edition also adds microphone voice commands for Oatchi and higher-resolution visuals. It shares its launch day with Sonic Pico Park and the Metaphor: ReFantazio Switch 2 Edition, and it is tracked in our November 2026 game releases roundup.

Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition release date: November 12, 2026

The Switch 2 Edition launches on Thursday, November 12, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo announced the edition on September 9, 2026, and gave it a second showcase at the Pikmin Day Direct on October 31, where November 1 was declared Pikmin Day. The package is the Nintendo Switch game plus its upgrade pack in one box: the full 2023 adventure, the Dandori Academy mode and the Switch 2 enhancements. The original Pikmin 4 launched on July 21, 2023, so this is a three-year-later enhanced edition rather than a new game, and Nintendo was clear at the Direct that no Pikmin 5 was announced.

What is Dandori Academy? 72 exam stages, medals and weekend exams

Dandori, the series’ word for efficient planning and execution, gets its own school. Dandori Academy is a series of exam stages that test how well you plan routes, split tasks between your captain and Oatchi, and collect treasure against the clock. There are 72 stages in total, but they are not all there on day one: six new stages arrive on the first Monday of every month, two for each of the three difficulty levels, so the full set takes a year to unfold. Stages are drawn from story mode areas, from the existing Dandori Challenge pool and from completely new locations. Practice stages let you learn the format, real exams run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday once the full version is out, and your results earn in-game medals, with online leaderboards tracking the best performances.

Pikmin 4 Switch 2 demo: out now, with two Dandori Academy stages

You do not have to wait until November 12 to try it. A free demo of the Switch 2 Edition went live on the Nintendo eShop on November 2, 2026, and it includes the opening Sun-Speckled Terrace area of the main story plus two Dandori Academy stages, so you can sit your first exams before launch. Progress carries over to the full game. Nintendo even sweetens the demo month: entering the Dandori Academy menu during November 2026 gives demo players a free Redo Pass. If you are sampling several Switch 2 demos this month, the Metaphor: ReFantazio Switch 2 demo works the same way, with a save that transfers to its full release.

Pikmin 4 Switch 2 upgrade pack: $9.99 for existing owners

If you already own Pikmin 4 on Nintendo Switch, do not buy the full edition. The Dandori Academy Upgrade Pack costs $9.99 in the US and turns your existing copy into the Switch 2 Edition, with the new mode and enhancements included. Buying from scratch, the full Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy package costs $69.99. One warning: the Switch 2 Edition is playable only on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. The upgrade does not create a version that runs its new features on the original Switch, so Switch 1 owners keep the 2023 game as it is.

What else is new: Oatchi voice commands and sharper visuals

Beyond the Academy, the Switch 2 Edition adds microphone voice commands for Oatchi: using the Switch 2’s built-in microphone, you can call orders to the Rescue Pup by voice instead of only through the command menus. The presentation gets the expected step up as well, with improved high-resolution visuals in both TV and handheld modes. The core game is unchanged: you still lead the Rescue Corps, gather Pikmin of every type, explore areas above and below ground and rescue castaways, now with a year of monthly exams layered on top for players who finish the story and want a reason to keep planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition release?

It releases on Thursday, November 12, 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. The full edition costs $69.99, and existing Pikmin 4 owners can buy the upgrade pack for $9.99 instead.

What is Dandori Academy in Pikmin 4?

Dandori Academy is a new exam mode in the Switch 2 Edition: 72 timed challenge stages that test your planning and treasure collecting. Six stages arrive each month, practice runs are always available, exams run Friday to Sunday, and results earn medals.

Is there a Pikmin 4 Switch 2 demo?

Yes. A free demo has been on the Nintendo eShop since November 2, 2026. It includes the Sun-Speckled Terrace opening area and two Dandori Academy stages, and your progress carries over to the full game.

How much is the Pikmin 4 Switch 2 upgrade pack?

The upgrade pack costs $9.99 in the US for players who already own Pikmin 4 on Nintendo Switch. It adds the Dandori Academy mode and the Switch 2 enhancements. The full Switch 2 Edition costs $69.99.

Was Pikmin 5 announced at the Pikmin Day Direct?

No. Nintendo said upfront that the Pikmin Day Direct contained no new mainline game announcement. It covered the Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition, the Pikmin Bloom app and a short movie series called Hello! Pikmin.

Can the Switch 2 Edition be played on the original Switch?

No. Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy is playable only on Nintendo Switch 2. Original Switch owners keep the standard 2023 version of Pikmin 4.

Last updated: November 3, 2026