Nintendo Switch 2 won't include built-in achievements system, confirms Nintendo exec

Nintendo has announced that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will not feature a built-in achievements system. Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Player and Product Experience, confirmed this in an interview with Polygon, stating simply, "Nope," when asked about the possibility of achievements.

This clarification comes amid speculation fueled by the announcement that achievements for popular games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom would be tracked through the Nintendo Switch app, though these are managed externally and not integrated into the console itself. This news might take some by surprise, as many had hoped the company would use this new console as an opportunity to catch up with competitors like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, where such features are now considered a standard in the industry.

Despite the absence of a native achievements system, third-party developers may still offer achievements through their platforms, independent of the Switch 2 console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set for a global release on June 5, 2025, with pre-orders beginning in April. However, the company has faced criticism regarding certain new policies, including a rise in game prices and the decision to ship some physical game copies without the full game on the cartridge, instead providing only a verification key.