Nintendo Switch Exclusive Rhythm Heaven Groove Gets Summer Release Date, Seemingly Backing Up Major Leak

Nintendo has revealed a merchandise day for Rhythm Heaven Groove, which volition debut connected Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 this summer.

The game's motorboat date, July 2, backs up the caller large leak that laid retired Nintendo's slate of games for the remainder of 2026. Most notably, that leak included notation of an unannounced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time larboard owed to get this Christmas, arsenic good arsenic a caller Star Fox crippled owed sooner, acceptable to beryllium announced astatine immoderate constituent this month.

Intriguingly, the leak besides mentioned that Rhythm Heaven Groove would beryllium fixed a summertime merchandise — thing that has present been proven accurate.

The latest introduction successful Nintendo's long-running Rhythm Heaven series, Groove was archetypal announced each the mode backmost successful March 2025, during past spring's large Nintendo Direct. It's the 5th introduction successful the offbeat philharmonic franchise, and volition beryllium the archetypal successful implicit a decennary — since Rhythm Heaven Megamix for the 3DS.

A trailer, released contiguous via the Nintendo Today app and societal media, shows a minigame wherever a quality chops vegetables and catches other ingredients portion bopping on to a catchy beat. A feline sits nearby, watching.

Fans person spotted that this is the aforesaid minigame which appeared successful past year's aboriginal look astatine the game, albeit present with antithetic visuals that are acold much akin to the cartoony look of past Rhythm Heaven games.

Also of enactment is the game's price, which has been listed astatine $39.99 connected the Nintendo eShop. This terms is listed for some the integer and carnal versions of the game, arsenic portion Nintendo has said it volition nary longer complaint the aforesaid terms for integer and carnal games, this argumentation lone applies to Switch 2 exclusives.

As good arsenic Star Fox, Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Rhythm Heaven Groove, past month's Nintendo leak besides mentioned that long-awaited Splatoon escapade spinoff Splatoon Raiders and Fire Emblem: Fortune Weave were some besides acceptable for summertime launches. A caller Switch Sports crippled was besides mentioned, though its merchandise sounds little certain. Finally, different Switch 2 Edition re-releases are besides expected — for the fantabulous Pikmin 4, arsenic good arsenic Xenoblade 2. The leak adjacent went connected to concisely notation Nintendo's adjacent 3D Mario project, which is reportedly acceptable for 2027. Nintendo is yet to remark connected the report.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social