Nintendo will release Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy on 12 November 2026, according to the Nintendo of America store page. Players who already have the Pikmin 4 game can buy the upgrade pack on its own as a digital purchase.

The store page lists that Upgrade Pack at a regular price of $9.99.

Nintendo says the full version of Pikmin 4 is required to use the upgrade pack content, and that the base game is sold separately. The listing also sells the game and the upgrade pack together for people who do not have Pikmin 4.

The 72 exam stages arrive over time

Dandori Academy is one of the additions. Nintendo describes it as an extensive series of Dandori exam stages for players to test their skill and earn in-game medals, and says the stages vary in difficulty so players can choose the ones that match their skill level.

Not all of them will be there on 12 November. The store page says: “A total of 72 stages will be released over time.”

Nintendo has not said on the store page how many stages are available at launch, or how often further ones will appear.

A Nintendo Treehouse video promoted on the same page shows three difficulty levels of Dandori Exams, and the page says the highest difficulty exam features an Empress Bulblax.

Oatchi listens, and friends can join without the game

Another change is voice control. Oatchi, described by Nintendo as a dependable space dog, can now listen for voice commands through the Nintendo Switch 2 system microphone as players play.

Nintendo lists that microphone support among the Nintendo Switch 2 features for this edition, alongside improved visuals, the Dandori Academy exams and GameShare play.

Dandori Battles, the mode where players take on fellow explorers, can be played with a friend on the same system. Nintendo says additional games, systems or accessories may be required for multiplayer. It can also be played with someone who does not have the game, through GameShare locally or online via GameChat.

GameShare carries conditions. Nintendo says the Switch 2 system has to start the session, that a person who receives software this way can only play during that session, and that the shared game stops working once the session ends. GameShare over GameChat requires a Switch 2 and GameChat for every user taking part.

Online features including GameChat need an internet connection, a Nintendo Switch Online membership sold separately and a Nintendo Account. The page adds that it is not available in all countries, and that terms and GameChat requirements apply.

The upgrade also covers how the game looks. Nintendo says the Switch 2 edition has improved high-resolution visuals in both TV mode and handheld mode.

The store page offers a version selector with three options, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and Upgrade Pack, and flags that the upgrade pack content requires the Pikmin 4 game.

The store page notes that information related to the game, including ratings and download size, may not be finalised at the time of preorder.

Nintendo lists the estimated game file size at 1.2 GB, the system as Nintendo Switch 2, the publisher as Nintendo, and the ESRB rating as Comic Mischief and Fantasy Violence.

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