Kicking off the Nintendo Direct in style, Nintendo gave us a brand-new trailer for Pikmin 4. Showing more direct gameplay and a look at a scary nighttime grubdog, the biggest announcement was a release date. You’ll be able to make your way through Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as Pikmin 4 won’t be launching until July 2023.
The newest addition to the Pikmin roster is that of an Ice Pikmin. As you would expect, they can freeze bodies of water and enemies when thrown into them. Some cute little dog thing named Oatchi will also assist you on your travels, potentially working as both a worker and a fighter.
As far as gameplay goes, this seems to be in line with both Pikmin 2 and 3. There won’t be an overbearing timer halting you from progressing or turning lost battles into a desperate struggle for survival. Curiously, there is no mention of a cooperative mode that has been standard in the series since the second installment. The trailer does end with a hint that other travelers will join you, so there is a potential for co-op down the line.
Smartly avoiding competing against itself, Pikmin 4 will launch on July 21, 2023. That’s just a few months after the release date of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That makes complete sense, as even if Pikmin and Zelda fans don’t really crossover, Nintendo knows that everyone and their mother will be clamping at the bit for more of Hyrule.
Interestingly, Pikmin 4 is listed at $59.99 despite Zelda upping the price tag. This could point to Nintendo’s increased pricing being on a situational basis.
