Shigeru Miyamoto Declares November 1 Pikmin Day, Pikmin 4 Demo Coming to Switch 2 Soon

Nintendo has officially designated November 1 as annual Pikmin Day, rolling out a wave of exciting updates for the beloved botanical franchise during a special broadcast this morning.

Legendary game director Shigeru Miyamoto hosted the presentation, reminding fans that Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy launches on November 12. Players won’t have to wait until release to dive back in, however, as a complimentary playable demo drops on November 2, featuring one standard stage and two rigorous Dandori Academy challenges.

The enhanced Switch 2 version—which you can read more about in Game Informer’s original Pikmin 4 review—boasts upgraded visual fidelity and utilizes the console’s built-in microphone for voice commands, allowing you to seamlessly direct Oatchi with intuitive vocal cues like “Rush” and “Go to work.” Meanwhile, the newly introduced Dandori Academy acts as a competitive time-trial mode. Players can hone their strategies throughout the week, culminating in a high-stakes weekend window (Friday through Sunday) where they get a single, definitive attempt to lock in their personal best. Additional details on these hardware-specific features can be found in our Switch 2 deep dive.

Beyond console adventures, Miyamoto revealed that the mobile phenomenon Pikmin Bloom is preparing for a massive update later this year. Explorers will soon stumble upon mysterious maps leading to subterranean caves, where they can dispatch their tiny squads to battle subterranean creatures and unearth valuable treasures. Interestingly, these exploration maps can also be unlocked by playing Pikmin 4.

While the showcase reiterated that the entire core Pikmin library is accessible across the Switch and Switch 2 ecosystems, no announcements were made regarding the arrival of Pikmin 1 and 2 on the Nintendo Switch Online service—though both titles remain available for individual purchase via the eShop.

To close out the presentation, Miyamoto welcomed acclaimed actress Fuka Koshiba—celebrated for voicing Kiki in Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service—who shared her passion for the series, including crafting handmade Pikmin knit caps for her community. She introduced a charming new Pikmin animated short featuring a delightfully unexpected encounter with a local toad. Miyamoto confirmed that subsequent shorts will premiere exclusively through the upcoming Nintendo Today app.

Curiously, the broadcast omitted any mention of the 2017 3DS spin-off, Hey! Pikmin, suggesting that fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a modern Switch 2 port anytime soon.

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