E3 2018 is upon us, and supposed leaks are popping up left and right. However, ahead of the conference, developer Hi-Rez Studios has already confirmed one of the rumors. A Nintendo Switch version of Paladins is very real, and will be coming to Nintendo’s home console in under a week in Early Access. Those not looking to invest in the Founder’s Pack that unlocks early access can enjoy the game as a free-to-play title later this summer.
News comes by way of a reveal trailer from Hi-Rez Studios, below. Even better than the confirmation of existence, Paladins seems to hit key buzzwords that will satisfy potential gamers. Specifically, the Nintendo Switch version offers 60 FPS gameplay (docked and undocked) and crossplay multiplayer (with Xbox One). Many members of the Nintendo Switch community will likely still have their doubts on the hardware’s online capabilities. However, Hi-Rez certainly has their messaging on point.
As mentioned above, Paladins will be coming in a tiered launch on Nintendo Switch. Gamers will first be able to access the hero shooter on June 12, 2018, provided they pick up the Founder’s Pack that grants early access. According to Hi-Rez, the Founder’s Pack launches at $29.99 and includes all current and future champions, as well as exclusive cosmetic items. Meanwhile, gamers who are passing on early access can enjoy the game free-to-play later in Summer 2018.
Paladins for Switch is by no means out of left field. As early as Hi-Rez Expo 2018, the development studio hinted that current projects may be coming to the fledgling platform. This was followed up by a 4chan leak last week that suggested that the game would be Paladins, a leak that became more likely daily as other games in the listing seem plausible.
Even better, Hi-Rez is undoubtedly filling a genre gap left open by their biggest competitor Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard has previously stated that their popular hero based shooter would be too difficult to port over to Nintendo Switch. In other words, the field is wide open for Paladins to steal the show.
Paladins is currently available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One; the Nintendo Switch version will be available beginning June 12, 2018 for anyone picking up the Founder’s Pack. Meanwhile, Switch owners who are waiting for the free-to-play version can download the game later this summer. Check out the reveal trailer and screenshots, below:
