- Primary Subject: Nintendogs [Original DS / Potential Switch 2 Version]
- Key Update: Fans are calling for a Nintendogs revival on the Switch 2, citing the new console's built-in microphone as the solution to previous hardware limitations.
- Status: Opinion / Fan Request
- Last Verified: June 16, 2026
- Quick Answer: Despite fan demand and the Switch 2's new hardware capabilities, Nintendo has not yet announced a Nintendogs port or remake for the new console.
Nintendogs was released in 2005, and for most Gen Z’s, the Nintendog would have been their first virtual pet.
The virtual pet simulator was released by Nintendo and allowed kids all around the world to raise dogs, teach them tricks, have them compete in dog shows, and take them to the park.
It was widely popular, yet Nintendo never released it on the Switch, and that was a huge mistake. However, the opportunity is there to put things right, even more so thanks to the Switch 2.
We Deserve Nintendogs on the Switch 2
When I received my first ever Nintendo DS Lite, my parents also bought me my first ever game - Nintendogs. I got myself a Yorkshire Terrier and named it Lovey (obviously).
Over time and after getting different consoles, I outgrew the game. I put my dog in the Pet Hotel, and never looked back. I know, what a terrible owner I am! However, when Nintendo first announced the Switch, I had hoped we would get a Switch port of Nintendogs so that I could dive into nostalgia.
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And yet, we never got it. We even have the Switch 2, and while I had known deep down no Nintendogs would be announced during this year’s June Direct, I still held out hope it would be a surprise announcement.
It never came.
I understand why it didn’t arrive on the original Switch, since Nintendogs relied on the microphone of the DS to give pets commands and call-outs, which, of course, the Switch didn’t have at the time.
But the Switch 2 does have one, and it’s not like there’s a lack of demand for pet simulators. Tamagotchi Life is still thriving, and Roblox has plenty of pet games that have boomed, such as Pet Simulator 99.
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Nintendo is missing out by not releasing a port or remake of Nintendogs for the Switch 2. Not only can they bank on nostalgia from an older crowd, but younger kids can also experience the joys of a virtual dog on their console for the first time.
If they want to keep up the momentum of remaking their top games, I hope Nintendogs is next on the roster.
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