Shapefarm, the developers of the co-op sci-fi adventure game Orbitals, opened today’s Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase with the reveal that the game was scheduled to release this Summer. As well as showing off some more gameplay, it also clarified that the game would be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, with an interesting caveat worth sharing.
Check out the new trailer for Orbitals below.
Originally announced at last year’s Game Awards, this new trailer gave us a chance to see a few of the gadgets that our space-faring duo, Maki and Omura, will use on their 90s anime-inspired adventure to save their home from a cosmic storm. We saw the scraphook, which can be used to move platforms, the Liquid Launcher that blasts water to activate mechanisms and cool down surfaces, and the Beam Cannon, which is used to melt obstacles, open doors, and more! We also caught a glimpse of these tools being used in tandem, with one character heating a piece of metal while the other used the Scraphook to bend it.
Later on, we meet a cute alien cat that’s just begging to be petted, and watch as the space explorers blow off some steam aboard their ship, playing an arcade-style mini-game, or jamming out playing the drums and keyboard.
Orbitals is launching as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, with one person needing to own a copy of the game, while a second player can join via Gameshare, local, or online, without needing to own it. An interesting detail, which is alluded to during the trailer but is made clear in the subsequent press release, is that the 2nd player can join the game on either an original Nintendo Switch or a Switch 2.
According to the Orbitals press release:
“Players can connect in various ways using their Nintendo Switch 2 console. Either by teaming up with two pairs of Joy-Con™ 2 controllers on a single Nintendo Switch 2 device for split-screen local co-op, or using the system’s GameShare feature to share Orbitals with another player on a compatible Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch device and taking advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in microphone and GameChat, players around the world can team up and save the day together as one inseparable team.”
After seeing it for the first time at The Game Awards, Orbitals has become one of our most anticipated releases of 2026, so you can be sure to find any news about it here on the GSC!
Orbitals is scheduled to release this Summer exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
Are you excited for Orbitals to land this Summer? Let us know in the comments below, and join the Gamer Social Club Discord to find a co-op partner, chat about your favourite games, take part in giveaways, and more!
