Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is set to launch on November 6, 2025, as a Nintendo Switch 2 title. The digital version is planned to unlock at 12:00 a.m. on November 6, with availability rolling out by region. That means players with accounts set to earlier time zones will gain access first, followed by the rest of the world through local midnights.
Release date and platform
- Date: November 6, 2025
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (digital launch at midnight)
Separately, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity remains available on Nintendo Switch and is supported on Switch 2 via compatibility mode, with its original release on November 20, 2020.
Release time by region (digital)
The game unlocks at 12:00 a.m. local time in many regions, creating a natural order of access from east to west. Below is the expected sequence and what that means in practice.
| Region | Local digital unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Earliest access; accounts set to NZ time zones play first. |
| Australia (East) | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Unlocks shortly after NZ in the global sequence. |
| Japan | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Follows Australia’s east coast timing in the rollout. |
| Australia (West) / Philippines | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Same-day midnight local access. |
| South Africa | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Midnight unlock in local time. |
| United Kingdom | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Midnight local access. |
| Brazil | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 | Midnight local access. |
| United States | 12:00 a.m., Nov 6 (Eastern Time) | Digital unlocks typically follow Eastern Time. Players in other US time zones may see earlier local clock times. |
Tip: If the US digital rollout follows a midnight Eastern Time schedule, players on Pacific Time can usually access at 9:00 p.m. on November 5. Time-zone offsets can shift around daylight saving changes, but the midnight-by-region pattern holds.
Preload and day-one access
Preloading is available ahead of launch, allowing you to download the game data in advance and start playing exactly at the unlock time on November 6. If you want to hit midnight without waiting on downloads, complete the preload before launch day.
Save data bonuses
Age of Imprisonment includes in-game bonuses for players with save data from select Zelda titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. If you plan to claim these, ensure that save data is present on the same system profile you’ll use to play.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What time does Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment release? | 12:00 a.m. on November 6, 2025, with rolling regional access. |
| Can I play early by switching regions? | Accounts set to earlier time zones typically see the game unlock sooner due to local midnight releases. |
| Is it coming to Switch (original model)? | The release is planned for Nintendo Switch 2. |
| Is preload supported? | Yes. Preload before launch to play immediately at midnight. |
| Are there save data rewards? | Yes, bonuses are available for certain prior Zelda save files, including Tears of the Kingdom and Age of Calamity. |
In short. set your Switch 2 to download ahead of time, and you’ll be ready the moment your region hits midnight on November 6. If you want the absolute earliest access, a profile aligned to the earliest time zones will unlock first, but for most players, the straightforward path is to preload and wait for local midnight.
