Since Nintendo launched Switch in March, they’ve quickly built out the library with solid 1st party hits.
Select 3rd parties, and a swath of independent developers, have also been instrumental in filling out the gaps.
From Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Super Mario Odyssey, one can’t help but be impressed with how this hardware’s first year has been supported by stellar software.
For the first time in many years, consumers are actually starting to say “there are just too many good games. I wish they would delay some of these.”
Who can possibly manage to play Odyssey, Skyrim, and Xenoblade all back-to-back?
What’s more, how will Nintendo maintain this breakneck development pace?
Here’s the important factor to keep in mind: Switch has a team of software designers about twice the size that Wii U had. Where did all these extra developers come from?
Well, Nintendo merged the 3DS and Wii U departments together shortly after R&D on Switch began, bringing home and portable development under one roof.
3DS is seeing it’s last days as more and more resources are allocated to developing new experiences on Nintendo’s hybrid console. And they’re selling like crazy.
I expect the manic pace to continue for the foreseeable future. It won’t be a gigantic new title like Super Mario Odyssey dropping each month, but I could see twelve releases spread over a year like so:
- 2 Wii U/ ports (think: Smash Bros.)
- 1 HD remake (think: Kid Icarus Uprising)
- 1 Kirby
- 1 Yoshi
- 2 big franchise sequels (Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Splatoon, etc.)
- 1 new IP (a la ARMS)
- 1 partnership with a 3rd party (like Rabbids)
- 1 collection (BoxBoy would work well)
- 1 party game (people must be getting tired of 1-2-Switch, right?)
- 1 crazy announcement no one could ever predict
And that’s twelve games right there. As you can see, it’s totally doable for the Big N to publish something every 4-5 weeks.
The only question remains: can our wallets and schedules keep up with the runaway hype-train?
Scott
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If Nintendo is smart, they have stuff planned for every month in 2018. It was the Spring of 2013 after the Wii U launch that sales dropped to embarrassingly low number because zero games were coming out for it. I think with at least Kirby and Yoshi, they have two games that, while may not be blockbusters, are at least something new and speaks to previously established fanbases.
If they do a Direct in December or January, that is prime opportunity to drop a surprise game announcement. And with how they have been doing so well on holding to release dates in the Switch era, it’ll get people excited. And if third parties keep bringing huge titles over, that will be even less of a drought we have to worry about.
I’m seriously predicting a new Animal Crossing next year, and I believe a core Pokemon game will make its debut on the Switch next holiday. :D
I’m sure they’ll keep it up – they’ve seen it works! Also, I agree with Flapjack, there’s zero chance Animal Crossing won’t come out next year, in fact I fully expect it will be their biggest 1st party game for 2018. New Leaf on 3DS was a gargantuan succes (most people don’t seem to realise how big of a seller/franchise AC is).