If ‘Switch 2’ Isn’t Coming Until 2025, What’s Nintendo Got Up Its Sleeve This Year?
Metroid Prime 2 and 3 remasters
These really feel like no-brainers given the success of Metroid Prime Remastered, and dealing on the idea that Metroid Prime 4 remains to be coming to Switch (extra on that in a second). We’re all hoping for backwards compatibility as a characteristic of the subsequent system, so these coming to Switch hopefully would not nix the potential of taking part in them on ‘Switch 2’.
Speaking of Prime…
Time for Prime 4?
The most evident candidate for a top-tier Switch sign-off. Multiple video games within the final 12 months would have made for an ideal ‘bookend’ to Switch’s tenure (Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Wonder) however this one particularly can be a really becoming finish given its improvement historical past.
We cannot think about that Nintendo would as soon as once more make a Metroid sport unique to a sunsetting system (because it did with Metroid: Samus Returns) but when so, it may very well be a worthy send-off.
Or hey, how about repeating historical past with a late-arriving Switch port of MercurySteam’s aforementioned Samus Returns? In a approach, it could be becoming to see it as soon as once more arrive late to the get together, and if backwards compatibility is a factor on the subsequent system, everybody’s a winner.
More remakes?
When it involves late-cycle remakes, Nintendo has type. The firm is not averse to releasing nice ports (Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World, Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn) or high quality remakes completely on outgoing {hardware} — hello once more, Samus Returns — so one other remake or two is totally a risk, even with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door already on the books.
Returning to the Zelda theme, think about a rerelease for 3DS’ Link Between Worlds, an all-time gem that is presently solely playable on its authentic host system. We have not seen a lot from Grezzo since 2019’s Link’s Awakening remake and the 2021 port of Miitopia, so whether or not its subsequent launch involves Switch or a future system is a giant query.
We’d love new video games, after all, however we’re as inclined to nostalgia as the subsequent gamer and these aren’t a foul solution to cross the time whereas we’re in a brand new {hardware} holding sample.
Another mini console?
Who might resist a N64 Classic Mini? Or a Game Boy Color with a built-in library?
The extra area of interest attraction of these consoles versus the NES or SNES Minis, to not point out value will increase over their predecessors, would make these much less probably than within the Wii U days. There’s additionally the truth that Nintendo Switch Online already presents video games from these programs.
While these of us with an insatiable urge for food for miniature retro {hardware} can be the primary to pre-order them, they arguably make much less sense than ever earlier than. Better so as to add extra classics to NSO, no?
More amiibo?
Another stop-gap experiment Nintendo performed to distract from the declining Wii U practically a decade in the past. The Smash Bros. sequence of NFC figures is lastly over, however is it potential Nintendo may put out just a few extra to offer keen Switch followers one thing neat to stuff of their stockings this Christmas?
It’s not unattainable — hey, we would nonetheless love a Geno or the Chorus Kids — however it is going to take somewhat greater than a cute Oatchi amiibo to distract us from… from the factor. The matter we have been discussing. About Switch and the, erm…
Okay, high quality. An Oatchi amiibo bundled with a Pikmin 1-4 bodily uberpack and a Pikmin Joy-Con set or one thing. There you go, that is Thanksgiving sorted. Easy, this sport scheduling malarkey.
A nod to the followers
If Nintendo is actually in a bind, 2024 may very well be the right time to play maybe the last word fan card and put Mother 3 on Switch.
It may very well be a fanfare addition to Nintendo Switch Online, or it may very well be a limited-time, authentic Fire Emblem-style affair. Or it may very well be a correct bodily re-release of a sport adored by an extremely invested, passionate fan base.
Whatever the state of affairs, an official localisation of the EarthBound sequel — within the sequence’ 35th anniversary 12 months, no much less — can be concurrently a beautiful present and a masterful distraction.
The actual ace up the sleeve
Of course, the true ace within the gap can be a Switch port of the perfect factor Game Freak ever made: Pocket Card Jockey.
Look, leaker Pyoro has hinted that Game Freak may characteristic in a Partner Direct quickly (after which tweeted about dolphins — begin your GameDice hearsay engines, of us!), and seeing as any Pokémon bulletins would virtually definitely be saved for a Pokémon Presents on the finish of February, our minds instantly jumped to our beloved Pocket Card Jockey. We right here at Nintendo Life adore that sport, and given the state of our backlogs, a shadow drop on Switch would maintain us very joyful for the remainder of the 12 months.
Just us? Perhaps. But the sport already has an iOS model which launched in January 2023, and by all accounts, it could be a terrific match on Switch, say, after a 12 months of Apple exclusivity? Larvely.
Those are only a handful of concepts, and none of them too outlandish, besides possibly the mini consoles. Obviously, there’s potential for brand-new video games, too — it simply appears unlikely that Nintendo would not be banking the easiest stuff for the subsequent console.
Let us know which high quality 2024 filler you would be most considering, or remark under with your individual concepts.
