it doesn't depreciate the platform though. Drake is expected to be priced higher than the Switch and Splatoon 3 is still playable on that switch. many here expects a lot of Nintendo's games to still be on switch, including the system seller, TotK. it's a non-issue
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StarTopic Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (Read the staff posts before commenting!)
- Thread starter Dakhil
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PedroNavajas
Boo
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- He, him
The EVGA situation is worrisome. You may think that this doesn't affect Nintendo, but Nvidia's terrible track record with partners just keeps pilling up....
Kevin
Chain Chomp
I imagine any deal Nintendo has with Nvidia is already established and that Nvidia can't change the terms at this late stage. Just my guess but I have to imagine the next hardware is already full mapped out, contracts signed and it's just moving toward manufacturing relatively soon.
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Why would they care about everyone needing to “upgrade to Drake” by 2025? They won’t care. Most of the games will play the same across all systems.
Nintendo will be perfectly happy if people are buying Switch OLED’s in 2026 and playing 2026 games on Switch OLED’s.
All they care about is what drives their software engagement.
If they want as many people to have Drake as possible to play ToTK on, they should release Drake next month, not wait till two months before lol
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Thinking back, it took me 3 years to decide to buy a 3DS, and that was simply because Pokemon X&Y were releasing later that year, so, as long as my Switch keeps humming along, and this upgrade/successor isn't required with haste, I don't mind waiting a bit again.
NineTailSage
Bob-omb
Complacency and business relationships can always turn on a dime over longer periods of time, but the level of importance that the Nintendo Switch holds in legitimizing Nvidia's Tegra business on a grand scale can't be understated. This next iteration of Switch will only improve this since Nvidia doesn't have a major footprint in the mobile market. As the years go by and Tegra SoC's manufacturing process moves to more advanced nodes, the prospects of other customers outside of Nintendo looking to Nvidia for a SoC solution becomes greater. Especially if a product like the Drake Switch can fully Trojan horse Nvidia tech like DLSS into the mainstream against AMD's offerings...
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You have one company with powerful lawyers, who is an industry leader in graphics rendering.
And then you have another company with powerful lawyers, who is also an industry leader but in the the direction gaming medium.
I’d say that these two are at arms length and will not let either one get close to the other.
At all.
Actually, nvidia would be the one to try and buddy up Nintendo rather than the other way around, but Nintendo would erect their arm, index finger pointed up, pushed into their face and go, “shh, we aren’t doing that. Stay that distance and don’t come closer
”
And then you have another company with powerful lawyers, who is also an industry leader but in the the direction gaming medium.
I’d say that these two are at arms length and will not let either one get close to the other.
At all.
Actually, nvidia would be the one to try and buddy up Nintendo rather than the other way around, but Nintendo would erect their arm, index finger pointed up, pushed into their face and go, “shh, we aren’t doing that. Stay that distance and don’t come closer
”
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Nothing in your list would prevent Drake from releasing this holiday though.
Drake would still sell extremely well and boost Q4 sales even if launched in Q3
I agree they are holding back on showing some games so they can show them off on the new hardware, but you don’t have to hold off till next year to do that.
Launch it this holiday, then start showing how all the games look on it.
And as I’ve said before, holding hardware back to March just so it has a “big game” to launch with makes no sense. It doesn’t need anything to launch alongside of it to sell well/sell out.
If Drake is already out this holiday, they can still do a big January Direct blowout showing a bunch of games running on it.
Not really. Nothing would suggest either Drake or ToTK need each other to sell well at their launches.
Meaning they aren’t holding either back from releasing to wait for each other. There would be other reasons.
I think this is plausible. No reason they can’t announce Metroid remake alongside a new model announcement in a few weeks. It’s not like Metroid Prime remake would need a huge lead time between announcement and release.
I think it does.
Switch hardware sold 23 million this last FY.
That was a 20% drop from the previous FY, even with the OLED launch helping boost half of the year’s sales.
If they really plan on not releasing new hardware this FY, they should be projecting ~18-19 million…especially considering how conservative they like to be when making projections.
They are still maintaining a 21 million projection.
Whether a next gen Switch is truly a distinct "platform" is kind of debatable, but even if it is, it should pick up the Splatoon 3 torch fairly quickly.
One gets the sense that Nvidia is fairly invested in having a console platform that they're powering, given that it seems like they are probably the ones who approached Nintendo (twice, even).
OP
OP
Just to add, Nintendo worked with Nvidia on the Nintendo 3DS since 2006. But Nintendo ultimately rejected Nvidia in favour of Digital Media Professionals Inc. (DMP) for the Nintendo 3DS.You have one company with powerful lawyers, who is an industry leader in graphics rendering.
And then you have another company with powerful lawyers, who is also an industry leader but in the the direction gaming medium.
I’d say that these two are at arms length and will not let either one get close to the other.
At all.
Actually, nvidia would be the one to try and buddy up Nintendo rather than the other way around, but Nintendo would erect their arm, index finger pointed up, pushed into their face and go, “shh, we aren’t doing that. Stay that distance and don’t come closer
So there's always a possibility Nintendo could reject Nvidia in favour of another company in the future. (Certainly after Nintendo releases new hardware equipped with Drake, of course.)
Z0m3le
Bob-omb
I think the solution for Nintendo is their own cloud service that seemlessly bridges the gap for their own software.
Partner with Nvidia for a GeForce Now like cloud service where 1st party Drake games when played in current Switch models automatically launch in the cloud, but if played on a Drake model, it plays locally. This means that if you don't have a good connection, you can just go out and buy a Drake model, and gives Nintendo flexibility in addressing future hardware.
Nintendo never has to abandon current Switch owners, and their success can grow unhindered by hardware. As for Nintendo's stance on cloud gaming, here is a 2019 quote from Nintendo President Furukawa:
To carry the 115M current Switch owners forward is also super important to Nintendo, given how much these owners love first party games, given the record sales on that end.
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YolkFolk
Tingle
Nintendo’s own software will easily run on an OG Switch for a good while without the need for cloud. Just look at the Crash and Spyro games on PS4 Pro - they look absolutely brilliant, while also running well on Switch. The way Nintendo’s games look means they will scale down well in the same manner.
Z0m3le
Bob-omb
Having said that, Yoshi's crafted world doesn't even run at 600p, Link's Awakening has a weird stuttering problem, Zelda and Mario couldn't hit 1080p, and everything uses dynamic resolution and so many first party games are 30fps... This is all docked mode I'm talking about too, it's even worse with portable... Nintendo has been releasing this level of HD games for 10 years, don't expect it to be forever, I'd guess in just 2 years from now, they will start announcing exclusives for new hardware.
mjayer
Bob-omb
I’m still in the holiday-2022-launch-is-possible camp, with you. There’s been so much smoke for so long, production could begin in earnest any moment (may already have!) and announcement could happen any day. I’ll say it seems more unlikely knowing what we know but it’s still a possibility. We just don’t know.
TOTK doesn’t have to be tied to drake. It will provide a good boost in May when the initial launch rush/hype could be dwindling.
Though what would the launch title then be? Could that have a big IP completely unannounced that will be used along side the reveal to generate hype? And if they don’t have a big one ready to go could they, would they just lean in on current games (botw, splat3, mk8, etc) updates to drive demand? That and big trailers for 2023 games that can really show off the grunt? Maybe but I think they would love to have a title that’s a real show piece for drake at launch. Could a new 3D Mario be ready in time? Maybe Metroid 4?
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I like everything in this post.
D
Deleted member 887
Guest
I can’t imagine Nintendo deprecating 110 million units with 6 month’s notice.
I especially can’t imagine them doing it even if they wanted to in this market. Sony would love to see the PS4 die and they can’t kill it off.
There is enough stuff announced without release dates - Advance Wars, Pikmin, Prime 4 - and enough stuff heavily rumored that is probably coming - Prime Remake, EPD Kong, GB/GBC/GBA, WiiU Zelda Ports - to round out a solid 12-18 months of support.
Even if Nintendo pivoted to entirely Drake dev tomorrow we’d still get a solid 2023 of base Switch stuff that rivals the final year of the Wii, the Wii U or the Game Cube.
I especially can’t imagine them doing it even if they wanted to in this market. Sony would love to see the PS4 die and they can’t kill it off.
There is enough stuff announced without release dates - Advance Wars, Pikmin, Prime 4 - and enough stuff heavily rumored that is probably coming - Prime Remake, EPD Kong, GB/GBC/GBA, WiiU Zelda Ports - to round out a solid 12-18 months of support.
Even if Nintendo pivoted to entirely Drake dev tomorrow we’d still get a solid 2023 of base Switch stuff that rivals the final year of the Wii, the Wii U or the Game Cube.
Z0m3le
Bob-omb
3DS was announced in March 2010 for a holiday launch, and the only reason it was announced that early, is because the 3D screen leaked to the press... They did an E3 blow out and then at the end of September that year, they delayed it until February the next year... 3DS was the successor to the 154M Nintendo DS, so just imagine Nintendo doing that again with the Switch. Also DS launched at the end of 2004, making it a 6 year life cycle until the 3DS. 3DS was also a 6 year life cycle until Switch.
Raccoon
Fox Brigade
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for the love of god they will not call it that
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As long as new hardware can play Switch games on and their DLC works on said new hardware, then I don't see the issue whatsoever. Besides, the DLC wave already faced backlash in some corners of the internet regardless, as it was (a) depleting the number of retro courses for future games and (b) meant that there'd be no new Mario Kart until some short time after the DLC at the earliest.
This feels like a distinctly enthusiast type of mindset, that anything made on old hardware is immediately considered unplayable trash, not unlike the current belly-aching about PS5 "suffering" through what will now be 4 years of cross-gen game releases. And it's a super-minority of people making those complaints, and clearly not a very influential minority, either, since it's happening regardless.
Not even now, this is how consoles have kinda always been, except instead of a cross-gen period, you had "last-gen exclusives". The only notable exceptions to this have been for poor-selling hardware, which is kind of a "no duh" sort of thing.
Different kind of relationship, the factors that dissolved the EVGA relationship don't apply to Nintendo and never have. So long as Nintendo sees value in the Tegra lineup, they'll keep partnering with Nvidia, who seemed to REALLY want that business from Nintendo long term, which is a strong contrast to the EVGA situation.
Yeah, people calling for Nintendo to wait until after the DLC are basically saying "I want a software drought". It's manufacturing a problem for new hardware to fix, which is kinda scummy.
I wonder why he wouldn't want to say it was a "console" or a "handheld" prior to announcement.
We've got live footage from the future of Splatoon 3 copies after the launch of new hardware:
In all seriousness, though, it's a rather exceptionalist argument being made here, and one that doesn't exactly make sense. The only way around this supposed problem would have been to delay its release and make it exclusive to the new hardware, because there is no other alternative that would not result in the same conclusion of Splatoon 3 being a flagship long-term live game still getting support on a "non-flagship" device.
It's possible, but it would require Tegra not continuing to be best in class in its power envelope available for Nintendo to use or a competitor equaling this best-in-class SoC with the same level of support as Nvidia provides at a cheaper cost to Nintendo. And the way things are going, it'll be 10 more years minimum before that's the case.
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Raccoon
Fox Brigade
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if the Switch 2 were happening I think they would have delayed it
Splatoon 3 coming out at the end of Switch's life is not desirable for them
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Because it's not going to be compatible with new hardware? Because it's not going to get an upgrade/glow-up for new hardware?
I sincerely don't see the issue here.
Raccoon
Fox Brigade
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because when Switch 2 is out, Switch is old news. Splatoon 3 is an evergreen title with Nintendo Switch branding, so a replacement will kill its momentum
I guess they could do the xbox one 360 game maneuver where they rebrand the same cartridge like it's a new game
edit: like this
The beginning of Drake's life is not the end of Switch's life.
Raccoon
Fox Brigade
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PS4 is still getting games but its sales and public perception are completely gone
it was similar for 3DS
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They could also do the PS thing of having a separate SKU for new hardware with all of its upgrades already present, but that seems less likely. In lieu of either option, they'll probably do the MHRise route when Sunbreak came out and they sold it with a download code in the case: just badge existing copies with a sticker on the shrink-wrap, saying something like "enhanced for Switch DX" or whatever they name the bloody thing.because when Switch 2 is out, Switch is old news. Splatoon 3 is an evergreen title with Nintendo Switch branding, so a replacement will kill its momentum
I guess they could do the xbox one 360 game maneuver where they rebrand the same cartridge like it's a new game
edit: like this
Or they could just leave it alone, because it's a strong and popular IP and the most recent version of a popular online game, because it may keep selling as is regardless of it being on an older platform? Splatoon's momentum almost entirely comes from it being the newest Splatoon game, not the platform it's on, especially with backwards compatibility still in play and a possibility of a software upgrade path. Let's not forget that Splatoon as a franchise started on a platform that should have killed its momentum all on its own, but the franchise grew like an unkillable weed in hostile earth. The IP is the thing, not the platform.
Hell, while on the subject, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo did the unprecedented thing of continuing to sell Switch games on the eShop for the new hardware and creating no distinction between them and titles only available on that new hardware, which would obviously be a first for them.
Either way, it's an easily solved problem, if it's even a problem at all.
Its hardware sales may be gone, but that's not what we're discussing, Splatoon ain't hardware.
If you meant that its software sales are gone, I won't speak for North American software performance (if only because NPD doesn't normally split those sales by platform SKU anyways), but in Japan and Asia, the ascendence of Switch seems to have had a hell of a lot more to do with how software on PS4 has performed than the hardware transition itself. And at this point, if PS4 software sales were shit in the West, then no one would have incentive to keep making software on PS4 this late in the game, right? There's only one other reason I can think of for why publishers would still make PS4 software that doesn't sell worth a damn, but it's only suspicion and has no basis in fact, so I'll leave that unsaid.
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POE
Rattata
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I think its a perfect name.
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I might have been OK with it at some point, but I think it’s just far too limiting now.
Switch 4K Model reads as a model that upscales Switch games to 4K, but it sounds like that’s massively underselling what this is. Exclusive 3rd party titles that run at sub 4K on the “4K Model” sure is an odd thing to market.
It’ll probably be along the same lines as New, Super, Next, Advance, etc. “I’m a better version of the system, but ambiguously so”. They don’t need to be so weirdly on-the-nose as they were with the OLED Model.
Dark Cloud
Warpstar Knight
For what it sounds like it’ll be or do they definitely won’t call it Switch 4K I agree.
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Why not? They’ve started new Pokémon generations at the end of a system’s life before, to the point where the sequels (Black & White 2, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon) have to come out after the new hardware is released. I don’t see how continuing to support Splatoon 3 after a new model of Switch comes out is any different?
They’re going to be selling the current Switch hardware for a long time. We don’t have a ton of details about how Nintendo is going to position Drake but one thing that does seem very clear is that it’s extremely unlikely that this new hardware is going to be a direct replacement for the existing $299 Switch hardware. Given what we know of the specs it seems essentially guaranteed to be a higher-priced, enthusiast product that is sold alongside the current “mainstream” Switch for at least some time.
Splatoon is very popular with kids; I don’t think gating S3 behind brand-new $399+ hardware would make any sense at all, really.
If PS4 games weren't selling, there probably wouldn't be so many of them still coming. The hardware itself doesn't matter if the game runs in the new hardware.
Also the hard division between PS4 and PS5 was a choice by Sony that I don't expect Nintendo to replicate. I expect the "Also playable on Switch Drake" stickers to appear and multiply rapidly.
D
Deleted member 1896
Guest
Any new thoughts since the Direct on the huge component expenses from the last financial report? Are they just stocking up on parts to avoid a lukewarm launch like the PS5 and Xbox Series?
It could still make sense as a long term strategy for Nintendo. They'd be losing money on renting all that storage space in the short term, but Switch sales probably make up for that, and it allows them to start their next hardware cycle on a strong launch, with large volumes shipped right out of the gate.
If that's the case, they could be aiming for holiday 2023 at the earliest, or some time during 2024.
It could still make sense as a long term strategy for Nintendo. They'd be losing money on renting all that storage space in the short term, but Switch sales probably make up for that, and it allows them to start their next hardware cycle on a strong launch, with large volumes shipped right out of the gate.
If that's the case, they could be aiming for holiday 2023 at the earliest, or some time during 2024.
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Eh…I don’t see why Drake would get any more/different support from these publishers than the 100 million current Switch userbase system has gotten.
I mean, Square-Enix can’t even be bothered to port the ps3 versions of Kingdom Hearts games onto the Switch. They do a “lazy” cloud version of them.
Why would Drake change this equation?
No, Nintendo has spoken many times about their mistakes during the Wii years. They have specifically said they don’t want to make the similar mistakes they did back then. They specifically have said they will be more proactive in pushing their hardware and game development forward during their great success rather than waiting too long when demand/interest has been squeezed dry.
There is no way they wait till 2024 to boost engagement in Switch.
They will strike very soon. They aren’t afraid of investing in cutting edge tech, they don’t want to wait too late to start future development tech like they waited too long for HD development during Wii years. They have been telegraphing this understanding of past mistakes and new strategies to avoide those past mistakes for a long time now
Nintendo doesn’t give a f**k about coordinating hardware for 3rd party publishers. Sorry if this is too blunt lol, but it’s true
3D Zelda is irrelevant to Drake.
I get people wanting to bend over backwards tying them together, but they exist separate from each other.
I mean, maybe in some alternate timeline Nintendo holds off on the release of Skyward Sword in 2011 and decides to launch it alongside the Wii U in 2012 instead…but so what? It didn’t happen. Just because BotW being fully finished and polished for two systems coincided with the Switch launch, doesn’t mean this is their new MO
They aren’t holding onto ToTK in order to wait till they have enough Drake chips to launch.
ToTK is launching when Nintendo feels like the game is ready to launch.
Nintendo knows most of the sales of ToTK will be to the current 100 million Switch model base. Not the new, expensive model.
Nintendo doesn’t need ToTK to help sell the new Drake model…Nintendo will be lucky to have enough supply to meet demand no matter what.
I agree with you that the new pro model won’t release after May and after ToTK…but that has nothing to do with the game’s release date.
Whatever reason Nintendo has decided on when to announce and release the Drake Switch upgrade model, it will be for reasons OTHER than what particular software is ready or not
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Dark Cloud
Warpstar Knight
just forget it lol
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D
Deleted member 1896
Guest
As a cross-gen Drake launch title or as a Switch exclusive, TotK will sell truckloads on the current Switch either way.
The more important question is how will it affect Drake hardware sales if the system launches with mostly older ports from Nintendo - Zelda will surely be ported and so will Splatoon 3. But what will be Drake's killer app? I don't see a Mario Kart 9 filling that role as it's a family game and families aren't the same demographic as early adopters.
In other words, if Drake launches much later than Zelda, will it need its own system seller? And if so, what would that be? A new 3D Mario? The rumored Donkey Kong? Could it still be a success with no major exclusives?
The more important question is how will it affect Drake hardware sales if the system launches with mostly older ports from Nintendo - Zelda will surely be ported and so will Splatoon 3. But what will be Drake's killer app? I don't see a Mario Kart 9 filling that role as it's a family game and families aren't the same demographic as early adopters.
In other words, if Drake launches much later than Zelda, will it need its own system seller? And if so, what would that be? A new 3D Mario? The rumored Donkey Kong? Could it still be a success with no major exclusives?
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Comparing with PlayStation and Xbox is pointless. Those are systems whose new hardware is directly tied in to AAA 3rd party “next gen” development.
Those systems rely mostly on new 3rd party game sales. Those systems sales rely mostly on what advancements 3rd party devs are putting on games over previous gen releases.
Sony will stop doing “cross gen” games as soon as the major 3rd party games on the system stop.
Nintendo consoles aren’t driven by 3rd party games, let alone “next gen” pushing 3rd party games…so they don’t fashion their 1st part development anywhere near the same as Xbox/PlayStation.
Most people will buy/play ToTK on the current Switch models. The minority will buy/play it on the relatively expensive Drake model.
So this is nothing like the BotW Wii U/Switch scenario.
Drake is designed to help Nintendo transition Nintendo games into 4K/DLSS development for the future.
That’s it.
They lamented they waited too long to get into HD development. They let Wii fizzle out and tried to transition to HD development with the Wii U launch. It hurt them in terms of output.
They have vowed not to make that mistake again.
This new model is a bridge to that, designed to release alongside continued success. To develop in tandem. All together.
Drake is in no way Nintendos “answer” to get some 3rd party support that some people think the Switch is lacking.
This isn’t a new system. This is an addition to the Switch family of systems.
They can pair it with any moderately known game that shows off the system. Doesn’t have to be a AAA game or casual friendly juggernaut.
Just like Metroid Dread was a good companion with the OLED. Not a huge seller, but it did its job.
Naw. People who buy Drake will be people who want to play Nintendo games with better graphics/performance.
Not people who want to play Witcher 3 and Skyrim a bit better on a portable than their pc/Xbox/ps
Most people who buy ToTK will be buying it for their OG Switch, Lite Switch, OLED Switch.
Hate to break it to you
Tbh, Nintendo doesn’t care how “fast” the Drake model sells.
They simply want it to be a Switch tier option to keep gamers who care about resolution/graphics/performance engaged in Switch gaming for the next ~4 years than they would have if no Drake model existed.
Nintendo isn’t planning on shifting their game development nor their services to be specifically “Drake centric” until many years from now.
This isn’t the same situation as Microsoft wanting everything to shift to the Series S/X and away from the Xbox one/X as soon as possible. Or Sony wanting that going from ps4 to ps5.
Any info on current stock of switch units in the Americas, Japan and/or Europe?
Also, was the quote "splatoon 3 will have 2 years of splatfest updates support" a real quote from nintendo or just people speculating?
I personally very much doubt SP3 EOL would be indicative of new hardware coming up, however, who really knows when it comes to nintendo really...
Also, was the quote "splatoon 3 will have 2 years of splatfest updates support" a real quote from nintendo or just people speculating?
I personally very much doubt SP3 EOL would be indicative of new hardware coming up, however, who really knows when it comes to nintendo really...
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[citation needed]
You seem very sure that you know what goes on within Nintendo boardrooms at the highest level.
Really? In no way is making the Switch a more attractive target for third party development that a potential goal of the new hardware? How do you know that?
Tomato, tomahto. Also we really don’t have any idea how this thing is going to be branded or how Nintendo is going to spin it. So, again, [citation needed].
This is a speculation thread. It says so right in the title. Other people are allowed to interpret things differently than you, without them being wrong. You’re not the only one uniquely blessed with the ability to prognosticate about what Nintendo might do. And since your predictions are just that, predictions, and since you’re not actually proven right yet, you could stand to maybe not talk down quite as much to everyone else in this thread, or make statements of fact about what Nintendo’s motivations are when you really have no way of actually knowing them.
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
I bought the OLED Switch to play a bunch of games that had come out before it on the better screen.
I didn’t buy any new Switch games holiday 2021/early 2022
It makes less sense to pass Drake off as a gen breaking successor in the way Sony and Microsoft positioned ps5/Series SX
Why doesn’t it make sense to say “hey, here is a new Switch model that plays Switch games with better graphics/performance” in the same way OLED Switch was “hey, here is a new Switch model that plays Switch games portably better on a much better/bigger screen”
?
Why doesn’t this make sense.
The $350 Switch is selling like gangbusters. It’s the top selling Switch Sku. They have trouble keeping up shipments with demand.
Look at Japan weekly sales. The most expensive Switch option is outpacing all other models sales by far…in the territory that often gets derided as the most cost conscious gaming territory.
OLED Switch demand has proven to Nintendo that the price threshold for a Switch revision is nowhere near met.
If people are choosing the $350 model over all other options $50-$150 cheaper…just for the better screen? $450 doesn’t seem outrageous at all for a top tier model that has a better screen AND insanely better gaming graphics/performance
Plus, Nintendo can price this as high as they want. They don’t need it to sell like it’s a successor. They just need it as an option like the ps4 pro and Xbox one X one as a lifecycle lengthener.
It only needs to sell ~20 million or so to be successful at what it’s designed to do
I mean…the who purpose of a revision ISNT to be the best selling sku of the platform.
The whole purpose of a revision is to keep software engagement high during the latter half of the platform’s life cycle.
Appealing to gamers who might have lost interest in gaming on that platform had their not been the hardware refresh.
That’s the whole point of a hardware revision/iteration.
The ps4 pro and Xbox one X did a fantastic job keeping console gamer engagement high from 2016-2020. It would have been much much less had these models not been released.
The ps4 pro and Xbox One X did NOT need to sell more than the OG ps4+ps4 slim or the OG xboxOne or Xbox one S. It sold like a quarter of that. But it served its purpose.
Mekanos
おっす！
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- he/they
Shuntaro Furukawa, log off your alt and go greenlight a Donkey Kong game.
Simba1
Bob-omb
Well they will care everyone upgrade to new hardware at one point,
there will be big power and technical difference between current Switch versions and Drake versions, so for them would be easier to make games just for one hardware and also worry only about one production line of one device instead of two with quite different parts (SoC, RAM, internal memory and who knows what else).
I disagree that Nintendo would be happy if they still selling Switch OLED in 2026, they would want to have in 2026. all Switch Drake versions of hardware on market and not any more in sales current ones.
I disagree comparison is pointless, 2 years after PS5 launch Sony keep releasing PS4 games also (actually currently I can remember only one Sony PS5 exclusive),
that never happened before, and main reason for that is because PS5 is using again AMD hardware so this time its not completely different type of hardware/tech and development/environment, and because of that making cross gen games is easier than before.
Nintendo with Drake will be in similar situation, Drake would basically be full next gen hardware compared to current Switch units and Nintendo will keep supporting for some time both Switch hardware (current gen and next gen).
Simba1
Bob-omb
I agree that they could call it Switch 2, but talking about price, that goes both ways.
If they market it like Switch 2 that would be mass market product and not just for enthusiasts, and Nintendo would to have more affordable price in that case because is mass market product.
On other hand, if market it something like Switch "Pro" IMO in that case they can sell it much higher price point because it "Pro" is not for everyone but for enthusiast users that are willing to spend more money.
I am closer to 1st option and with price point of $399 to $449 max.
Simba1
Bob-omb
Completely agree, like you wrote, of course that Nintendo doesn't need Zelda TorK or some other huge title for Drake launch,
but if Drake is really launching in 1H of next year, than most likely would be launching alongside Zelda TorK because hardly Nintendo would miss such-a opportunity to showcase and promote basically next gen Switch hardware.
And not only that, but with Drake they could have similar what they had in 1st year of Switch, showcase in January-February, launch with new Zelda game and new Mario game in holiday season.
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Im pretty sure the successor SoC beyond Drake will be launching around 2026 or so…so the idea of Drake having mostly games in 2026 that the OLED Switch can’t play seems kind of silly to me
Imo, it could be any type of game that shows off what the new hardware can do. Doesn’t have to be AAA.
Think of Links Awakening remake selling Lite models or Metroid Dread selling OLED models.
Honestly, announcing and showing off the Metroid Prime remake on Drake hardware would be plenty for this holiday.
Haha.
Just imagine, I responded to your post that stated “ they’re going to be making a big push for third party support with this system. Its almost purpose-built to break down the excuses for not supporting the Switch. Not powerful enough for your PS4 games? Well, here you go.”
With just…….. “citation needed” mic drop
Just imagine I did that.
Now, after you’ve done that, pull up your big boy pants and actually respond in a mature manner to what I said…
I have tons of quotes of Nintendo reflecting on the Wii years and saying they want to be proactive in new game development technology for their games…during current success rather than waiting too long.
I’d love to read all your quotes from Nintendo reflecting on how they need to fashion their hardware development to insure maximum multiplat port support. Let’s see it.
I’m basing my responses on what Nintendo execs have literally said in public in the last few years.
That, coupled with what historically Nintendo has done when it comes to hardware/software design decisions…how am I wrong on this? In your opinion.
Cause when have they ever done that?
Give me some examples of a brand new Nintendo console or Nintendo system revision model that was designed to make 3rd party porting easier first and foremost.
It’s always been about Nintendo software designs and goals.
For a speculation thread, you are getting awfully heated about my speculation…
The people I respond to in this thread are stating very matter of factly what they expect will or won’t happen. This is all speculation/opinion. Don’t kid yourself.
Just admit you don’t like my POV compared to them.
To suggest I’m the only one in this thread pretending like they know how this will go…is very silly. Lots of people have strong, differing opinions on this.
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I note that you very specifically edited out the words “I think…” that started the statement of mine you quoted. I wasn’t making a statement of fact, I was presenting it as my own conjecture.
Excuse me?
First, not a boy.
Second, your entire post is just you making spurious assertions as to what Nintendo is doing or thinking without really providing any evidence to support that. There really isn’t any “mature” way to respond to that other than to say that you aren’t bothering to substantiate any of your claims, which I did.
That's literally who I'm describing
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I dunno about first and foremost, but of the top of my head?
Nintendo Switch. It was designed in a LOT of ways to facilitate 3rd-party development, learning from past failures in this regard. And it's impossible to look at the system and not say, in some pretty significant ways, that it was successful at doing just that.
Wii U was allegedly designed with 3rd-parties in mind, even though it was a super-bad attempt at it that sold poorly to consumers, but that was one of Nintendo's stated design principles for it and the first year of software wasn't terrible for games released on it, all things considered; still has more Call of Duty games on it than Switch does. They went as far as to include a free copy of Unity Pro middleware with every dev kit. A obviously bad attempt is still an attempt, though.
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