I think Switch is a different value proposition than old handhelds. In terms of the base unit price, in terms of a lack of R4 cards and in terms of every young kid growing up on tablets and f2p games nowadays. They still want Switches or whatever is hip and happening, but after the core fans have been drawn in and made it hip and happening. Although, admittedly, if this is simply Switch 2 it might get on in brand name that Wii U and 3DS couldn't.
Eh I'm not worried, but I do think it's the difference between 20m sold and 30m sold lifetime. And maybe even a bit lower than 20m if enough people are going to be like "I'll wait until the Switch 2 so the framerate kinks are ironed out" and then by the time it comes around think "nah it's old now". That said I can definitely see that Nintendo is okay with 18m, which is a sizable number and still great for their bottom line (although again then why go for two delays and a 5 year dev cycles). I just say I think it's a waste.
I mean DS did just fine
Metroid Prime 4 or Remakester are definitely possible.
Switch itself was revealed late October for an early March release. Games for it outside of BotW were only properly revealed 1.5 month before the thing came. And that time around we didn't have a Zelda release date.
BOTW has had amazing momentum from the jump, in large part because of the hardware it launched on, and the "proof-of-concept" nature of it all. Having that type of game perform well on a handheld device felt like wizardry. And even if TOTK doesn't sell as well there's precedence for that. Mario Galaxy 2 sold only a little over half as much as Galaxy 1. But the type of game TOTK is, sells at the moment. So it'll do fine.
There are nearly a billion games sold on it (if it hasn't already passed that number at the moment). It will be backwards-compatible. Safe bet.
Not sure which Zelda games apply to this other than Skyward Sword but consider the uphill battle that game had.
Yep, If Nate hadn't corroborated this thing really wouldn't have blown up like it did.
Pump the brakes.
I agree with this, given my personal impression of how Nintendo paces itself.
Never! I will change my avatar to whatever you want (so long as its not hateful or pornographic) if a new nintendo console, switch successor or otherwise, does not release in 2023.
You'll luck out when we get the Donkey Kong Game & Watch
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
I mean, also, Nintendo has tons of franchises that they can launch a new Switch with, other than Zelda. It's admittedly a little sparser than it would be if they weren't releasing Splatoon 3, or support MK, but still. Something like a 3D Mario appeals to casuals and hardcore gamers just as much as Zelda (in fact, traditionally more, but you know, BOTW).
Bit too much dlc for me there, also nothing to say MP4/Prime Remake and Advance Wars will actually happen next year. Hopefully though.
I think if Nintendo gets to AW delayed a year and no signs of the Ukraine/Russia conflict ending soon they'll "send it to die" quietly onto the eshop and to retail stores to fill pre orders.
Zelda 2 and Majoras Mask (kinda). You're right there are not many though.
Perhaps "excellent" is too strong a word. But as a final major year for the system, with many development resources likely being dedicated to the next system, I think it's still a pretty strong year, when compared with final years of other systems. It should be enough to maintain audience engagement and positive momentum for a 2024 launch.
Those are definitely very weird outliers but I do get the point.
Didn't Nate also say he's heard the mid-gen refresh is cancelled? I'm probably wrong on this one but that's what I'm understanding!
There were only around 4.5 months between the formal reveal of the Switch and its release.
If the successor doesn't launch in 2024 this forum will implode.
If we take what spekkeh said liberally ("three times as much" isn't true for any Zelda follow up on a same console unless we're talking games that were released as cross-gen games thus splitting the sales on the original platform, as far as I know), I feel like it's more the opposite. What Zelda game does this not apply to? I can't think of a single one.
To clarify, I think we can make some deductions based on what kind of announcements we get. If we just get Zelda, a few announcements focusing on singleplayer games/HD ports, and a lot of DLC reveals, then I think we can say Nintendo are beginning to look to a future beyond the Switch.
Eh....
Yeah, but I said as much in my reply, too. Wasn't really concerned with whether BOTW2 could do it, I'm focusing on the part where they didn't know when that's happened in Zelda history bar some exceptions, when it's actually happened a lot (I even forgot to mention the DS entries, which they themselves did).
At this point my head cannon is
I don't buy the Dane was underwhelming and thus cancelled theory myself, but it's one of the ones out there. I'll note two things with this:
Right. I won't argue it since it's only head canon.
Undoubtedly there's been a ton of variables we're not privy too that are just normal business for the industry on top of everything abnormal that's happened over the last three years. I'd be willing to bet that Nintendo had to shake up quite a few plans since 2019.
that sounds amazing tbh
I mean there will probably be a surprise or two but it's generally how it goes is what I'm saying.
I mean... The post you're quoting has examples from 3 of the past 5 years to prove that's not how it goes. And in fact, it's really 5 out of 5:
