Rumour Nintendo might not have a major Switch title after Zelda as they prepare to move on to new hardware

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

On top of

1) Only NPD? No second parties or Monolith and such I don't believe
2) Being compared to Zelda, where the only competition is... Mario Kart and 2D/3D Mario?

cause like, we're probably going to have a Pokemon game that's still on the Switch.

Gen 10 is either November 2025 or November 2026 (which would probably be on future hardware?), but I'm curious if they actually release another Pokemon RPG before 2025.

I'm not sure they're going to do a Let's Go or Legends followup and I don't think they'll do a Black and White remake for a few years.

 

[Marce-chan]

I'd guess Dring is referring to "big" games as in 20 million sellers.

Joke's on him though, when Tomodachi Life: Get a Life! launches spring 2024 and sells an insane 50m.

Also biennial Pokémon and Mario Party aren't leaving Switch anytime soon...

Yeah, even if it was only 20M+ selling franchises, it would still be wrong as Pokémon won't leave Switch soon or be cross gen.
2024 will probably have remakes and 2025 a new gen, with a new Legends game in between, and I doubt any of those will miss OG Switch.
There should also be a new 2D Mario on the Switch that would count on all fronts.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Yeah, even if it was only 20M+ selling franchises, it would still be wrong as Pokémon won't leave Switch soon or be cross gen.
2024 will probably have remakes and 2025 a new gen, with a new Legends game in between, and I doubt any of those will miss OG Switch.
There should also be a new 2D Mario on the Switch that would count on all fronts.

2024 for a Black and White remake would still be 18 months from Zelda and seems way too soon.

 

[Marce-chan]

I believe in a new game from the Odyssey team for the Switch. Maybe Mario Kart 10 will be exclusive to the next-gen (and even than I'm not so sure). I wouldn't me surprise if we see ARMS 2 (Switch) before MK10 (if that happens, then I'll be confident with MK10 being exclusive)

I think we'll have ARMS 2 or a new IP from that team on the Switch - a game they'd be able to develop alongside continuous development of Tour and Booster Course Pass. The next full Mario Kart I'm pretty sure will be next gen only and 2025 at the earliest.

We know due to hirings that the Odyssey team is developing both a 2D(DK) and 3D(Mario) game, and those should come in 2023/2024 due to how long they've been cooking. I'd be highly surprised (negatively btw) if any of those isn't cross gen. I think 3D Mario this holiday and DK next spring, both cross gen, is what makes the most sense.

 

[Bobdapeach]

Pokémon Centro Leaks somewhat corroborated this




In saying that, I know these guys usually take stuff from other people and don’t seem to have reliable sources of their own but just wanted to share

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Edit to hide my shame: I swear, I know how to use a calendar.

 

[Marce-chan]

2024 for a Black and White remake would still be 18 months from Zelda and seems way too soon.

Why would it be way too soon?
The one thing having 3 mainline Pokémon releases between November 2021 and November 2022 taught us is that TPC is very loyal to the "New gen, nothing, remakes, new gen" format.
Black and White remakes late 2024 and new gen in 2025 are the safest possible bets on Switch/Drake future.

 

[Marce-chan]

Pokémon Centro Leaks somewhat corroborated this




In saying that, I know these guys usually take stuff from other people and don’t seem to have reliable sources of their own but just wanted to share

I mean the only one mainline Pokémon left is also something super easy to guess as after the next gen in 2025 the other game will come in like 2028.

Also I think Nintendo giving Switch a twilight year like Wii U 2016 and Wii 2011/12 would highly contradict the mode they've been operating lately, and I'd be very surprised if at least 2024/2025 games aren't mostly cross gen.

 

[lexony]

I mean the only one mainline Pokémon left is also something super easy to guess as after the next gen in 2025 the other game will come in like 2028.

Also I think Nintendo giving Switch a twilight year like Wii U 2016 and Wii 2011/12 would highly contradict the mode they've been operating lately, and I'd be very surprised if at least 2024/2025 games aren't mostly cross gen.

If anything, the next Pokémon game can appear on both platforms.

 

[Marce-chan]

If anything, the next Pokémon game can appear on both platforms.

Yeah that's the most likely outcome for both the 2024 remakes and the 2025 new gen, cross gen, whether that's a single SKU like Xbox or a separate version (less likely imo)

 

[Rainbow]

With a userbase of 120 Million +, Nintendo will be well prepared to support Switch for some time. There will be some new games(AA) if not even cross- gen ( AAA). Also with Remasters like Advance Wars, Metroid Prime, Kid Ikarus or F- Zero, Switch won't feel hollow at all.

 

[Marce-chan]

Sith a userbase of 120 Million +, Nintendo will be well prepared to support Switch for some time. There will be some mew games(AA) if not even cross- gen ( AAA). Also with Remasters like Advance Wars, Metroid Prime, Kid Ikarus or F- Zero, Switch won't feel hollow at all.

This. Also I was just remembering a franchise that will probably be long live cross gen on Switch: Warriors games.
Whether it's Fire Emblem Warriors coming to 3DS in late 2017, Persona 5 Strikers coming to Switch day and date with PS4, I can't help but think the next Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors or another Nintendo franchise Warriors crossover will come to OG Switch even if they're released long after Drake.

 

[Lucifer]

If this is true, Nintendo seems to be horribly prepared for the transition to the next Switch, Zelda not being cross platform is extremely disappointing.

 

[N 2 Deep]

If this is true, Nintendo seems to be horribly prepared for the transition to the next Switch, Zelda not being cross platform is extremely disappointing.

It all depends on when it releases

There is still a small chance they announce a new console in the next few months (if we hear nothing by March 2023 then Switch 2 is at end of the year at best but most likely 2024 Holiday)

I am guessing if it is pushed to that 2024 release then Prime 4 will be the cross platform game. And there will be a TOTK Deluxe with DLC and more features

 

[SirShorse]

Tears of the Kingdom doesn't need to be crossplatform, if the next console is backwards compatible. An update to take advantage of the new console's capabilities sure, just like how Sony and Microsoft do it but that wouldn't make ToTK a Switch 2 game suddenly.
I really, REALLY hope the next console is backwards compatible, it's my only hope for the console really.

 

[Scrawnton]

If this is true, Nintendo seems to be horribly prepared for the transition to the next Switch, Zelda not being cross platform is extremely disappointing.

Nintendo is the only company that I can think of that would 100% do the following scenario:

Wii launches with Zelda in 2006: HUGE SUCCESS

Wii gets a new Zelda in 2011

Wii U launches in 2012 with no new Zelda in site.... system bombs historically...

Switch launches with Zelda in 2017: HUGE SUCCESS

Switch gets a new Zelda in 2023

Switch 2 launches in 2024 with no new Zelda in site ...... ???????

 

[VorpalNonsense]

Simple as that.

No:

• Metroid Prime 4

Still on the table:

• Metroid Prime 4

I appreciate that Metroid Prime 4 is always in a state of quantum superposition and cannot be defined by a linear release

 

[jerdieh]

Why would it be way too soon?
The one thing having 3 mainline Pokémon releases between November 2021 and November 2022 taught us is that TPC is very loyal to the "New gen, nothing, remakes, new gen" format.
Black and White remakes late 2024 and new gen in 2025 are the safest possible bets on Switch/Drake future.

Still, TPC/GF won’t necessarily go with the newest gen from the beginning. The Switch came out on March 2017, and USUM came out on the 3DS on November 2017. The first main Pokémon game for the Switch released in 2018 and SWSH didn’t make it until Nov. 2019.

So it is entirely possible that we keep getting Pokémon games on Switch one or two years after the new console is released.

 

[kimbo99]

Nintendo is the only company that I can think of that would 100% do the following scenario:

Wii launches with Zelda in 2006: HUGE SUCCESS

Wii gets a new Zelda in 2011

Wii U launches in 2012 with no new Zelda in site.... system bombs historically...

Switch launches with Zelda in 2017: HUGE SUCCESS

Switch gets a new Zelda in 2023

Switch 2 launches in 2024 with no new Zelda in site ...... ???????

I used to think this too, but the company has changed a lot since then. Also, the DS did not have a launch window Zelda title and song very well. We'll just have to wait and see what gimmick they throw in addition to more powerful hardware

 

[SirShorse]

Still, TPC/GF won’t necessarily go with the newest gen from the beginning. The Switch came out on March 2017, and USUM came out on the 3DS on November 2017. The first main Pokémon game for the Switch released in 2018 and SWSH didn’t make it until Nov. 2019.

So it is entirely possible that we keep getting Pokémon games on Switch one or two years after the new console is released.

Also, 3DS released in 2011 while I think the first actual Pokémon games that came out on 3DS were X & Y and those released in 2013

 

[Scrawnton]

I used to think this too, but the company has changed a lot since then. Also, the DS did not have a launch window Zelda title and song very well. We'll just have to wait and see what gimmick they throw in addition to more powerful hardware

The only distinction I'd make is that I don't think Zelda was ever historically a mover and shaker on handheld like it was on console.

 

[karmitt]

Sith a userbase of 120 Million +, Nintendo will be well prepared to support Switch for some time. There will be some mew games(AA) if not even cross- gen ( AAA). Also with Remasters like Advance Wars, Metroid Prime, Kid Ikarus or F- Zero, Switch won't feel hollow at all.

From a first party perspective, I don’t think it makes sense for Nintendo to make almost anything exclusive for 2 years after a new device launches. If the pitch for the new hardware is mostly it’s visuals, they should focus on compelling new generation improvements not exclusivity. New customers buying the existing Switch aren’t going to be the same demographic of consumers, and ongoing software sales in that platform serve them well.

That said, third parties may expect to see a strong effort to drive adoption of the new hardware, and exclusive content does matter in that regard. Personally I’m not sure I care about exclusives, as I think Nintendo’s EPD games look like they’d scale very well with small adjustments in detail. Games they develop with their partners I’m less certain about - Platinum for instance could probably benefit from dropping OG Switch.

Nintendo is the only company that I can think of that would 100% do the following scenario:

Wii launches with Zelda in 2006: HUGE SUCCESS

Wii gets a new Zelda in 2011

Wii U launches in 2012 with no new Zelda in site.... system bombs historically...

Switch launches with Zelda in 2017: HUGE SUCCESS

Switch gets a new Zelda in 2023

Switch 2 launches in 2024 with no new Zelda in site ...... ???????

I’ve long been a proponent of Zelda not making sense to launch before new hardware, but we simply don’t know what they have in store for 2023 and beyond. *

There exists the possibility that they’ll release both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom later with new generation updates, and they will probably sell incredibly well. Nintendo has run out of Wii U content to pad out their calendars, so unless they’ve really improved their output, they’ll need to take a new approach - something like more remasters and remakes, both from GCN as we’re getting rumors of, but perhaps even from Switch.

Edit: and to add to this, If new hardware was planned for this year and cancelled as DF seems to be implying, there was almost certainly intent to use Zelda to boost it. I’m going to assume it wasn’t some backwards decision that got them to the cancellation, but rather some major roadblock - perhaps Nvidia promised something performance and quality wise that they couldn’t deliver on. No idea.

 

[AlwaysOnDeck]

If this is true, Nintendo seems to be horribly prepared for the transition to the next Switch

Late 2024-2025 launch gives them much preparation time.

 

[SirShorse]

Nintendo has run out of Wii U content to pad out their calendars

Bu-but... Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD??

 

[Catalyst]

I think we should actually see Nintendo’s slate for the next couple years before we start boldly declaring that they are unprepared for a new console or that they’re making all the same mistakes they did in the Wii U era. Zelda is not the only system seller that exists.

 

[digi_era]

Honestly, I don't believe this. Leakers usually don't know much even about what we will see in the next Direct and now wonderfully they know the exact release plan of Nintendo for the next two years... This honestly just sounds like the usual sensational Nintendo leak which generates tons of clicks and everyone will forget when the next big release comes. Like when we hyped around ten times for switch pro - and now we do the same when someone states that it was planned and then skipped.

There are tons of things that sounds logical or reasonable, but in reality these most often feels like just guesses in case of Nintendo.

It is also vague enough to be able to move the goalpost when needed.

 

[Foxuzamakk]

Interesting....

 

[Jahranimo]

I think we should actually see Nintendo’s slate for the next couple years before we start boldly declaring that they are unprepared for a new console or that they’re making all the same mistakes they did in the Wii U era. Zelda is not the only system seller that exists.

Yep. It's the most boring, but safest route in the speculation time.

 

[kimbo99]

The only distinction I'd make is that I don't think Zelda was ever historically a mover and shaker on handheld like it was on console.

And this is exactly why I second guess the logic(mind you I 100% agree with the pattern as I thought about it myself). Switch is a hybrid, and we saw that Zelda helped sell consoles. However, we have also seen handhelds sell without Zelda (as stated, isn't a real system seller on handheld), so perhaps they are once again reverting to that and will have Zelda later in the gen. At the end of the day, this is Nintendo where patterns and logic don't always mean anything for future endeavors

 

[curl-6]

The thing to bear in mind is that unlike some prior Nintendo consoles, the Switch has built up a robust third party ecosystem, so even if Nintendo's big teams are shifted to making games for the successor, the software pipeline should remain healthy.

 

[MinionZero]

What they define as a big game is going to be be the crux of the matter. But consider this - why would Nintendo release Zelda in May and not later if it had nothing of note for the holiday?

Of course, the Switch has performed very well these last couple years with only so many titles in the holiday season, so they could be looking at a more length approach than just clustering everything to year-end.

Internally, Nintendo has only so many resources, so yeah Zelda will not get a new major Switch game after Tears of the Kingdom. Does that mean we won't have HD remasters or remakes by partners a la GREZZO? I don't think so.

My interpretation is 2023 will be when Nintendo releases more projects from partners to round-out the year and let Zelda, Mario Kart, and other evergreen titles continue to carry them through the year. That means Pikmin 4, a couple HD Remaster/Remakes, maybe a new Mario Party game from NdCube, and Metroid Prime Remaster or whatever the heck. Pokemon will likely have DLC contents for ScaVio, so we might not even get a Pokemon mainline game this year - maybe a spin-off.

I think it is safe to assume that Mario's next big game will be coming as a successor launch title.

 

[zumaddy]

How does the long-rumoured Fire Emblem remake fit into this? If it's likely coming next year won't that fit really weirdly? No way it's a cross-platform game.

 

[Kevin]

Pokémon Centro Leaks somewhat corroborated this




In saying that, I know these guys usually take stuff from other people and don’t seem to have reliable sources of their own but just wanted to share

I would wager that Nintendo has had a LOT of their mainline teams working on next gen games probably for at least a couple years now. Personally I think the next 3D Mario will be on the Switch successor. I imagine a lot of the next big games will be. The the last couple of years has been really missing any big key titles (opinion) and I think that's because those games will show up on the next hardware.

 

[Jet Jaguar]

Mario Odyssey/3D follow-up will likely launch with Switch 2 IF the console doesn't launch alongside Zelda in May. Book it

 

[aus89]

Nintendo is the only company that I can think of that would 100% do the following scenario:

Wii launches with Zelda in 2006: HUGE SUCCESS

Wii gets a new Zelda in 2011

Wii U launches in 2012 with no new Zelda in site.... system bombs historically...

Switch launches with Zelda in 2017: HUGE SUCCESS

Switch gets a new Zelda in 2023

Switch 2 launches in 2024 with no new Zelda in site ...... ???????

Switch 2 launches with 3D Mario = huge success

 

[Barely Able]

Could be possible in the “we need lots of software year 1” like switch had. But also seems dumb in that they absolutely crater support for their next system like the Wii with a complete dearth of software for a year or more. I know there are indies and whatnot, but seems like it would be wiser to just release the games and do next Gen patches like Sony has done to great success. I guess we will see.

 

[Thunder84]

I'm definitely curious as to how extensive Nintendo's cross-gen support will be. Certain franchises like Mario Party or anything EPD4 puts out have no need for new hardware, so how long will those series remain on Nintendo Switch? Will Nintendo's bigger titles remain on Switch as well, and for how long? Where or when will Nintendo draw the line?

My biggest question in regards to their next-gen, for sure.

 

[Thunder84]

Could be possible in the “we need lots of software year 1” like switch had. But also seems dumb in that they absolutely crater support for their next system like the Wii with a complete dearth of software for a year or more. I know there are indies and whatnot, but seems like it would be wiser to just release the games and do next Gen patches like Sony has done to great success. I guess we will see.

2023 already looks to be a stronger year than the Wii's final push, and we haven't even had a direct for the year yet. A "weak" year for the Switch can still be a fairly strong year overall, it just means we won't be hitting the same level of output that we saw in 2017/2019/2022, at least in regards to their primary titles.

 

[SpaceGodzilla]

nintendo's first-party offerings might be cross-platform for the first year or 2 but third party is 100% abandoning the switch for the new hardware

 

[Barely Able]

2023 already looks to be a stronger year than the Wii's final push, and we haven't even had a direct for the year yet. A "weak" year for the Switch can still be a fairly strong year overall, it just means we won't be hitting the same level of output that we saw in 2017/2019/2022, at least in regards to their primary titles.

True, but if we have nothing for say a year, then I think it’s a dumb decision, especially with the supposed consolidated development resources. But maybe the “minor” releases are good and enough of a lineup (I tend to like those just fine so would be ok if it was a good amount of releases).

 

[SpaceGodzilla]

look the transition to switch to new switch will be great if it's completely back words compatible with the switch and digital library, and some of the most popular switch games get performance patches on the new system

 

[Supreme Bum 01]

Pikmin 4
Wario Land by Good Feel
Rhythm Heaven by indiezeros
Punch-Out!!
Star Fox
Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp
Golden Sun
Mario Baseball

None of those would be considered 'big' games but a year or two of some of those plus additional HD remasters like Kid Icarus Uprising would be awesome imo.

 

[Bobdapeach]

Outside of WW and TP HD (which I hope release as a dual pack since it’s so late at this point), the only other Wii U port I really want is Woolly World, but we got crafted so i doubt it’ll happen

 

[karmitt]

Bu-but... Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD??

Hanging with Metroid Prime HD probably.

And by that I mean, Nintendo has decided to remake some of the assets before releasing them again. Don't listen to me I'm not an insider I have no idea where they are

 

[Beanstar40]

Why cant nintendo just give us a few small games like

Mother 3 hd-2d remake
Mother 4
A new mario and luigi game
A new paper mario game
Fzero gx remake
New fzero
Starfox the collection
New starfox
Super mario 3d all stars plus galaxy 2
Super mario odyssey 2
The Zelda 3ds remakes up resed for the switch
Twilight princess and wind waker hd
Zelda the minish cap remake
Zelda oracle remake
Zelda tears of the kingdom of the wild 3
Pilmin 1 and 2 hd remake
Pikmin 5
A new Startropics
A new golden sun
A new wario land
Wario land the hd collection
Kirby and the forgotten land 2
Super smash bros melee hd remake
A new super smash bros
Mario kart 8 triple deluxe
Mario kart 9
Mario kart the hd collection
Metroid prime trilogy hd remake
Metroid prime 4
Metroid prime 5
Metroid dread 2
New super princess peach
Game cube, 3ds, ds, gb, and gba all added to nso…


Its not like im asking for much

 

[nenned]

Nintendo is the only company that I can think of that would 100% do the following scenario:

Wii launches with Zelda in 2006: HUGE SUCCESS

Wii gets a new Zelda in 2011

Wii U launches in 2012 with no new Zelda in site.... system bombs historically...

Switch launches with Zelda in 2017: HUGE SUCCESS

Switch gets a new Zelda in 2023

Switch 2 launches in 2024 with no new Zelda in site ...... ???????

There is plenty Nintendo can do with Zelda to bridge the gap to the next game:

• 2024: 2D Zelda
• 2025: Ocarina 4K
• 2026: Hyrule Warriors based on TotK
• 2027 or 2028: New Zelda

 

[EricTheGamerman]

Another problem with this is the hyper focus around mainline Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, and Smash means that there still can be basically anything until the Switch 2 comes out. No one was expecting Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, or Smash to get beyond what they've now gotten on Switch with two of those games still be supported. Zelda is obviously going to have Tears of the Kingdom, so the only really big thing that could follow would probably be just another remake. That really just means Mario, which will disappoint some people, but a 2D Mario made from the ground up for Switch has the potential to be a "smaller title" compared to the next mainline 3D game and come out this year.

And I'm sure people will say but what about Metroid? And my answer to that is if people are going to consider Pikmin 4 (Pikmin 3 Deluxe sold 2.23 million copies) and Fire Emblem Engage (Three Houses sold 3.82 million copies) as more minor "end of life, last major titles" (I know Fire Emblem comes out before TotK but this always gets framed as Nintendo just having Zelda this year anyway), then Metroid Prime 4 definitely falls within this range too lol. And in general basically every series falls into this category as a possible release too. Maybe DK is too big? But even then it's not usually put alongside the other series too.

 

[AngryAlchemist]

The Switch isn't just a success because of Breath of the Wild being a launch game, and neither is the Wii, those are just one of many many reasons, and for the Wii in particular it was probably not very relevant once the Wii Sports craze started. You could sell just as much hardware in the early stages of the consoles life with a ton of different high profile IP from Nintendo. Because supply is limited in the beginning anyways. What's important about those releases is that they established a precedent for the kind of software people could expect, to draw in certain demographics. They worked wonderfully there, and especially for Breath of the Wild its status as an evergreen meant it was a defacto buy for many new Switch owners long after the launch period.

 

[Dolce]

Gen 10 is either November 2025 or November 2026 (which would probably be on future hardware?), but I'm curious if they actually release another Pokemon RPG before 2025.

I'm not sure they're going to do a Let's Go or Legends followup and I don't think they'll do a Black and White remake for a few years.

There won't be a game this year because of DLC, but I would be surprised if there is no Pokemon game in 2024.

 

[Rainbow]

This. Also I was just remembering a franchise that will probably be long live cross gen on Switch: Warriors games.
Whether it's Fire Emblem Warriors coming to 3DS in late 2017, Persona 5 Strikers coming to Switch day and date with PS4, I can't help but think the next Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors or another Nintendo franchise Warriors crossover will come to OG Switch even if they're released long after Drake.

With Xenoblade Chronicles Trilogy on Switch, a Xenoblade Warriors would make a lot of sense. But the franchise is probably to niche to be turned in a Warriors game...