“The Nintendo Switch owned 2017” is a sentence no one actually expected to write by the end of the year, but credit to Nintendo for pulling off one of the best stories of the past 12 months and releasing the hottest product in the process. Question is, can they take what they’ve learnt and continue that good form into 2018? Here’s six important points that should help the Switch going forward.
MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM
Almost every month since launch, the Switch had a major release or two on store shelves that kept it in the public eye. From Zelda to ARMS, Splatoon to Super Mario Odyssey, the console’s opening launch cycle was arguably one of the strongest of any console to date. Nintendo would do best to maintain that plan going forward, and the good news is they have plenty of existing IPs to work with in order to do just that. We already know Yoshi and Kirby have two starring roles coming up, but surely we’re just a Nintendo Direct away from hearing about new entries in other beloved franchises, especially Animal Crossing and Super Smash Bros.
The Nindies, Nintendo’s growing partnership with indie developers, also helped to build a rather large library of titles on the eShop. There’s so no signs that will slow down either, with a ton of titles released every week for the platform going forward. With all that in mind, that momentum should hopefully continue for a while yet.
INTRODUCE A WORTHWHILE ONLINE SYSTEM
The biggest question remaining for the Switch? How will its Online Program and potential virtual console work? We should know more about that in the coming months as our first year of ‘free’ online play for the Switch comes to a close, but the worst thing that could happen is a program that isn’t thoroughly and respectfully designed launched before it’s ready, confusing its new audience in the process. Luckily for us, Nintendo seems to be in the right frame of mind and will hopefully deliver a product that’s worth our extra investment.
The Virtual Console, meanwhile, is still MIA. We have rumors of GameCube games and that the Online Program will replace the VC with free games per month instead, but it’s been too long since we’ve had any concrete information either way. Nintendo would do well to get this monkey off their back as soon as 2018 rolls around, get on with it, and make the fans happy.
DELIVER ON THE POKEMON PROMISE
A new Pokemon game normally sells like hotcakes, so you would expect the Switch version to do the very same and keep the console moving forward. But it’s just as important that Nintendo and the Pokemon Company deliver a high quality, refreshing take on the series in the process. Just as Pokemon Sun and Moon rewrote the formula, the Switch Pokemon games need to up the ante further, both in presentation and storytelling. Luckily, we’re well aware that the next Pokemon game is in the works for the Switch… but will it launch next year?
All the pieces need to be in place for this to work best. Full online functionality will play a big role in continually evolving the franchise on the new console, along with an updated Pokemon Bank system brought across from the 3DS family. But ultimately it’s about the story, the new Pokemon, and the no doubt strange situations the Pokemon Company has up its sleeve. Sun and Moon are signs that the studio is willing to creatively play with new ideas and not rest on their laurels, so there’s some positive signs for the new Pokemon adventure, which will probably be Nintendo’s biggest release during Q4 2018.
ANIMAL CROSSING, PLEASE!
Having Animal Crossing on your phone was a nifty little app to muck around with for an hour or two, but it’s certainly not the Animal Crossing fans wanted. Certainly not one with microtransactions, at least. The Switch will no doubt have a proper sequel eventually, but it makes sense that it would arrive some time in 2018 while the brand remains in the public eye. Or not, as the case may be, we’re talking about Nintendo after all.
If we do get an Animal Crossing, there’s every chance it will make use of every major element that makes the Switch such an appealing console, especially its ability to easily incorporate multiplayer. Multiplayer options in Animal Crossing have been limited to briefly visiting other villages in the past, but a full on two or four player mode? That would be a game changer for the series and the perfect way to expand its potential beyond what we’ve known in the past.
A one two punch of Animal Crossing and Pokemon would be a major selling point for the Switch next holiday season for families. Couple those with a potential big release like Smash Bros. or Metroid and that’s another top quality season to end the year.
FEWER WII U PORTS
If there’s one complaint from the first year of the Switch so far, it’s that most of its AAA releases have previously featured on the Wii U. Mario Kart and Pokken Tournament were both pre-existing games released with a little more content than their first iterations, Breath of the Wild was a Wii U game well before its Switch edition came to be. You could also argue that Splatoon 2 was barely a sequel and more a minor upgrade, albeit a very good one.
The argument against more Wii U ports would be the number of high quality games we had on the system that were overlooked because of poor sales. We’ve already got Bayonetta 1 & 2 incoming, but there’s always the potential for Super Mario Maker or a revised Starfox to get the port treatment to fill out the release schedule. Nintendo would do well to ignore the past, however, and concentrate on new experiences instead. That certainly seems to be the case with both Kirby and Yoshi, but hopefully we don’t get a Smash Bros. port and instead a whole new experience with new heroes and modes instead.
GREATER AVAILABILITY AT RETAIL
Hello Captain Obvious. All the previous points are moot if Switch availability continues to be a problem at retail, especially in the US and Japan. Queues for the console are still rather long in certain markets, which is testament to its appeal and half-decent price point, but the longer they hang around the more frustrated customers may get. That might just drive interest in the product back down, as unlikely as that seems at this point.
It’s easy to say ‘hey Nintendo, increase your production, come on!’, but there’s always a caveat or two at the back end of the business that we will never be let in on. Whatever the reasons, if Nintendo can iron out its biggest issue sooner rather than later, the Switch should continue to climb in sales for some time to come.
Published: Dec 22, 2017 09:30 am