Picture: Gemma Smith / Nintendo LifeWith Swap coming into its ninth yr on third March 2025, and with over 150 million items offered and extra million-selling video games than we have had scorching dinners, it is onerous to recollect a time when Nintendo pooling its moveable and residential console software program groups behind a single system felt like a dangerous transfer. As Wii U foundered, it was the slow-starting 3DS that saved Nintendo followers’ candles burning throughout The Lean Wii U Years™, so placing all its eggs in a single basket felt like a chance.
It wasn’t actually a lot of a chance, all instructed. Not solely did Nintendo’s huge money reserves imply it might climate a number of generations of flops, however by leaning on its IP and investing closely in non-gaming areas (merch, motion pictures, and theme parks), to not point out its cell experiments, the corporate went and acquired an entire new bunch of multimedia baskets for its eggs. Swap 2 might be a catastrophic failure however Nintendo’s acquired an extended runway; it might a number of catastrophic failures to end in correct Nintendoom.
The Swap technique of pooling its groups onto a single platform has proved an actual winner and resulted in a formidable slate of near-monthly releases that it is saved rolling out since its launch. Wanting again, it has been just about one first-party-published recreation each month since March 2017 and reader Clark2k not too long ago reached out not too long ago asking if we predict Nintendo can presumably preserve that momentum with Swap 2.
The reply? We expect so.
Picture: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
Now, it is simple to learn ‘one first-party-published recreation each month’ and assume, ‘Yeah, after all – simply make and launch video games and you will have a profitable platform!’ However publishing a brand new title each 4 or 5 weeks? That could be sluggish should you’re pumping out AI-generated pap, but it surely’s an unimaginable feat to place out high quality software program at that price at the moment, and it speaks to an effectivity in Nintendo’s manufacturing pipeline and partnerships which have to be the envy of the business. Each Sony and Microsoft have struggled for years to get first-party output the place they need it to be, but Nintendo constantly places out a number of multi-million-sellers yearly.
Varied circumstances make it harder for these opponents. The size of sources wanted to provide artwork and property for a PS5 recreation versus Swap is critical. Nintendo hit a dev bump with Wii U’s transfer to HD, and being behind the tech curve has been a serious benefit for a number of {hardware} cycles now.
That Sony seemingly has no room in its roster for off-the-wall experiments, as an alternative relying virtually completely on monumental blockbusters is a subject for a unique article, however alongside its tentpoles, Nintendo purposefully maintains a various software program lineup that features curios and experiments to maintain issues recent. ARMS and Recreation Builder Storage won’t have hit like Splatoon, however let’s not neglect that, as of the final report, these two examples have offered over 2.6 million and 1.06 million copies respectively. No, they have not shifted Spider-Man 2 numbers (11 million as of Could 2024), however crucially that is not mandatory for them to be worthwhile, and the feel and richness that they add to Swap’s library is one thing you simply do not discover from first events on different platforms.
An important cadence — Picture: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life
Sony and Microsoft have chosen to divest themselves of smaller-scale groups and put sources into initiatives that demand monumental success simply to interrupt even. It is not only a case of advancing tech and an viewers used to photorealistic, single-player epics – it is a option to chase solely the largest wins and one facet impact is a tiny handful of first-party video games per yr.
That does not make Nintendo’s month-to-month cadence a lifeless cert with the Swap 2, after all, however we predict there’s an excellent probability they will hit that obvious goal, regardless of the challenges.
The Wii U has virtually run dry. Past the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess outliers, many of the huge video games followers have been crying out for have discovered their strategy to Swap a method or one other (sure, there are nonetheless extra I need, although). Nevertheless, look again to the Wii era and there is a platter of porting prospects but to be plundered – and Nintendo’s made a begin already with the likes of Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Throw within the lacking Metroid Primes and a handful of 3DS ports like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and there is greater than sufficient ‘HD’ and ‘Deluxe’ fodder to fill the gaps between the brand-new NS2 releases.
There’s nonetheless a few these that have not returned — Picture: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life
Nintendo has additionally leaned on associate studios to flesh out its launch schedule, particularly within the final couple of years. Its failure to flag the exterior groups engaged on initiatives pre-release is massively disappointing, however that they are previous Nintendo titles with Nintendo characters makes it straightforward to obscure the truth that associate studios did the majority of the work.
Wanting again, over the past couple of years’ releases, associate studios have dealt with most of Nintendo’s output. It is virtually like the interior groups shifted consideration to different issues a very long time in the past…
All indicators level to Nintendo not solely recognising the significance of hitting the bottom operating with Swap 2, but additionally with the ability to pull it off. DLC for Tears of the Kingdom might need been a no brainer and a ‘missed alternative’ in some gamers’ eyes, however wouldn’t it be price taking an enormous chunk of pre-production time away from the Zelda workforce’s subsequent challenge? There are mightier porgys to fry.
(To be clear, that does not imply we’re anticipating a brand new Zelda at launch, however an earlier begin means a greater probability of hitting Swap 2’s 12 months Three slightly than 12 months 4 or 5.)
Picture: Gemma Smith / Nintendo Life
And when issues come up and NCL’s hamster within the wheel wants a breather? That is when the third events are available with an Octopath Traveler or a Monster Hunter. February ’25 has been a quiet month sandwiched between DK in January and Xenoblade Chronicles X in March, however Nintendo has put a few of its advertising weight behind Civ 7. If the platform is well-liked, there are all the time choices – a strategy to preserve that essential momentum.
So sure, tech creep will inevitably result in longer dev occasions, however we really feel Nintendo has its plates arrange properly sufficient to maintain them spinning out new video games on a month-to-month foundation, a minimum of by way of Swap’s launch yr. However what do you assume, pricey reader? Tell us within the ballot beneath.
Do you assume Nintendo will be capable to sustain its near-monthly cadence of latest video games on Swap 2? (184 votes)
Undoubtedly!13percentIn all probability, with the odd slip58percentNot sure16percentHmm, I doubt it10percentNo means do they follow the month-to-month schedule!3percentWhat’s a Nintendo? 0%
Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of the positioning full-time the next yr, rising by way of the ranks to grow to be Editor. He can presently be discovered squashed beneath a Swap backlog the dimensions of Normandy.
