A reader predicts that while the Switch used a lot of Wii U ports to fill out its schedules the Switch 2 is going to rely on third parties instead.
I always felt it was unfair to criticise the Switch for the amount of Wii U ports it had. Nobody bought that console and many of their games were complete flops, so it made absolute sense to bring them over. Especially when you’ve got something as amazing as Mario Kart 8 or Xenoblade Chronicles X.
The only reason it happened to the degree it did is because the Switch didn’t have a disc drive and Nintendo are backwards with their online accounts. Neither of those issues are relevant to the Switch 2 though, so it hasn’t got a useful backlog of high quality Nintendo games that almost nobody has seen before.
I’m sure that won’t be a problem for Nintendo, even if, as other have pointed out, their post-launch line-up is a bit weird, with no big hitters that we know of yet. In fact, the whole unveiling of the Switch 2 has seem strangely rushed and not fully planned for, considering the timing was entirely up to Nintendo and they’ve had loads of time to prepare.
Many console launches are botched though, I’m even tempted to say most, but few people remember that as it becomes irrelevant after a few months, unless the console is a dud. But, like I say, I doubt this will be an issue for the Switch 2.
Another surprise so far is that there’s relatively few third party games that have been announced. There was a good spread of publishers involved with the Nintendo Direct in April, but not all of them and the focus was on just a few big hitters.
I’m sure this will change soon though. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that instead of Wii U games the Switch 2 is about to be overwhelmed with ports of third party games from the previous and current generation.
Just as I’m writing this there’s been a rumour of Red Dead Redemption 2, and I find that perfectly believable. If the Switch 2 is an instant hit, and I think there’s a very good chance of that, then the first thing publishers are going to think is: ‘What low effort/low cost thing can I do as quickly as possible, that can take advantage of this?’
Remember that despite being potentially the best-selling console ever, and having won two generations in a row, third party publishers made very little effort with the Switch. For whatever reason they didn’t bother porting PlayStation 3 and 4 era games, so even just doing that much for the Switch 2 would be a much bigger effort.
It seems lazy to us, and it is, but I think the idea that EA or Activision or Rockstar Games is going to bother to make a Switch 2 exclusive is a pipe dream. Games just aren’t that cheap to make anymore, especially not if the Switch 2 actually has good graphics.
Nintendo will be fine with this, as they get to prove they have good third party support now and I imagine their Japanese partners will be more adventurous. But if you’re worrying that the Switch 2 won’t have enough games I have a feeling that by the end of the year you’re going to be drowning in a sea of ports and re-releases.
By reader Onibee
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at [email protected] or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.
MORE: PS6 is Sony’s chance to wipe the slate clean and forget the PS5 ever happened – Reader’s Feature
MORE: The truth is digital video game downloads are better than physical games – Reader’s Feature
MORE: I don’t like the look of GTA 6 and I’m not afraid to admit it – Reader’s Feature