We’re again for a fifth yr at making an attempt to guess what Nintendo goes to do that yr. Final yr was full or surprises and but – we received loads of them appropriate. Extra on that in a second.
This yr is definitely actually arduous to foretell, as a result of we already know a lot about it. Usually when a brand new calendar yr rolls in there are possibly one or two video games dated, and nothing else. Now we’ve received video games all the best way up till the center of the yr. So certainly this yr is lower and dry? Maybe not.
Right here’s the recap of our predictions from final yr.
🤷A brand new 3D Tremendous Mario Bros. Sport (shut, only one quantity off, it was a 2D one)
✅ No Swap Professional (humorous how that one went)
✅ Metroid Prime Trilogy Remastered (shut sufficient, we received Prime)
❌ Nintendo raises sport costs (TOTK was dearer in America, nevertheless it was the identical worth right here. No change simply but)
✅ DLC DLC DLC DLC (Yep, plenty of DLC for all the things)
❌ A New Kirby Sport apart from Dream Land Deluxe (Does Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble on NSO rely?)
✅ GameCube Nostalgia (Metroid Prime, Paper Mario introduced… yeah we thought so)
Proper then, onto the predictions… beginning with the large one.
A New Nintendo Swap console will launch
Let’s get the straightforward one out of the best way first; we predict a brand new Nintendo console might be launched subsequent yr; it’ll arrive shortly and be in our fingers earlier than we even comprehend it. By quick, we imply Nintendo will announce this factor, and it’ll be launched in a really brief window. We gained’t study it in the beginning of the yr and wait till the vacations for a launch. Nintendo nonetheless has a system and video games to promote all year long’s first half. The primary half of the yr is enterprise as normal, at the very least outward-facing. Extra on that right here.
We’re not going to get into what it’ll have, one display, two screens, OLED or not, which resolutions or what energy it has – we’ll let the insiders battle out over that and resolve which they assume it has. Then, for Nintendo to do the other.
Why it’s going to occur: It’s time.
Why it gained’t occur: We’ll get one other shock large sport for the Swap to pull out one other vacation gross sales interval.
Nintendo Swap On-line Rollout Slowdown
As we get to the tip of the lifetime of the Swap and thru the believable library for Nintendo Swap On-line sport inclusions, we’ll see issues decelerate much more. There are simply three introduced video games left to be launched for the system, which, at worst, is a few months (one is Japanese solely). We’ll want some new video games introduced quickly, however we predict we’ll simply see fewer drops however with deeper cuts as an alternative of outlining an entire yr once more. We predict something new, like every new methods, will possible be held over to the brand new console.
Why it’s going to occur: The pool of video games out there to be possible picked to be picked is getting smaller.
Why it gained’t occur: We dare them to make us flawed.
Mario Kart 9 set for 2024
Regardless of Nintendo solely simply wrapping up the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Move for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sport, there may be completely no manner that improvement of the subsequent Mario Kart sport hasn’t been occurring in earnest for a while. It’s crucial sport Nintendo could make for any Nintendo console. It’s the best-selling and normally does the perfect job of promoting any new options or enhancements a brand new console has.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has put Nintendo in a bizarre place; it’s essentially the most jam-packed sport within the sequence ever – the place does it go subsequent? We’re certain they’ve an concept, nevertheless it’ll be fairly arduous to high what’s come earlier than.
Why it’s going to occur: There’s no manner the lead Mario Kart crew has been on DLC responsibility for 2 years.
Why it gained’t occur: It’ll come a little bit later after launch.
Ocarina of Time remake (It’s Time)
On the twenty fifth anniversary of the unique launch of The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time got here and glided by with out something however a social media submit from Nintendo saying you possibly can play the sport on Nintendo Swap On-line. The higher method to play Ocarina of Time is to play the 3DS port, however what could be even higher is a method to play that model at the next decision than 240p. Grezzo did a unbelievable job on Ocarina of Time 3D; it’s time for them to deliver it into the trendy period in excessive decision and polish it up even additional. The sport has aged, nevertheless it deserves one other take a look at.
Why it’s going to occur: We are able to’t go one other 7 years between Zelda video games
Why it gained’t occur: Grezzo is within the gulag.
Monolith Mushy’s subsequent large factor
Monolith Mushy make among the most technically spectacular and exquisite video games in Nintendo’s secure. Additionally they do it in among the shortest intervals, all whereas serving to out Nintendo on a number of different initiatives. By the point we get to the center of the yr, it’ll be greater than sufficient time to see what they’re engaged on subsequent.
We predict this time, whereas everybody would love a Xenoblade 4 – it’ll be time for them to do one thing new, and there’s no higher time than a brand new console to do one thing with a brand new IP.
Why it’s going to occur: Monolith has earned the precise to do one thing new
Why it gained’t occur: Xenoblade is simply too large now
Capcom catches up on Nintendo
Capcom has been a terrific supporter of the Nintendo Swap; we’ve received remakes, ports and collections of virtually all of their again catalogue. We additionally received Nintendo Swap-specific new iterations of Monster Hunter. We’ve got been spoiled.
However for those who take a look at their latest and upcoming work – there’s a spot, and everyone knows why. Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7, Village, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Road Fighter 6, and the newly introduced Monster Hunter Wilds – are all lacking.
There’s little question that Capcom will need these video games on something and all the things (and to be truthful, there are cloud variations of a few of these, however cloud variations suck, so it doesn’t rely). Even the Silicon Macs have a few Resident Evil titles.
Why it’s going to occur: Capcom desires their video games on all the things.
Why it gained’t occur: They could simply be proud of dumping cloud variations.
Unique Swap video games right through 2024
Even with a brand new console launching subsequent yr, Nintendo won’t simply dump the previous console on its butt. Whereas the primary six months of the yr are full, the releases ought to proceed till the tip of the yr. Don’t count on something model new or unique – the remakes and ports will proceed. It’s not a nasty factor; we’re getting the likes of Paper Mario: A Thousand-Yr Door!
By our reckoning, we’re ready on a Hearth Emblem, the 2 remaining Metroid Prime video games, and, after all, the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess ports. Hopefully, we get that backward compatibility; the continued lineup of 2024 video games will also be loved on the brand new console.
If somebody is studying this at Nintendo, make it backwards suitable for the love of god.
Why it’s going to occur: You don’t promote 120 million consoles and dump the person base; you simply put the B-Groups on it.
Why it gained’t occur: Nintendo has to get the transition proper. Possibly having two consoles available on the market will cloud the advertising and marketing.