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Last week, Pokémon Presents was more than a look at what would happen next for the Pokémon series. The presentation revealed novel details about Switch games Pokémon Legends: For AND Pokémon ChampionsBut it also reached some of the biggest questions about the future of the original switch, including:
- How will Nintendo go from the most common properties of video game consoles to the novel system that will have to build its installation base from scratch?
- How long do Nintendo and its closest partners spend the games of the original switch and its tens of millions of dynamic players?
- What immense novel editions will be intergenerational games?
Nintendo said earlier that it works to users “smooth transition” from the switch to Switch 2, thanks to the universal acceptance of Nintendo accounts. Depending on how smoothly this transition, novel generation transition to Switch 2 should allow Nintendo account holders to transfer their digital libraries, subscriptions and personal data.
President Nintendo Shuntaro Furukawa also said that the company is trying to produce as many 2 Switch 2 units as possible, both to satisfy the demand of consumers and appeals. The same applies to the software side; Apparently, Nintendo is working on developing a solid composition of exclusive games for Switch 2.
What is left to the original switch?
Nintendo only has a handful of first -page switch games on his board, including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond AND Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Editionfrom which this one will fall this month. It is not known if the company has something substantive for Switch 1 except these two titles; There were rumors that Nintendo sits in various remasters of legend of Zelda and Metroid Prime for the original switch, but Nintendo did not confirm any additional software for the current generation console.
In February, Furukawa spoke to the status of the switch in 2025, but his answer to questions about the further games of the 8-year system was quite open.
“Because many people play Nintendo Switch, if we are able to develop attractive software, we would still like to publish new titles,” said Furukawa in translated comments. “On the other hand, exclusive games are crucial when starting new equipment. With this in mind, we will consider various ways for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 to encourage as many consumers as possible to use our games. “
To look at what Nintendo can plan in the future, we can look at his past.
When the original switch was released in 2017, Nintendo was successful 3DS and Wii U. failure with over 65 million 3DS systems in the hands of customers after the switch was launched, Nintendo has wisely supported the 3D conveyor for years in the life of the switch with games Metroid: Samus is back AND Warioware gold.
It was a completely different story for Wii U. with only 13 million of these consoles sold until 2017, Nintendo took a pure break; The last game, which was released for Wii, was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwhich he launched simultaneously with the switch version.
The switch was an immediate hit (and practically dead) encouraged Nintendo to fully embrace the next generation in 2017.
With over 150 million switch consoles, we can still expect Nintendo to continue to satisfy the existing audience of this platform, at least for a while. There are still many Wii U, 3DS and Gamecube games that could get modernized Switch versions so that the Nucał system along with “new” Nintendo games.
Nintendo has committed to retrospective compatibility for switch games on switch 2, so all future games released for the original switch should be served by his successor.
Nintendo intergenerational strategy is less clear apart from Reverse compliance. Will the company release a native switch and change 2 versions of games Metroid Prime 4 (for previous renovation of the cross generation Princess Twilight AND Breath of the Wild), or is the long -growing metroid game built to play well on Switch and better with the facilitate of reverse compatibility on Switch 2? The latter seems more likely, or at least less complicated for Nintendo.
Nintendo certainly does not want to fall into the trap that the console competitors found in this generation. Sony and Microsoft supported PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the life cycle of their successors, which caused very little “new generation” and a generation of consoles that never really felt as if they had a moment.
So don’t expect Nintendo to support the original switch for too long. His focus seems clearly on Switch 2, and soon a pure break will appear. Perhaps not in 2025, with a handful of Switch games still on the horizon – but soon to let Switch stand independently.
