Why is Nintendo still so secretive with announcements? Switch 2 feels oddly empty for the future
- Thread starter Midway-AGNC-
- Start date
Windom Earle
Member
Don't be so hard on Nintendo. They only had an eternity to prepare a proper launch window catalogue.
And parts of the audience are happy with the lukewarm slop that was delivered so far.
And parts of the audience are happy with the lukewarm slop that was delivered so far.
Trilobit
Absolutely Cozy
Based on how most of its game library seems to consist of upgraded Switch 1 games, they should have named the console Switch 2.0.
You should upgrade to jester makeup and try to get a job for a king.
Mozza
Member
Nintendo rarely tell you about games that are coming in a couple of years, it's more stuff just around the corner. I am betting there will be a Direct very soon into the new year.
Nintendos focus is to make each game get its own time period to shine, with advertisement and launch dates not overlapping if possible, so as to not make the games compete directly against each other for attention. Mario Kart in June, Donkey Kong in July. Or how the focus was on Kirby with directs in november and then launch and only then focus on Metroid Prime 4. Which can also be a negative, since it limited the opportunity to focus on Metroid Prime 4 before launch.
This also means that they tend to limit the announcement of new games in Nintendo directs to a smaller time period, to make us concentrate on the games we, hopefully for Nintendo, will actually spend money on right away.
This also means that they tend to limit the announcement of new games in Nintendo directs to a smaller time period, to make us concentrate on the games we, hopefully for Nintendo, will actually spend money on right away.
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Pasta la Vista
Member
As someone who doesn't own one, it seems to have a good amount of first party support already out of the gate (but nothing for me in particular).
Feels like we're still a couple years away from a new Zelda announcement. Really curious to see what they do with the next one.
Feels like we're still a couple years away from a new Zelda announcement. Really curious to see what they do with the next one.
Robb
Gold Member
That'll be published by Level 5.
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
They just released a game announced seven years prior.
With the current development times, and big projects from other devs being cancelled every week, they probably want to be sure they're going to actually release a game before announcing it.
With the current development times, and big projects from other devs being cancelled every week, they probably want to be sure they're going to actually release a game before announcing it.
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Because third party lineup is stacked.
Nintendo typically doesn't announce games really far out.
Tears of the Kingdom being delayed by Covid and existing in the public consciousness for four years before release was an anomaly.
Metroid Prime 4 being announced and cancelled and rebooted and existing in the public consciousness for 8 years before release was an anomaly.
This typically isn't how Nintendo handles these things.
Nintendo typically doesn't announce games really far out.
Tears of the Kingdom being delayed by Covid and existing in the public consciousness for four years before release was an anomaly.
Metroid Prime 4 being announced and cancelled and rebooted and existing in the public consciousness for 8 years before release was an anomaly.
This typically isn't how Nintendo handles these things.
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GoldenEye98
posts news as their odd job
Why are they announcing literal software patches 6 months in advance (Super Mario Bros Wonder)
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Ehh, I think we can let that one slide since it was wrapped in with the 40th anniversary direct for Mario. It's also a content expansion as well.
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Poppinfresh
Member
You don't deserve the effort it would take me to formulate a more nuanced response so instead, I just point out the obvious: You're acting like a pathetic kid throwing a temper tantrum because Nintendo exists and your replies in this thread reveal that you're trying to engage in even more pathetic console war BS.
Grow up.
Get a hobby that isn't posting on GAF
yurinka
Member
You must be new at Nintendo: it's normal to see 6 times more games announced for PS than for Nintendo in an event like the TGA.
They released this year MK, Donkey Kong, Pokemon and Metroid. That's a lot for them, they only have one or two major games per year.
Now that last month they relased to of them, it will take them maybe a handful months to announce the next couple big games. Very likely will be the next 3D Mario (there's the 40th Mario anniversary) and Animal Crossing.
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Fbh
Member
Because they don't have to, and this way they can have multiple directs with announcements during the year instead of revealing their entire lineup for the next 3 years at once and then mostly having to limit their shows to "updates".
Their heavy reliance on their historic franchises also helps. We don't need an announcement to know they'll release a new Zelda, Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, etc
Their heavy reliance on their historic franchises also helps. We don't need an announcement to know they'll release a new Zelda, Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, etc
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Other than a select few titles they announced way too early, Nintendo has been like this through the entire Switch lifestyle. For comparison, here is what we knew, first party wise, on Dec 31 2017 for the Switch (basically the same time frame we are in now with the Switch 2):
Bayonetta 1/2 - Feb 2018
Kirby Star Allies - Mar 2018
Yoshi, Metroid Prime, Bayonetta 3 - Who knows?
Yes, that is all we knew. So we are actually in a much better place now than we used to be.
As for why Nintendo does it, well, why not? They have probably figured out that long wait between announcement and release don't have any impact on sales, so why not just wait until you have a good idea when the game releases. Better that than the embarrassing situation of Metroid where it took 8 years to release. A cynical view may also say that, by stringing people along with release schedule only 6 months out or whatever, people may be more inclined to buy a game they were only on the bubble of buying since they might figure nothing better will release afterwards. Is that true? I don't know, I'm not a CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation. But whatever the case, Nintendo would rather focus on the immediate future than hyping up internet message boards.
Bayonetta 1/2 - Feb 2018
Kirby Star Allies - Mar 2018
Yoshi, Metroid Prime, Bayonetta 3 - Who knows?
Yes, that is all we knew. So we are actually in a much better place now than we used to be.
As for why Nintendo does it, well, why not? They have probably figured out that long wait between announcement and release don't have any impact on sales, so why not just wait until you have a good idea when the game releases. Better that than the embarrassing situation of Metroid where it took 8 years to release. A cynical view may also say that, by stringing people along with release schedule only 6 months out or whatever, people may be more inclined to buy a game they were only on the bubble of buying since they might figure nothing better will release afterwards. Is that true? I don't know, I'm not a CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation. But whatever the case, Nintendo would rather focus on the immediate future than hyping up internet message boards.
Poppinfresh
Member
That's because Nintendo is smart enough to know that 99% of their customer base don't care about internet message boards.
If only Sony and other developers would learn this lesson too...
RoboFu
One of the green rats
Does this help op?
www.nintendolife.com
35 Upcoming Nintendo Switch 1 & 2 Games To Look Forward To In 2026
The very best Switch 1 & 2 games coming soon
www.nintendolife.com
leo-j
Member
Well considering Sony has been very tight lipped about their projects too. Just 3 big games coming out in the next year or two from their first party (Wolverine, Saros, and Naughty dog's game) … they aren't announcing games 4-5 years early anymore it seems. Last was Wolverine. Plus they have the big third party games like Halo, Forza, Phantom blade, Control, and all that jazz.
Alexios
Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
Probably don't want any more hype for now, coasting on the system & Kart, hence they released with a DK instead of main Mario, Air Riders instead of Smash etc., saving up the big guns for when they need the boost/can fulfill the demand.
You know some things are coming anyway, Zelda, Mario, Splatoon (shown) Xenoblade or whatever Monolith, don't need more BOTW/Prime 4 waits. I'm curious for all the new shit they'll have to show though, this gen's ARMS, Kid Icarus, etc.
Would be neat to see some that don't pan out but I was gutted for it, thought of Burning Rangers.
www.unseen64.net
You know some things are coming anyway, Zelda, Mario, Splatoon (shown) Xenoblade or whatever Monolith, don't need more BOTW/Prime 4 waits. I'm curious for all the new shit they'll have to show though, this gen's ARMS, Kid Icarus, etc.
Would be neat to see some that don't pan out but I was gutted for it, thought of Burning Rangers.
Cosmic Walker [Wii - Cancelled] - Unseen64
Preserving Details, Screenshots, Videos & more Lost Media for Cosmic Walker [Wii - Cancelled] Help us to remember cancelled video games!
www.unseen64.net
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Hunter 99
Member
There is a hell of a lot of discussion on this thread. OP, if nintendo switch 2 is your primary and only console you play then i believe there is a lot of content available now. Secretive they may be or not, even 2026 has quite a bit already announced.
Personally for me it's my secondary console and I'll buy maybe 5-10 games in its lifespan.(I'm only interested in Zelda,Mario maybe a bit of Dk that's 2d and lugis mansion.) Regardless of some of the 3rd party titles coming to switch 2 I will always play them on ps5.
This has been a pattern with all my nintendo consoles from childhood and owning a NES through to switch. I only owned 10 games max throughout its life per console.
Your defo getting some heat on the discussion so don't stress it man.
Personally for me it's my secondary console and I'll buy maybe 5-10 games in its lifespan.(I'm only interested in Zelda,Mario maybe a bit of Dk that's 2d and lugis mansion.) Regardless of some of the 3rd party titles coming to switch 2 I will always play them on ps5.
This has been a pattern with all my nintendo consoles from childhood and owning a NES through to switch. I only owned 10 games max throughout its life per console.
Your defo getting some heat on the discussion so don't stress it man.
Gambit2483
Member
Drops/announces more games in 6 months after launch than Sony did 2 years into PS5...
"Why is Nintendo so secret and silent? Switch 2 might be in trouble. I'm worried, guys."
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justiceiro
Marlboro: Other M
Basically... you only care about 3d Mario, 3d Zelda or smash. Would you be happier if they drop a "tear of the kingdom sequel is now in development" with nothing to show for?
Dude, Nintendo is finally bringing a diverse line up on ages. A Yoshi game that with a unique artstyle. They have a fucking from software exclusive coming up. Tomodachi is not my favorite franchise, but sells a lot.
It's clear Mario team was working on donkey Kong until now. It's clear Zelda team barely finished tear of the kingdom. And Sakurai was working on something other than smash just now.
You will have to wait years to have anything that they can show, and I'm all for it, nothing more boring that gaming announcement with no gameplay.
I mean, you don't need to get excited about things you don't know about, and I understand that you have to buy consoles even without games, before they get more expensive. But, it's about the same games over and over, don't pretend it's not.
Dude, Nintendo is finally bringing a diverse line up on ages. A Yoshi game that with a unique artstyle. They have a fucking from software exclusive coming up. Tomodachi is not my favorite franchise, but sells a lot.
It's clear Mario team was working on donkey Kong until now. It's clear Zelda team barely finished tear of the kingdom. And Sakurai was working on something other than smash just now.
You will have to wait years to have anything that they can show, and I'm all for it, nothing more boring that gaming announcement with no gameplay.
I mean, you don't need to get excited about things you don't know about, and I understand that you have to buy consoles even without games, before they get more expensive. But, it's about the same games over and over, don't pretend it's not.
Midway-AGNC-
Member
You don't have a nuanced response because you don't have an argument. All you've got left is childish name-calling and edgy one-liners, hoping that sounding loud somehow makes you right.
If insults are the only thing you can contribute, that says a lot more about you than it does about me. Get the fuck out of here.
The discussion is about how and when Nintendo announces its own titles, not about how many games PS shows, or how people are supposedly "used to it." You're arguing against something I never said, this thread is about Nintendo first-party games.
And you're doing exactly what I called out in the OP from the start.
You're cherry-picking one or two examples and trying to pass them off as the norm, while conveniently ignoring the broader pattern, which is that the majority of Nintendo announcements happen very close to release. That's the whole point. Exceptions don't invalidate a pattern, and pointing to Pokémon, Tomodachi, or TotK doesn't magically erase how Nintendo usually operates.
Then, to top it off, you fall right back into the same tired fallback I already addressed: "so what, do you want games announced years in advance?" No. I explicitly said I don't. Repeating that strawman after it's been answered multiple times doesn't strengthen your case, it just reinforces the echo-chamber mentality I was criticizing. Same recycled arguments, same distortions, same attempt to shut down criticism instead of engaging with it.
Because Nintendo has always had a much larger first-party lineup than Sony and relies far more heavily on it to promote and sell its systems? Unless we're suddenly living in an alternate reality where Nintendo is being carried by third-party support.Drops/announces more games in 6 months after launch than Sony did 2 years into PS5...
"Why is Nintendo so secret and silent? Switch 2 might be in trouble. I'm worried, guys."
The comparisons a lot of people are making with Sony are ridiculous. Sony depends on third-party games to sell its systems, and the same goes for Microsoft. Yes, many of their first-party games sell well and are ambitious, but neither company relies on first-party titles to promote their hardware in the same way Nintendo does, not even close.
So when someone says "Sony has the same number of games announced," that's a flawed and misleading argument. If anything, it highlights how thin Nintendo's announcements currently are, because first-party games are the main driving force behind Nintendo hardware sales. Do they have third-party support? Sure. But Nintendo doesn't position or leverage third-party games as core system sellers the way Sony and Microsoft do. Unfortunately, that's the case, even though it arguably shouldn't be.
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