The success that theNintendo Switchhas attained over the past seven years is nothing short of incredible. From its initial launch in 2017, players have been consistently treated with multiple stellar titles, which has allowed the Switch to maintain its success for as long as it has. However, as with any console on the market, the time will eventually come when players begin to look towards the future and what Nintendo may have in store.
It’s no secret that Nintendo is currently making its preparations for the Switch 2. With a new console coming, and considering the length of time that the Switch has lasted as the company’s primary product, it would be fair to assume that things would begin to settle down for the seven-year-old device. Yet, Nintendo seems to have other ideas. In fact, if this year has proven anything, it’s thatthere is still worth in keeping with the Switch, and this message could set a new precedent for the rest of the industry to follow.
Zelda, Mario Party, & More
Even as the Switch reached its seventh anniversary back in March, Nintendo showed no sign of slowing down its support for the console. The year started off strong with some highly-anticipated remakes, including a collection of the puzzle adventure seriesAnother Code(includingAnother Code:R - A Journey Into Lost Memories, that was previously exclusive to Japan and Europe), alongside theremake ofPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, one of the plumber’s most beloved RPG titles. Although these weren’t brand-new games,their releases were still exciting, as they gave players the chance to rediscover some classic titles.
Yet, these games paled in comparison to what Nintendo had in store for the rest of 2024.Within the span of two months, Switch players were treated to brand-new entries in some of Nintendo’s signature franchises, includingThe Legend of Zelda,Mario Party, andMario & Luigi. Such major releases would have been huge surprises for many players, not only because of the Switch’s long lifespan, but with theconfirmation of the Switch 2 revealcoming in a matter of months.
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Nintendo’s continued support for the Switch is a huge factor in potentially changing attitudes players may have towards an older console. With new hardware on the horizon, it can become easy to be more passive towards new titles on older consoles, especially when companies may hold off bigger releases for when the new product arrives. The consistent major releases on the Switch fight against this notion, proving thatthe console is still more than capable of providing exciting titles, and convincing players to remain committed to the console as they wait for more news on the Switch 2.
NSO Continues To Grow Stronger
The Destination For Retro Nintendo Games
Alongside new releases, Nintendo has also ensured that there’s plenty for players to get invested in with the Nintendo Switch Online service.The past year has seen some huge titles being added to NSO’s virtual console library, from the classic first-person shooterPerfect Dark(it’s first appearance on a Nintendo console since the N64) to all theF-Zerogames that were released on the Game Boy Advance. In the case ofF-Zero: Climax, it marks the game’s first official release outside of Japan, allowing a wide range of players to experience the title for the first time.
Perfect Darkis receiving an immersive sim reboot, which will mark the series' first new entry since 2005.
The constant additions to NSO provide even more incentive for players to keep invested in the Switch. The ever-expanding library of legacy content available on the Switch gives players a readily accessible way to experience some of the company’s most iconic games. This consistency is not only a great sign for even more iconic titles to make their way to NSO, but is alsoa necessary method to counteract any chances of lower interest in the Switch.
The Switch Isn’t Slowing Down Anytime Soon
More Exciting Games Are Already Announced
Nintendo’s unwavering commitment to the Switch is a change from the slowdown that consoles can experience as they reach the end of their lifespan. It’s a trend that Nintendo is all too familiar with, asthe Wii U suffered from a lackluster year of releases prior to the Switch’s launch. The Wii U’s final chance of relevancy withThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildbecame overshadowed by the game’s dual-release on the Switch, while the newer console’s stellar first year of titles prevented the Wii U from getting the send-off it deserved, even with its underwhelming sales.
The support Nintendo is giving to the Switch could be the key to a change in attitude towards the end of any console’s lifespan. The prospect of a new console shouldn’t deny the possibility for a current console to provide some incredible games. Nintendo has proven that even when the existence of a new console is well-known,a company can still provide good reasons for players to stick around with its current console, giving these beloved devices a chance at a fitting send-off.
And Nintendo looks to be doing just that. The Switch is set to give players more reasons to stick around in 2025 with a slew of new releases, including remasters of beloved titles such asXenoblade Chronicles X, to some brand-new titles, including the long-awaitedMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. It’s abundantly clear that with theNintendo Switch’s monumental success, Nintendo isn’t content with allowing the console to simply fade away. Even with the Switch 2 possibly releasing in 2025, Nintendo seems committed to supporting both consoles regardless, potentially changing how older consoles are supported in their final years.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.
