Well, the Nintendo Switch is a month away, which is exciting news for those with pre-orders down or perhaps are considering the possibility of grabbing one on launch day. The arrival of new gaming hardware, from Nintendo or rivals such as Sony and Microsoft, is typically enough to get hearts fluttering and send buzz into overdrive. I always feel there's something special about getting a new system of any type; for me, the very thought of an all-new console setup at home and good to go makes me feel child-like and, frankly, rather giddy.
The odds are decent that Nintendo will enjoy a sell-out launch for the Switch, too, but that's arguably because at present only around two million units are confirmed to be shipping in March. I've suggested before that this is terribly cautious of Nintendo, which is disappointing - the hope is that Tatsumi Kimishima's comments regarding ramping up production are accurate, and that store shelves get topped up promptly.
In any case, I'm excited about the arrival of the Switch, which isn't exactly surprising coming from someone who claims that writing about Nintendo is a job. I was asked in a Games Industry.biz podcast at the London preview event a couple of weeks ago whether I was getting it at launch, and I reminded them that if I didn't there'd be serious questions asked. But that aside, since I picked up a DSi out of curiosity many years ago (my first Ninty system since the N64) and then a Wii, I've been a keen supporter of the company. The big N may do strange things and irritate me sometimes, but if I wasn't writing about the company I can honestly say I'd still be there on day one with Switch, despite the fact it's an irrational dent in my savings.
I know I'm not the only gamer that's excited, but of course there are plenty of people that are getting one at launch but feeling pensive, or aren't getting the system just yet. Wherever individuals sit they can chat about it online, and since mid-January and the Nintendo Switch Presentation there have been plenty of earnest discussions about the console.
One angle that's popped up (particularly recently) is whether the Nintendo Switch is having a 'soft launch', and I'll admit my initial reaction was to rant at colleagues and tear some of my luscious brown locks out of my head (not literally, that would actually hurt). Perhaps it's due to my working background - when I was younger and bright eyed - in IT and corporate project work. I was involved in 'soft launches' back in those heady and dull days, and so I'm familiar with what the term actually means. In one sentence, a soft launch is a low profile, limited release (in some senses a 'preview') that isn't available or readily accessible to the general public; it's used to test something out and gather data to inform a full launch.
A soft launch doesn't have a live presentation by the company President in Tokyo, nor does it have a range of events that weekend and then in the weeks that follow. You don't spend millions of dollars on ad space for the Super Bowl for a soft launch, nor do you undertake all of the marketing and promotion that Nintendo is undergoing. The Nintendo Switch is, fundamentally and factually, not having a soft launch - by the broadly accepted definition of the term, in any case.
Of course, the definition of the term does get twisted and manipulated in conversations, so my interpretation of how many are treating 'soft launch' is as follows - "the launch is disappointing and doesn't have the games / features / pricing / stuff that I want". That's a reasonable argument to make, even if describing it as a soft launch isn't.
Nintendo is aware of the debate, at least to the point that it's been defending the launch line-up and its strategy of ensuring a steady stream of major titles throughout the year. We don't know, for example, whether something like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is actually 100% complete and being held back to ensure there's a major April release for 'wave 2' purchases. It's certainly understandable that Nintendo doesn't fling out excessive games on day one and then leave the Spring / Summer completely barren.
As it is, the first party offering at launch is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch, with the latter naturally being much debated in terms of its worth. Beyond that, though, the launch day and broader 'March' line-up has fleshed out a little since the January Presentation aired, which did a poor job of easing day one concerns - by my count there are ten games confirmed for launch day, with a few down for March and the potential for some 'Spring' games to also drop into the launch month; there are some gems in there, too. On top of that we don't know whether the Virtual Console will be there on day one, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there's a Nintendo Direct or simpler info dump in mid-February on key things like the eShop and the retro service.
The fact Nintendo's kept things like the VC out of the limelight up to now doesn't help when people assess the upcoming launch, but it's not time to declare the 3rd March picture as final. A little while ago I wrote about key features that are still rather mysterious and unknown, and some may get clarified in the next month.
If more small-ish surprises are coming this month, that may help tackle the perception of a soft launch; if they don't come, then naturally it'll only be fair to raise questions. That said, I don't think people should pretend that console launches are always stacked with multiple must-haves - it's time to take off those rose-tinted spectacles. I've had some reminders that the Nintendo 64 launched with two games(!) in some places, and typically there are a number of titles that are ignored and flop at launch. An example is with Wii U - it had over 30 games at launch, many of them retail (six download-only on the eShop) but I'd bet most day-one buyers only bought a couple of games. It's likely that ZombiU was in the top five sellers at launch, but it made a loss. When you splash out a lot of money for a console the reality for most, I suspect, is that you pick one or two games to go with it, maybe a few if you're feeling a bit flush.
The 3DS was another interesting case - it had a number of relatively high profile launch titles, but it's debatable whether any were killer apps; the steep drop in hardware sales suggests that they weren't, with the system's price also being a factor. In fact, the 3DS launched without the eShop even being live, which was annoying at that time and seems crazy now. At least with developers like Tomorrow Corporation announcing three games for launch, along with the download-only in the West I Am Setsuna, we know the digital store will be ready to go.
If Nintendo does have anything else coming on day one, though, it'd be wise to get the message out. With social media and the power of public opinion, trying to influence the 'narrative' is important. For example, in the build-up and after the immediate launch of PS4 and Xbox One there was endless debate about system power. The PS4 had - and often still does - an edge in that some games, for example, run at 1080p on its system but 900p on Xbox One. Most members of the general public won't know about distinctions like those, but I did overhear a young boy in a GAME store say to his dad, in late 2013, "the PS4 games look better, let's get that one". He didn't say "but we might not notice on my bedroom's 20-inch TV". When lots of people talk about something, those opinions naturally influence and inform others.
Though Nintendo has ripped up the launch playbook in fully revealing the system less than two months before its launch (with the preview trailer a little before that), unanswered questions can harm the perspective people have of the console. Social media and online forums aren't places where patience is common, so teasing and tantalising in terms of what the Switch will do on day one doesn't help. So, show us the eShop, tell us if / when the Virtual Console is coming, pin down the full March line-up with release dates.
If Nintendo doesn't do this, it becomes a topic in the wrong way. You get people talking about a soft launch in the same week a Super Bowl commercial is unveiled. We ran straw polls on social media today, and about a third of voters would describe the Switch as having a soft launch. It's something that's being discussed.
That's a viewpoint Nintendo needs to tackle head-on, and as quickly as possible.
Comments 139
I want a new Dokapon for Switch.
"Of course, the definition of the term does get twisted and manipulated in conversations, so my interpretation of how many are treating 'soft launch' is as follows - "the launch is disappointing and doesn't have the games / features / pricing / stuff that I want", just finally...by the way i voted "no" at the poll on Twitter, i don't think this is a soft launch. I think the exact opposite
Whoever thinks this is a soft launch is soft in the head.
Something tells me that we're going to be surprised by something between now and launch. I know there's not much time left, but I can't shake the feeling.
I think perhaps the real issue is whether Nintendo will have enough units at launch.
Granted Kimishima has said Nintendo is ramping up production, but that 2 million figure quoted doesn't sound much. Bearing in mind how difficult is has been to get hold of certain amiibo at times or the NES mini at any time, it's not too farfetched to wonder whether the same level of scarcity will prevail for the Switch. And, if it does, whether it's intentional or not. Soft launch is arguably the wrong term, but concern is out there nevertheless.
Nintendo will be revealing 'Round 2' of Launch window releases soon. . . .
I voted "who cares" at the poll, and I'm still wondering that same question.
It will launch, and hopefully gain momentum in the coming months. Currently I'm thinking that's very feasible.
"The odds are decent that Nintendo will enjoy a sell-out launch for the Switch, too, but that's arguably because at present only around two million units are confirmed to be shipping in March. I've suggested before that this is terribly cautious of Nintendo"
Really? 2 million is "terribly cautious"???
I just looked it up. PS4 sold 1.2 million units in it's first month and 1.4 million in it's second month. So how do you figure 2 million in the first month and possibly a small increase is "terribly cautious"?
I need super Mario sunshine on the vc
My current concern is that Nintendo just dumped $millions on a Super Bowl commercial and people will watch it and go to order one and they are sold out!
A soft launch doesn't have a live presentation by the company President in Tokyo, nor does it have a range of events that weekend and then in the weeks that follow. You don't spend millions of dollars on ad space for the Super Bowl for a soft launch, nor do you undertake all of the marketing and promotion that Nintendo is undergoing. The Nintendo Switch is, fundamentally and factually, not having a soft launch - by the broadly accepted definition of the term, in any case
And.... that basically completely shut down the argument lol.
Alrighty then, moving on
The games are the problem. If you have a WiiU, they really haven't given you a reason to buy the Switch.....unless you want to play WiiU games on the go.
@leo13
Well, the Wii sold out for half a year... in fact they couldn't keep units on the shelves for the span of 1 to 2 years lol. But people were there waiting as soon as they came back in stock.
I imagine seeing something sold out will only pique a persons interest more. What's really going to sell this console, I think, is people seeing it for themselves. Unlike normal consoles that sit in your living room, I'll be taking mine with me to work, and I'm sure out of the 2-3 million core fans buying at launch, many of them will too. One person with a Switch could end up influencing 10 other people. And it's a system that I think will really impress in person.
So I think that once it actually releases, and millions of them are out in the wild being taken in public and shown to others, that's when people are really going to get interested, and combined with the heavy marketing they've been subjected to (like the Super Bowl) it's basically going to sell itself.
I hope this really takes off not just for Nintendo but also for me! lol the bigger the user base the higher probability I'll get more AAA games coming to the system.
I really don't need them I love my first party games but hey the more the merrier..
They should have made 10 million because somewhere down the line they would sell them. Ninty shouldn't leave any potential customer without a switch like they did with mini
Nintendo is begin very dumb (again), just imagine Honda promoting a new car but they don't talk about everything in the car, instead they choose to focus in how awesome the tires are, but doesn't matter, because everybody want to know more about the car itself.
This is the switch and the joy con situation.
@NintySnesMan The Wii U sold 4 million at the launch month, 2 million is a joke, 10 would be much better and logical.
Um... I still baffled.
If Switch isn't having "Soft Launch", so what will happen on 3rd March 2017 ?
Is Switch ready to be bought on thst day ?
A soft launch would be correct if Yoshi's Wooly World was included in the launch.😆
It's no way soft when you have Zelda as a launch title, the biggest game Nintendo has ever undertaken in its development history!
I know people are going to say " but it's also on Wii U" and yes it is, but can you play it anywhere on Wii U?
No, no you can't.
For me that's a huge selling point.
Btw, EB Games here in Australia have told people that pre ordered Switch but have no intention of picking them up on launch day (who does that?), that they might be pushed back into the second shipment in April, April!
Only a month later.
@Frank90 That's a pretty clever analogy.
@KiWiiU_Freek I LOVE that concept!!!
@Frank90 @NintySnesMan
Wii U sold
4 million3.06 million in the first 30-40 days, not at launch. And it was in peak season, being the holidays. This is in March, the off season (see 3DS launch sales being less than 1 million in the west in March 2011, even combined with Japan launch sales was far less than 2 million).The reason they don't make 10 million is A it would take a full year of constant production to make that many in advance, and they likely didn't start production until the late fall. The second reason is B the costs of excess inventory are one of the worst wastes and poor business practices, as any student of business will tell you. Even if you know you're going to sell it eventually, stockpiling can cost companies dearly- see this article if you're curious to read up on it https://www.unleashedsoftware.com/blog/excess-inventory-carrying-costs-make-inventory-excess-bad-business-decision
Of course that article makes no mention of the quality control standpoint- if something is faulty or wrong with the product, and they find out and have 10 million units they manufactured that way... well, I'm sure you can appreciate the financial catastrophe that could bring
@Anti-Matter
???
All stores allocate some stock for day one release. There will be lines at literally every retailer. This isn't any different than Wii U launch, or Wii, or 3DS, or PS4...
I feel like one more big title announced, even if not at launch, would've changed the general perception of "lack of games". Pokémon would definitely do the trick, or any other big thing like Metroid Prime. I guess we'll have to wait until E3 to be blown away again.
@Manjushri I don't know about that. I'm not attaching any emotion to it, so if it doesn't happen I don't think I'm going to be disappointed. Quite honestly, for me personally, Zelda is plenty of material for launch. I don't really need anything else for at least a couple months. And to clarify, I don't think we're going to hear anything major, but I do expect to hear what will be available on the eShop before the console launches.
I just filed my taxes and this is literally the only thing I want to get with my refund but can't find one
@JaxonH
Ooh... I see. Same as usual.
@Frank90 That's not a fair comparison. The most important part of any console is the games and how they are played. Tech specs are not nearly as important as showing us what we will be playing and how fun it will be. There are a few tech savvy people who care about those numbers, but the public by and large couldn't care less. From a graphical perspective, the games look great and perform well. People are less interested in processing numbers and far more interested in seeing what kind of fun they will be having.
Would you have rather they just gave us a list of tech specs instead of showing us trailers and games? From the sound of your argument, that seems to be what you're arguing for.
The launch is disappointing. Stop defending Nintendo. They can't improve unless fans stop defending everything they do. An acceptable launch would be with at least five AAA first party titles in addition to a range of AAA third party titles. The launch lineup is disgraceful. The rest of the year's lineup is just as bad. The only other AAA title coming out this year is Mario. Nintendo needs a steady flow of AAA first party titles each year. 10-15 would be acceptable.
@thesilverbrick I really doubt we would get any "big" news such as a title like Smash, F-Zero, Metroid, or Donkey Kong being released soon before launch. There is a small possiblity post launch, but at or building up to E3 2017 is likely when Nintendo would announce details on a big game in development or releasing soon that was unannounced. I think Smash is the title that could possibly be announced shortly with a "Smash Brothers Deluxe" releasing similar to MK8 Deluxe with all DLC characters plus a few small extras.
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the Switch lineup though I do want to hear more about VC, which would be good to hear about sooner than later. I would also really, really like to see the spotlight on some third party titles. Nintendo can do a lot to help themselves by showing off more of the work of their third party developers.
@Xaessya I want a new Dokapon for ANYTHING at this point. That game still gets a ton of time from me and friends.
I don't get the 'weak launch' philosophy. Maybe Day 1 is a bit sparse (because apparently a new Zelda doesnt do it for you?), but look at everything they announced over the next year. Almost every one of the WiiU's big games over 4 years are being met by something within the Switch's first. New Zelda, new Mario, a more complete version of MarioKart 8, a new Splatoon.
I think anybody that's been a fan of Nintendo for a while now should know what's going to happen here. It'll be fine. I know I'm going to enjoy the heck out of it.
Also, Virtual Console probably isn't a priority to getting that think out the door.. If we get it, I can almost promise it won't be until a few months after launch.
What about Virtual Console details?
No Netflix or Youtube.
This launch is soft imo.
@burninmylight
Same for me, we absolutely love Dokapon Kingdom
This launch is so soft that I keep needing reminders that its actually happening soon!
I wouldnt class it as a soft launch but if they can only supply 2 million consoles worldwide at launch it will be a steady restock monthly leading up to the Christmas window and bigger marketing blitz. I expect E3 to have huge reveals too to keep interest going. Smash Deluxe before Christmas will fill the gap for those who missed out on wii u with hopefully Bomberman as a new character and the remaining amiibos.
@ThomasBW84 So is this your Pulitzer piece?
Looking at the facts and the definition of "soft launch" I think it would be hard to say Switch is having a "soft launch", if nothing else the $5 million SuperBowl ad disqualifies that argument right there, and the 3 years in the making twice delayed Zelda port as a launch title, you don't really get much bigger than that on a Nintendo console. And then Mario Kart 8D the next month - well within almost anyone's definition of a launch "Window" - is 1 of the biggest selling games on any Nintendo console. Wii and Wii U attach rates were nuts.
So it isn't technically a "soft launch". But then why are 1/3 of poll respondents saying it is? I've been saying it's a "soft launch" the past week or so, though I'll stop now b/c it really isn't. But what is it then?
"Lame launch" "Weak launch" "Uninspiring launch"? A lot of people, I'd say 1/3 is a lot, even if it's less than a half, feel something isn't right about the Switch launch. Why?
1. Launching a home/portable/tabletop/hybrid/tribrid gaming console in March was always going to be considered a weird choice, even moreso b/c of the huge 3DS price cut on a system which also launched in March.
2. Nintneod seeming to hold back Wii U games - go look at the holiday 2016 Wii U games - to release on Switch
2A. Kimishima said they were holding back the Switch launch until March to have games ready. (Guess we weren't thinking 1 2 Switch and Bomberman R when he said that)
3. Too many $250 rumours before the $300 reveal (though Japan is getting it for about $262 so they're close at least)
4. The only really new BIG surprise game announcement was Super Mario Odyssey, releasing holiday 2017. Splatoon 2 looked like Splatoon only now w/ paid online and smartphone voice chat.
5. 2 million consoles at launch. When Wii U sold 3 million at launch. That's not exactly drowning the market in Switch. There may be 3 or 4 or 5 million people who want Zelda BotW on Switch on March 3rd (based on past Zelda home game sales). How many wait, how many buy it on Wii U instead?
So by definition it's not a "soft launch", but for some people maybe it still "feels" like a soft launch. And for some people "feel" overrides actual. "Truthiness" or some such. Is it a "Soft launch"? No. Does it feel like a "soft launch"? Maybe yes.
From Google - truthiness - the quality of seeming or being felt to be true, even if not necessarily true.
Maybe if Nintendo hadn't announced "NX" way back in March 2015, then Reggie said "no NX this year, next year" at E3 2015, then 2016 was the year of rumour after rumour after patent after rumour as Nintendo held it's tongue, and kept making us wait. Maybe no matter how great the launch was, after 2 years some of us were always going to perceive it as a "soft launch".
So maybe it isn't a "soft launch", maybe it's just a "letdown launch".
It's a pathetic launch line up and a horrible first year for this system. They are spreading their heavy hitters like they did with Wii U and look how that turned out.
They need quality and quantity combined. The system won't survive otherwise.
That 1-2-Switch munching guy is like the new Ravi Drums...
Working in the IT industry, I can say this is far from a soft launch. Why would a company (as highlighted in the article) go to such trouble to advertise a "soft" launch? The fact that some would even think this boggles my mind.
I'm not getting a Switch day one, but my decision has very little to do with how many games it has; my budget, IRL situation, and current backlog are figuring the most into my decision to wait.
I'm buying 3 games at launch and I don't need anymore than that
@Xaessya Dokapon would be great for the Switch.
I really wanna know how many people preordered the Switch just to turn around and sell it. I know back when it was impossible to find a PS3/Wii over half the people buying them were just reselling them.
I'm buy Zelda breath of the wild at launch, but on the Wii U. The Switch doesn't have any other games that interest me right now, so why should I waste my hard earned money on a console that would just set there and collect dust. I can done play mario kart 8 on wii u so no real point in purchasing it again at full price for the switch also I can play online for free, didn't really care much for splatoon on wii u so won't get splatoon 2 at full price either, but hopefully it will have another good single player mode. 1-2 Switch isn't for me don't care for mini game type games.
I'm incredibly excited to get the new Zelda and a Switch but I don't own a Wii U.
If you don't care about Zelda enough to buy a whole new system for it or you already own a Wii U there really isn't enough of a reason to get the Switch at launch...
There's nothing else really compelling to pick up day 1. I love Bomberman but would I buy a £280 console for it? Nope.
Every game being released except 1,2 Switch (which lets face it, is a bunch of over-priced mini-games regardless of how fun it is) and Bomberman you can already buy on a different console, they're just sequels/remakes/ports. There isn't even an FPS, driving game or fighting game at launch which amazes me. It feels like either Nintendo didn't give developers enough notice to make games for the launch or all of them are waiting to make sure it sells better than the Wii U before committing.
That said... If Nintendo sell out of their launch day supply then get more people buying when Mario Kart is released the month after maybe this won't affect them long-term.
@LeRaposa I do not want to be spending as much on games as I am on the system launch night. 5 AAA games would be idiotic. I'm already getting 4 launch games and that is really pushing it for me.
Nintendo has 2 million consoles to sell at launch, which will be bought by fans like me who just want anything to gargle the taste of modern gaming out of their mouths.
As the console gets more games, shops get more consoles, and then gradually the non obsessive Ninty fans will want to get consoles and games. This seems like a better idea than releasing a system just before Christmas that people won't be able to just walk into a shop and buy, and then experience a 3 month wait for something else to buy for it.
There absolute has to be more launch Switches than there was Wii Us. This 2 million number is bogus.
Well the argument can and has been made that it is a soft launch. Limited supply of launch consoles and limited supply of games at launch. Then there's the whole thing about online and how I don't think Nintendo even know how to handle it. Even some of the accessories won't be available to buy until much later in the year.
Lack of Major Online Features at Launch. Lack of Software at launch. (there is still software, just not very much) It may not be a technical soft launch, but it sure feels like it. Viewing it as a Soft Launch actually makes me more hopeful for the console this holiday. If I view this as a full launch and what I should expect for the system throughout its life cycle... I am disappointed. (obviously plans can change and maybe later the system will get better, like the 3DS did, but there is also a chance for things to get worst, like the Wii U) This is a soft launch because the system sounds like it won't be fully functional at launch. I believe the Xb1 and PS4 had similar launches but features were fully functional a lot sooner.
If not soft, perhaps parboiled?
Good point about the VC. Some news, any news, would help. I pre-ordered my Switch and am fairly excited to try out the new Zelda, but as a fan who has invested a lot in VC releases, I'd like to know what will be available Day One and whether or not I can transfer past purchases.
Just curious, are all the retail units going to have the ugly red and blue joycons or will there be black ones like we have seen before?
I'm not buying one anyway, I'm just really curious why they would go away from the sleek design to the clown handheld.
@rjejr Yeah, as I said in the article, I think the sentiment we're seeing is disappointment, or just the sense it's lacking elements people want / expect. I can empathise like that and kind of agree, but pretty much every console launch is like that, Nintendo or otherwise.
@leo13 Because the 3DS shifted over three million units in a month, for one thing.
People are using the term soft launch because they feel the holiday period will be the real starting point. Nintendo will sell out at launch no matter what. The fact most people only see one worthwhile launch game and it's not even exclusive doesn't matter. Nintendo can't sell more so maybe feel no more effort is needed.
Then you're into summer, a period where gaming sales are low. We're seeing a lot of recycled content in this period, again not a whole lot of effort because it's not an important time.
Holiday is the first time they'll really trying to convince people to buy this thing. Before holiday, anyone buying a Switch would have bought one anyway, no matter what was on it, because they're big Nintendo fans. Holiday is where the real effort will begin. It's when they start putting out the great games that you can't play anywhere else.
The first party launch library is Zelda. Is that enough? I don't know but my guess is yes. And this isn't like the launch games for PS4 that were mostly all on PS3, because many, many more people owned a PS3. The Wii U user base is pretty small in comparison. Which reminds me, the bestselling game console right now launched with a bunch of games but few strong ones that you needed a PS4 to play. At least with the Switch there is Zelda which is exclusive to Nintendo platforms and 1-2-Switch which offers something completely unique. And Zelda also being available on Wii U is not a detriment. Switch needs to grow the base of Nintendo gamers dramatically beyond the Wii U user base and Zelda is just the game to do that. It's the last Wii U game and twisting the arms of loyal Wii U owners by cancelling that version would backfire disastrously.
Anyway, I'm convinced but I know many are disappointed. I don't think it's a soft launch, but I do think the intention is to make this a prolonged launch that relies on people being convinced with hands-on experience.
Spacing the games out gives each one a chance to succeed and builds the library over the year. The real target for a surge in sales is Holiday 2017 and all those who are disappointed now have plenty of time to be convinced.
Right, now it's selling out (for the most part) and Kimishima is talking about boosting production. Whatever the plan is, it's not a disaster.
@Peach64 I mostly agree, but for many, Zelda is a game "you can't play anywhere else". People buying into a Nintendo console now aren't likely to go for Wii U when they see the options. So, Nintendo is still likely to rope in plenty of "new" people with this console at launch.
@Alshain01 I believe both versions will be available but the Red/Blue JoyCons are the default. To get the Black ones you have to buy a certain version.
@DefHalan Oh ok. It seems strange, but I guess it's a bit like the White/Black wii u.
@aaronsullivan Does Zelda even count? It's a dual release, so technically it's a port of a Wii U game like Twilight Princess was.
Couldn't agree more; it really does have to do with the launch title content rather than number. Aside from 1-2- Switch, Breath of the Wild, and Super Bomberman R, the rest of the launch titles are ports. This makes it easy for people to lose interest if they are not fans of those three games, which is unfortunately a substantial number of people. Top that with the fact that the media likes to exaggerate negative news, and it will appear that the Switch is having a "soft launch." (I had no idea people were using the word "soft launch" wrong. Thanks for the info!)
I think no matter what, there was no way for the Switch to launch with completely positive reception from the media. It has been received positively by non-hardcore gamers though. Also, I do believe the approach is correct - the Switch emphasizes taking the console outside and sharing the joy cons with others. The more the console is seen and shared with non-owners, the more interest it will drum up and the more likely someone will buy it for themselves. So even if pre-launch looks bad, post-launch should look much better when people see other people with Switches.
@Alshain01
Of course Zelda counts. If multiplat games suddenly "stopped counting", then that means the 3DS would be the one device with the "best launch lineup" of the 8th generation.
@westman98 Yeah but what I mean by that is, with Zelda being the only first party title to launch and also being available on the Wii U, many people will wonder why they should buy a Switch if they already have a Wii U. Those that don't have a Wii U and see it as a must-have game might bite, but I'm betting most Wii U owners will either buy anything Nintendo pushes or will wait till there is something substantial... if they buy it at all.
We saw what happened to the Wii U with a poor initial lineup and this lineup seems less somehow. If it doesn't sell right out of the gate, it will get abandoned quickly and Zelda being dual launch and it's only first party title hurts it's ability to sell, at least some.
"I've suggested before that [providing two million units for launch] is terribly cautious of Nintendo"
It's actually the largest stock they've ever allotted for a launch month, and that includes the Wii.
Switch is launching against two very successful consoles with years left in their cycles.
All these 3rd parties are considering Switch. That's great... but an original title would be years away if it was started now. That leaves us with inferior ports. PS4 and XboxOne launched with many 3rd party titles on the way. The Switch is launching with maybes.
Informative article. So, it's not a soft launch. it's just a questionable one in the eyes of many. Not me though. I'm happy with soon-to-be last-gen Leftovers of Zelda and a future full of squid.
The Switch doesnt have 50 AAA games at launch and it costs more than $100, Nintendo is DOOOOOOOOOMED!
@NintySnesMan Okay, Nintendo will contact the factory wizards and create a surplus if stock just to keep you happy.
Even with Tomorrow Corps 3 additional games day 1 the launch is still weak! Especially if you're not into Zelda that much! Meanwhile what is Konami smoking asking 50 bucks for bomberman??
@LeRaposa well said!! 1-2 major retail releases per month at the very very least backed up with plenty of content from the eshop! The Wii U had 3-4 month gaps with nothing!! Zip! And the vc service better be there damn quick if not day 1! Actually there's no excuse for the vc service NOT being ready day 1. Fingers crossed
I'm still not convinced the Switch is 100% ready to go unless Nintendo reveals a lot more information about the system before launch. If there online is an "in progress," deal at launch it's confirmed they weren't ready to go but wanted to avoid having to compete with Scorpio later this year.
I wish they would've waited a few months and launch in May when Mario Kart 8 and possibly Arms are finished. The game lulls that plagued the Wii U are still present at least at the start and that's rather troubling as most people agree that the Wii U had a game problem in terms of variety and quantity.
$299.99 with basically just Zelda is a tough sell. I don't think 1-2 Switch is really the "next big thing," Nintendo thinks it is, and I wouldn't be surprised if it bombs. The rest of the titles are ports or games that they are charging way too much for, the aforementioned 1-2 Switch is about 20 dollars more than it should be, honestly it should be a pack in, and Bomberman is a $19.99 eshop game they are charging full price for.
Switch will sell well at launch because it's new and has Nintendo on it but the longevity of the system is something to watch as I'm not seeing third parties jump to support this thing outside of indies, which are nice "me too," kind of games but don't really excuse the lack of retail releases.
Please, someone forward this onto Raw Meat Cowboy at GoNintendo; he really needs to open his eyes a bit more to the truth around him imo.
The Switch isn't having a "soft launch; it's having a weak launch (at least based on what I've seen so far in terms of both first and third party games, outside of one major game and a few interesting titles). And anyone calling it a "soft launch" is really just guilty of trying to find any stupid way they can of not opening their eyes to the reality around them—the Switch launch lineup and launch window lineup is pretty bad for the most part and potentially very telling (and worrying).
But, like the article basically says, it's all in Nintendo's hands to do something about that—or not.
@impurekind I gave up on that site a long time ago. What's his view on the Switch?
@idrawrobots It's basically "fanboy this and fanboy that."
He's far too blindly optimistic and trusting about anything Nintendo does or says imo. So he sees a "soft launch" where I think any reasonable person would see a weak launch day lineup and weak launch window, at least as it stands right now.
All things being equal, this isn't a launch to fill any non-fanboy with confidence. It doesn't mean the Switch will fail—but it doesn't really help secure its short-term or long-term success very well either.
@Rontanamo_Bay Problem is, they dropped the ball with the controllers, leaving out analog triggers. Games like Luigi's Mansion, Mario Sunshine and F-Zero GX require analog triggers to be played properly. GameCube games (or at least a few very important ones) will be skipping this console, as well.
@thesilverbrick You are correct - if you look at the recent Strategy of Nintendo - how they tease ( switch first look but no details) and surprise ( Super Mario Run surprise announcement at the Apple presentation) - do you think they have put all their cars on the table? Oh no.... they will surprise us a gain and very soon I think . .
The 3DS and Wii U launched incomplete and Switch doesn't sound different. The 3DS had no web browser or eShop at launch. The Wii U had a day one update and the OS ran like a beta, very slow and unstable. TVii was unavailable.
Aside from Zelda, I don't really see anything that big.
It's crazy how bonkers people are going about the launch. It's fine! I seriously don't see any problems with the hardware, price, or launch games, assuming good games are flowing pretty consistently afterward.
I have always taken the big conspiracy theory that Nintendo wanted to appeal to their core base and give them the opportunity to have their faith rewarded. Then they kicked it in gear for the rest of comsumers.
Regardless of marketing, the product is having a soft launch. Yes it's a solid launch of the brand, and building it's long term interest and image. But the product launch itself is still a soft launch in terms of arriving in the barest bones with an openly stated objective of ramping that completeness up through the first 6 months. The holidays are their real hard launch period as it is the primary shopping season for this product type.
So this launch is not "soft" in terms of the marketing effort to build the brand, but the completeness of it is intentionally soft as they're only building the real brand image for LATER in the primary buying season.
They're putting full force into product awareness as a launch, knowing that it's an inherently soft long due to the timing most of the people they're targeting would buy it is in Nov/Dec and planning accordingly.
The Switch NEEDS to do well. Otherwise, the game industry will become so much more depressing with Nintendo not around (I hope this won't be the case).
Zelda on the go, on the toilet, in the bedroom, in the plain, in the bus, in the car (when not driving yourself) at boring class (lol) boring partys, at my job (nice)
Its the biggest and greatest (genius) product. Nintendo games to play every where. I hope we will get some Battlefield, Ghost recon, splintercel games etc.
The only popular launch game is Zelda....and if one doesn't care for Zelda then...oh well? Compare to the multiple big franchises in various genres on PS4 and XBO at launch - this is embarrassingly barren.
And why is it so much to ask for them to talk about the Virtual Console? That should have been an obvious priority at the debut show
I really don't understand where this 'soft launch' narrative is coming from.
This is literally it, folks. This is Nintendo offering up all they have. And it's just sad.
@Mando44646 Well one important difference is XB1/PS4 launched for the Holidays, and had their third party support releasing at launch.
Though I will say that as a launch-day PS4 owner, that was a barren wasteland in the same degree. What did we have to pick from, Knack, Killzone, and Need for Speed? Battlefield I suppose was at launch....that's a fiasco I'd rather forget. But at least it had that season's third party titles. Nobody's going to put a game from November on the Switch in March, and next November's games don't get formally announced until E3. Thus why it has no choice but to be a "soft launch" - even if it does have commendable third party support, that's all under NDA until mid June.
Allow me to pitch in:
It's not a "soft" launch by any definition; more like a HARD launch. Because their release schedule is so constipated at the moment...
Puns aside, I'm still looking forward to a couple of Switch games. 1, 2, Switch is the literal embodiment of lameness, but Zelda, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Snipperclips, Puyo Puyo Tetris, etc. will hopefully keep me busy. I still have a backlog of games on the past platforms, so even a drip-fed rate of Switch releases doesn't constern me.
Not sure if anyone has had the chance to actually play the switch yet. I have had the opportunity to play the switch in Toronto and I have to say that the system itself is amazing and from what I have seen on the floor and played I think Nintendo will do fine. Could they rush out some Street fighter 2 sooner? Yes! But from what I have seen the 3rd parties will come and make new ip's that are tailored for the switch instead of making watered down ports of games that need ps4 pro/Scorpio power.
@Frank90 Just looked it up, Wii U sold 890,000 units in its first 6 weeks on the market. it sold 4.3 million in its first YEAR, not first month. 2million is a huge amount to be ready for launch.
I got mine sorted getting red/blue Switch with Zelda day1
At the moment I have Zelda limited edition pre ordered for day one and that is it. THAT is not good for a new Nintendo console.
I really want Bomberman but a full £50 is too high for a game like Bomberman.
I don't think Nintendos line up and schedule is too bad. The third party line up however is thin, worryingly so. The worst launch line up ever was the N64 with only 3 games! But all were AAA .An ok launch was gamecube with 20 ish titles and 5 AAA. The Switch is nearer the N64.
If this is how thin the line up is there needs to be more hype and news around the virtual console and digital offerings.
There's loads of genres and games not offered on day one that maybe covered virtually.
Example, my cousin hasn't had a Nintendo since Wii and that didn't last long. We both play PS4 and both grown wise to the lame, unoriginal and uninspired software durge it brings. He does however see something new and fresh in the Switch and really wants one, but backed out after seeing the launch line up.
Had it been announced with NHL/F-Zero/1080/Wave Race or several huge third party titles then he would have bought one. The fact the launch line up is more like Wii U 1.5 to the point their biggest title is a delayed Wii U game is really disappointing and they are missing the opportunity to really shift some hardware.
Announcing their intent with the virtual console could serve to gain more interest and fill in some huge holes till their library fills out over the next 9 months.
The gamecube library could help massively in this respect. Just announce more already Nintendo. Right now you need volume and it just isn't there.
@gatorboi352
The "soft launch" narrative comes from the belief that Nintendo hasn't "blown their load" during the Switch Presentation and has information and games saved for E3 and Nintendo Directs that hasn't been shown off (but may have been leaked ala that Mario X Rabbids game, Pokémon Stars, Smash Bros Wii U port, Gamecube VC, a Retro Studios project, the new non-3DS Pikmin game, etc).
I asked two co-workers if they would like to buy a Switch at all. They didn't know what I was talking about.
Both of them play video games casually. One plays a lot of sports games, FPS and party games on his PS4, the other is a mobile puzzle gamer mostly and occasionally plays PS4 with his brother. Both around 30 years old.
I insist that excitement has thrown people off balance, this console is dead on arrival. The Wii U had a more exciting launch and we all know had that turned out.
@Al_Godoy
Anecdotal evidence like that is completely meaningless.
Let's see how well the Switch fares when the actual marketing kicks in, such as when that Superbowl commercial airs.
@LeRaposa
I'd like to know what your definition of "AAA" games is, especially if you think Mario is the only first party "AAA" game coming out this year??
I give most consoles a good 3-4 months before biting. This gives them a chance to build up some momentum. I think I got my Cube when Melee came out which was pretty close to launch.
By the end of June I could grab a Switch with Zelda, Mario Kart and Splatoon. That's pretty good.
@westman98 maybe, I don't. I'm an all-time early adopter of Nintendo consoles. Except for the Cube and de GBA because I was in college and poor, and still got them years later. I'm not getting at Switch until at least 2018, and only if it shows some kind of success... Which I doubt.
Many points here are flawed. Like the comparison to the N64, which launched more than 20 years ago, when the landscape was so different.
Also, the argument about having too many games at launch is invalid if you have a console that sells more than 5 million units on the first month like the PS4. Because then you can have up to 5 games selling a million copies on your first month. That's how you get third-party games on board.
The Switch had to be the return to form for Nintendo, and everyone should have been enthusiastic about console launch.
The simple existance of this well written piece shows that Nintendo failed again...
So the writer of the article has a problem with the use of 'soft launch' but acknowledges there are issues with the launch? So it's a semantics thing? Until somebody offers a short hand for 'launch rushed before the end of the financial year to top up FY profits and milk early adopters before the main holiday season that looks like the target for this launch and meaning a release schedule spread over the first 6 months and still missing information on potentially important things like Virtual Console' well I'm afraid 'soft launch' will have to do.
An N64, DSI and a Wii, i kinda felt that people writing for this site might of been a bit more dedicated than that personally.
@MadAdam81
10 was a figure of speech meaning 2million won't be enough. You can contact the wizards at Ninty and say thx for 2 mill. Whatever happens only Nintendo will be to blame when there is a shortage like the mini. Read between the lines next time before getting mouthy
It's still a soft launch.
Lol, all this debate over nothing. Of course it isnt a soft launch, but the Bias Bros love to come out of the woodwork and act like PS4 released with everything on Earth. They were missing a bunch of tv apps and touting a game-suspend feature that wasnt actually implemented for 2 years. The big launch games were crappy Knack and absolutely forgettable Killzone: Shadowfall, both on heavy discount within a few months of release.
I'm just confused by a lot of people saying it's a weak launch based on how they think other people might react to the launch. How is that of any concern to you? If it has some things you want at launch, why is that not enough? Why be all worried about what others think? Because you "want Nintendo to succeed"? Then how about proudly saying what you like about the launch instead of spreading a negative narrative based on a perceived and unsubstantiated worry of "others not liking it"?
As for me, I like there's some games that I like and I'm completely down with the concept. Some things are still vague, but I trust things to work out. And if not, then I'll still be happy with the system based on what I already know now.
@BertoFlyingFox
The PS4 launched with alot of 3rd party support. There were your online shooters (COD and BF), sports titles, racing titles, lego superhero game, Assassin's Creed etc etc. Resogun (a free game) is a better game than anything not named Zelda in Switch's launch. PS4 also offered the promise of the most powerful console available with a ton of games on the way. 3rd parties for Nintendo say "maybe in the future". That maybe means no original titles for a couple of years...and maybe a small number of (inferior) ports.
Switch is also launching against two hugely successful and more powerful systems with huge libraries of great games. PS4 and XboxOne had to win over gamers with who had the more promising future.
@WKE I think their point is valid. If others don't like Switch, we have another WiiU. Short life cycle with droughts in between Nintendo's great games.
I preordered two Switch's. One for me...one for my friend's kids. But I'm cancelling the one for my friend's kids. They love mario kart, mario, wiisports, donkey kong, mario party games etc. There's nothing in the launch for them. They already have MK8. The first game they'd like arrives in December.
I'm excited for launch day (pre ordered) and will be more than content with the 3 titles I'll get on day 1.
I'll say this though, of the 12 or so people I've mentioned Switch to over the past few weeks, not one of them had heard of it! Granted, all of them are non gamers but they are tech-savvy folks living in New York, so I'm surprised the news hasn't yet filtered into "the mainstream" in the same way, say, a new iPhone would.
This could be strategy though, get the Nintendo early adopters on board, then ramp it up through the year starting with the super bowl ad coupled with (hopefully positive) word of mouth. By Xmas, there will be a good momentum, plentiful stock ( maybe), and a fair spread of quality games.
I do dot think it is a soft launch. How much time do you have to play anyway? There is work. There is gym. There is sleep. There is social life. It would seem, the only people who think it is weak must have no job or no life. Lets say you are getting BotW and Bomberman. You have a month to play those before MK comes out. I know there is a possibility of a drought, but if you have a 3DS what is the problem. There is no drought.
@River3636
Launch lineup is weak period. I have a job, social life and I'm betting I can bench more than you. It will take me longer to beat Zelda than most. Launch lineup is still weak.
@WOLF1313 What does that even mean? Are we comparing guns now? So you think the line up is weak. Good for you, but it is great for me. I'm a bit hung over, so don't get me started.😀
I was trying to be as ridiculous as your comment was. You basically called anybody who thinks the lineup is weak a loser.
It's not soft in the sense of a business strategy soft launch.
It's soft in the sense for weak.
Now, where is my news about Beyond Good & Evil 2 exclusive? That is my switch system seller.
@WOLF1313 No I didn't. A term to not include people would be "it would seem" or it would appear", making it ambiguous on purpose. This is used not to offend, but I guess my brain is hurting now and yours didn't grasp it. I never called or implied that anyone who does not agree with me a loser. I don't even know who is laying next to me right now. So give me a royal break.
@River3636
"It would seem, the only people who think it is weak must have no job or no life. "
Sure man...Spin it how you want.
@WOLF1313 If I were to say "it would seem" that you are loser which I didn't. Then I still don't know what you mean, but I'll tell you this,
"It would appear that I am no longer wasting my time with your crackhead like statements. There is no spin there? Are you Crackhead? I would assume not, but then I would get into assuming and you know the first three letters of assume is right? "You basically called anybody who thinks the lineup is weak a loser". Have good day. I'm over it. 😀 "it would seem " and "it would appear" are used for these purposes. I thought you would know that much.🤑
@wolf1313 BF4 and COD: Ghosts were also available on x360 and ps3 when they released. Furthermore, BF4 released horribly buggy and COD: Ghosts was crap...they both were heavily discounted by the next month and both companies werent happy with sales. Besides that, Resogun released on ps3 and psvita also.
AC: BlackFlag released on x360, ps3, and even WiiU, so that's the mootest point in moot land.
I clearly brought up Knack and Killzone because they were exclusive physical launch titles. Again, they didnt sell that well, were mediocre-to-bad, and were on heavy discount a month later.
The market didnt support that crap then and it definitely won't support it now. Oh look, The Last Guardian has already been discounted by $20....hmm, I wonder whyyyy.
I'll stick with the Switches long game of releasing evergreen titles across the year and not bogging me down with throw-away games along with their $30 season passes. Will be playing a new Zelda where ever I go and World of Goo because that game is plain fun
@River3636
You're in your reality.
The console just isn't ready yet. If the Wii U wasn't such an abject failure, The Switch would be releasing at Christmas with a full range of games, at the earliest.
@WOLF1313 We are all in are own realty quantitatively and we all live in this world so let's try to get along.
@BertoFlyingFox killzone sold a couple million copies on a brand new system. It also had pretty good reviews.
Yeah some of those titles were on old systems. But there was no comparison on how they looked on new systems. Zelda is a WiiU game.
I'm not saying any system has great titles at launch. Switch has a port of a WiiU game.
Nintendo can keep their prices high because that's all somebody can buy for their system. It's buy Nintendo made games or play nothing.
The N64 was hardly a resounding success, so the author's comparison makes the point opposite to his argument. The market has also changed massively since then.
The comparison with the Wii U overlooks the fact that very few of the launch games were very good. A launch needs to be adequate in terms of quality and quantity. In any case, there were other problems hindering the Wii U.
"When you splash out a lot of money for a console the reality for most, I suspect, is that you pick one or two games to go with it, maybe a few if you're feeling a bit flush."
To say that this misses the point is to put it mildly. Whilst customers may not want to buy a plethora of games, it is ideal for customers to have a good choice.
@Franklin I agree about selection. I could not care less about Pokémon or fire emblem. But they should be at launch.
If we were talking "Available day 1" and didn't account for any eShop games, then I would consider it a soft launch. I'd daresay, if we take into account that Breath of the Wild is in-fact a multi-platform game (See: Wii U) and don't count it as something unique for launch, then the launch is downright weak.
But it's a good thing we don't count those things in those ways.
I'd give Launch Day Switch a 6.5/10 for everything announced right now, and I'm sure there'll be a few extra things available day 1 to bump that up to at least a 7. It's based on speculation and everything announced, btw.
Monster Hunter for the Switch at Holiday 17, or spring 18 at the latest.
Switch instantly wins
Well, historically speaking... I would say the benchmark for a really good, well rounded launch is the Dreamcast. By contrast, Nintendo has had many rather bare bones launches, often trying to rely on one or two "killer apps" to showcase their new hardware. With the NS in particular, it feels like that's been flubbed, since BotW would have released for Wii U by 2016 if it's contents weren't made into a sacrificial lamb, specifically for the purpose of having a "killer app" for the NS at launch.
Let's face it, as much as we may love things like Snipperclips, without that decision to intentionally delay Zelda, the NS would not have had anything resembling the traditional Nintendo strategy of launching with a "killer app." It is only for that desperate tactical reason that Nintendo has artificially prevented the NS from effectively being a soft launch.
It's nice that they've rediscovered how to advertise themselves for big events... ("Woah, that's right! We can advertise at the Super Bowl, like Microsoft does! Why didn't we think of that sooner!?" ) But if they didn't have Zelda to show off, the NS would have seemed like too much of a "waiting game console" for many once they saw it in stores.
Other previous systems without a "killer app" during the launch window, including pretty much all of the Playstations, at least had plenty of decent games and a multimedia feature (i.e. a decent and cheap CD, DVD, or Blu-Ray player) to tide people over before the "killer apps" came out later. The NS launch, especially for this time period, is too barebones if you take away Zelda. So the NS may not technically be a soft launch console in the traditional sense of the term, but again, it's definitely been artificially prevented from being one.
As for the messaging of the NS potentially being off... I think the corny/creepy image in this article of the 1, 2, Switch (Fail) minigame where you pretend to rapidly chomp on your controller says it all...
@wolf1313 Killzone sold 2 million across three months, not on launch month alone. And as I said, it was discounted by December which is how it sold in high numbers.
The whole "but Zelda will also be on WiiU" argument is a huge fallacy. One second the WiiU is a console that didnt sell, so people wouldnt pick one up just to play Breath of the Wild. The next second, a new Zelda won't sell on Switch because it exists on WiiU....a console people were just saying sold badly. It's absolute nonsense and reeks of convenient bias.
Nintendo keeps their prices high because they put worth in their developers, Sony and Microsoft do this too when it comes to 1st party (UC4 took forever to get discounted). Making games isnt cheap, but all these discount sales make them look cheap, and all the analysts point to declining overall sales in the industry. Console makers depend on evergreen titles or they'll have to keep slashing prices on all their brand new games....or hope that everyone wants to buy the obligatory season pass.
@BertoFlyingFox I think that ultimately, the point about "but Wii U Zelda!" is that if it weren't intentionally delayed past 2016, being worked on for an extra year and having control features excised in favor of a simultaneous NS release... Well, the NS would have been the worst Nintendo console launch ever. It's barely been artificially prevented from experiencing that shock. It almost certainly would have ran into a 3DS in 2011 situation if not for that decision. Even now, there's only a chance it will be prevented.
@BertoFlyingFox
I keep seeing many here saying they will buy Zelda for WiiU. Some IGN editors said they are going to buy it on WiiU after playing both. I didn't say it won't sell on Switch. It will sell an easy million quickly. I'm just saying people are more likely to wait to buy Switch since many Nintendo fans already have WiiU and they already own MK8.
Games due get discounted quicker on PS4 and XboxOne but mostly due to very high competition. Most games get a December discount for the holidays too.
It's not too late to put in analogue triggers! Hurry!!!
@BertoFlyingFox The problem with BotW is that a bunch of people who were early with WiiU (The devoted Nintendo fanbase) are possibly quite leery of getting burnt again after how WiiU turned out, and because of that might hold off on buying a Switch until there's a bit more certainty, so having BotW on WiiU as well takes a big reason to upgrade early away...
How is this being viewed as a soft launch? Nintendo won't shut up about NS (in contrast to WiiU). Oh the line up isn't what some folks want? Well there are several billion people on the planet. Can't please everyone. Bring on March 3rd and my weeping bank account.
Perhaps soft launch is not the appropriate word, but I don't want to discuss semantics. After more than a year starving Wii U of big titles, people expected Nintendo to be holding back a treasure trove of 1st party games for the Switch and go guns blazing since the first day.
That's no what we saw in January, many crucial 1st party studios are MIA. What is exactly Retro Studios doing with their time and money? Fighting crime like Bruce Wayne at night, pretending to run a game company by day?
I reckon going guns blazing in March would be an exercise in futility, It's the drought season anyway. But we should have more information about the holiday games.
As it stands now, there are 3 games for day one: Zelda, Bomberman R and 1,2 Switch, none of these are compelling reasons to buy a console. Breath of the wild, may be a juggernaut, the greatest Nintendo game to date, but it's available on Wii U. I wouldn't ever play such a open world game that requires long play sessions out of my living room, so portability adds nothing for me.
N64, some would like to point out, was launched with only 2 titles. But when those two are Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64, I don't think the situation is even comparable!
I think there is a much stronger argument for this being a soft launch than what was made. The system is Launching lacking several key features. Online service is not ready, No streaming services, Nothing about the virtual console and Generally badly explained launch. These will be key selling points and not ready for launch. The system is effectively in beta till the end of the year. I think you can make an argument that it is still worth getting but it is a soft launch.
@aaronsullivan
Correct. I know a lot of Wii U owners feel betrayed. Maybe they should, idk because I had no interest in the Wii U. And I had the Switch preordered morning after the presentation. I don't like Zelda, I have never finished a Zelda game, never played wind water or majoras mask or ocarina of time( titles my roomie swears are essential) but I have preordered the switch and BOTW.
I can understand why Wii U owners don't take the plunge. But ninitendo is trying to get those of us who hadn't bought in yet. I think it's smart to ride your Wii U out until you feel there is a reason to switch- but I feel pretty ok with the switch to complement my PS4
this is a soft launch, imo. i'm going to try avoiding an inappropriate analogy, but i think the message is that even while it's still a soft launch, they're showing that they're already going big. that way when it's launching in earnest, they want to sow anticipation of it going even bigger.
Despite the usual promises of more stock arriving "eventually", prepare for Wii-like scarcity, folks.
Typical Nintendo. Frustrating. Disappointing. Exhausting.
But as always, "please, understand".
The Switch advertising has been 100% better than the Wii U they need too keep it going.
Switch is doomed deal with it
If it isn't a soft launch, then the launch is certainly soft.
@Alshain01 Yeah, Zelda counts, imo. Let's use your comparison of Twilight Princess, the Wii version sold over 7.26 million copies while the gamecube sold 1.32 million. So, it could be considered a "port", not many people care.
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