After the rumours of Retro Studios working on a secret Star Fox: Grand Prix title for Switch flying around yesterday, many were left pondering the future of Nintendo's loved, but almost forgotten, franchises once again. If these new trademark applications are anything to go by, however, we likely haven't seen the last of them just yet.
The company has reportedly filed for a total of 15 applications in Japan, all of which are for the English language names of games or franchises, with the exception of Super Smash Bros. which is simply a trademark for the franchise logo. According to Japanese Nintendo, the reasoning behind these new applications include "for home video game program, smartphone program, as well as non-game related purposes (merchandising etc)."
Here's the full list:
- Super Smash Bros.
- Star Fox
- F-Zero
- Pikmin
- Yoshi’s Island
- Art Style
- Flipnote Studio
- Sin & Punishment
- The Legendary Starfy
- Nintendogs
- Link’s Crossbow Training
- Wii Fit
- Wii Music
- Wii Play
- Wii Sports
Of course, these trademark applications do not necessarily mean that new games are on the horizon - all of these terms are already trademarked in the west - but the idea of potential new material cannot be written off. The likes of Star Fox and F-Zero appearing on that list in particular are sure to get the minds of fans racing.
Do you think we'll be seeing more games for these franchises in the near future? Or do you think these applications are just generic trademark renewals? Share your thoughts with us down below.
[source japanesenintendo.com]
Comments 50
Hmmmm? intensifies
Sin and Punishment, Link's Crossbow Training, and the various Wii ones make me think we could be looking at a Wii library virtual console or freebie library in the future for the Switch. At the very least, Sin and Punishment getting a reapply makes me very interested.
Technical mumbo jumbo aside, I can't wait to see what Retro may or may not be doing with Star Fox!
I would very much like a Sin & Punishment 3; although actually yet to finish the 2nd one. I best plug in my Wii and finish it off.
Star Fox... Pikmin... brake screech did someone just mention SIN AND PUNISHMENT???
Why no Wave Race? :/
The legendary starfy!
Wouldn't it be great if these were signs of something actually meaningful, like brand new Switch games in all those franchises.
Link Crossbow Augmented Reality for Smartphone? <-- joke
Hmm, interesting list though
Wait, Starfy ?!
Nintendogs ?!
Mii games for Switch ?!
Generic renewal.
HYPEEEE TRAIN IS LEAVING THE STATION
F-Zero. Yes please.
First thing I did was scan for Wave Race. Damn. 😤
But the Wii brand is dead.
Just let it die Nintendo.
A lot of these brands in particular are significant during the DSiWare and Wii era, so I wonder what they're planning.
And no Golden Sun!
Everyone clicks to see wave race...
Everyone leaves disappointed..
Do they realise how much people love that series??
@NL: Can you clarify whether these “new” applications are for renewals of existing marks? My hype level for S&P depends on the answer to this question.
These aren't new sequels, guys.
Can mean nothing, can mean everything... I'll just wait one more month! 😎
@Stocksy
Possibly
https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/5dhbud/nintendo_files_trademark_for_wave_race_in_europe/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/04/wave_race_director_shinya_takahashi_hints_that_the_series_may_return_soon
And where in the name of all things good and pure is Pikmin 4?!
@electrolite77 this would be amazing. Seriously. Just dug my n64 and GameCube out of storage and loving wave race again
Just generic renewals, not even worth making an article for it.
I bet it’s all just for Smash Bros.
AHHHH GAAAAHHHD please bring back the Art Style series!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Generic renewals. Maybe 2 of those will amount to actual games.
@kurtasbestos Yeah, some of the Art Style games were cool, Picopict was my favourite.
@electrolite77 I'm always wondering about Pikmin 4. Am sure Nintendo said they'd almost finished the game ages ago and wasn't it intended as a Wii U title?
I'm going with generic renewals too, hopefully some might end up as games, with Switch being as successful as it is then it's a good time for a revival of some.
Just routine renewals. Nothing to see here.
Paris a Hilton endorsed smartphone Nintendogs app is actually going to happen. Lol.
Interesting list. If at least half of them allude to E3 announcements, it'll definitely be an interesting show.
Think it all makes sense. Meaby not links crossbow training but yeah might just be something extra to play for those who want to.
But yeah, Nintendo will likely go all out this year to.
Don't get too excited, guys. Companies do this all of the time. This is about safe-guarding their own brand, above all else.
Even if it was used as the name of a game series, "art style" is also a simple descriptive term. Will art schools now owe Nintendo royalties for referring to different creative techniques?
I’m sure they are just protecting trademarks. However I would faint over some new Starfy.
@Audiobrainiac Agreed. I have a feeling they may be recycling Wii material such as music for Smash Bros.
We're getting Ikaruga, maybe a new Sin & Punishment? Bring on all the Treasure games new and old!
I don’t understand?!?
There’s no such thing as a trademark renewal?!? You either trade under a mark or you don’t. Those stated franchises in the list are currently traded under, which means no one can trade under those names in a similar field of business. That’s what a trademark is. If anyone has information about trademarks outside of western society, then please tell all, otherwise I think this speculation is misinformed
Guess that means Nintendo at least thinks enough of F-Zero to keep the name, "just in case..."
Ofc what I wait the most is F-Zero, but actually a new Sin & Punishment would be so cool
But yea, these news aren't useful imo, they always do that, it's just meant to keep all the rights from their franchises
Seems likely that Nintendo is just reaffirming their hold on their IP.
@Benjamin I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we’ll get a Sin and Punishment sequel for the Switch. Nintendo does have a good set of Wii games, though that I can see getting the HD treatment like S&P. I’m doubting it’ll be a Virtual Console.
New Sin and Punishment...please be true!!
@Benjamin This could mean that those games are going to the Shield TV as well considering something similar happened right before they released their games on the nVidia Shield TV. I hope that is not the case but I feel it might be.
They could easily either give away a Switch Port of Link's Crossbow Training to subscribers to the online service, since its a very short game, or even make a new one for phones where you tap the target to shoot.
Or you know, trademarks for the sake of trademarks....
@wazlon SHUT UP THEY WERE ALL COOL sorry, I have a soft spot in my heart for those games. They're also the entire reason I found Nintendo Life in the first place.
@kurtasbestos Guess I preferred the ArtStyle games on the DSi more than the ones on Wii. Would be cool if they released a collection of them as we can't buy WiiWare titles anymore.
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