Topic: Launch Titles???

I haven't really checked any of the forms to see if this has already been discussed but

It was already confirmed that the Switch Successor would be backwards compatible with normal Switch games, which is good, this means that the Switch 2 will already have an incredible amount of great games (and an overwhelmingly large amount of Shovelware, can't wait for Elva the Eco Dragon in 4K) available on day 1.

But when people get a new console, there's a good chance their going to want new experiences, or old experiences in the best way possible, so i'd like to bring up the question: which games that have already been announced would make the greatest launch titles?

I have 3 games in Theory that could work out. Those 3 being Yooka-Replaylee, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edtion, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

The most realistic of these is Yooka-Replaylee. When it was announced they claimed it was coming to "Nintendo". Never did they specifically say that it was coming to the OG Switch, even though that's inevitable. I think. Having it as a launch title on the Switch 2's E-Shop would be a great way to start of the console.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, while it would be cool, there's a VERY low chance it actually happens. If it were to be a Launch Title, the game would either be delayed to match the launch of the Switch 2, or... Switch 2 releases in March 2025. Sounds impossible, but it would be cool!

Pokemon Legends: Z-A definitely has a shot. If the game launches on, say, November 14th of the next year, that would be right on schedule for the holiday season, the season where most video game consoles are released. I... don't have any other reasoning for this really, if it happens I am PRAYING for day 1 Home Support.

Of course, there's always a chance non of this happens, and I'm just going crazy again. I'm looking forward to what Nintendo has in store for us with the upcoming consoles, and no matter what games come out for it, I'll always be proud to say "I was there". Unless the only launch title is a Sega Compilation. Then feel free to erase me from existence.

A new 3D Mario seems near guaranteed to be day 1. I feel like a third party game will be also, although I would guess a more realistic style game rather than Yooka to better show off the graphics — maybe Final Fantasy 7 remake or Baldur's Gate 3. Granted, if Yooka is done in time I could imagine them waiting for the Switch 2 launch just to ride the coattails.

The fact that Prime 4, Pokemon Legends Z-A, and Xenoblade X all feel like games which could have seriously used a Switch 2 boost in power does make me wonder if any of them will be specifically designed to run or look a little better on Switch 2.

Also, for what it's worth there is a thread like this but it was never moved to the Switch 2 forum because it's a bit old:

https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/nintendo-switch/the_super...

Humorously, a year ago in that thread I was predicting 2D Zelda as a launch game because I thought one was due. I was both very correct and very incorrect. Otherwise my guesses haven't changed much in the last year.

I don't see Legends Z-A being a launch title just because Pokemon games like that normally launch on the old system. For example, Black and White 2 on DS came out after the 3DS had launched. Sun and Moon came on 3DS only a few months before Switch launch as well, and since Legends already has January release date, think that will be the case here.

My predictions/hopes would be New 3D Mario, Ocarina of Time Remake, Elden Ring, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Switch Sports Resort/a 1 2 Switch- style game, and then a wildcard. Think those games would be a great launching pad, along with maybe Mario Kart 9 appearing near the launch window as well to draw up hype.

I also think we might get GCN and DS NSO on launch day as well.

I'm hoping that the next console will have a microphone/camera built-in just as the 3DS and Wii U did back when, and I hope to see a new Nintendogs + Cats game as a launch title to draw in more casual players alongside a "hardcore" title. It probably won't be anywhere near the scale of Breath of the Wild was for the Switch, but it will need to be an evergreen title that will sell for most if not the entirety of the successor's lifespan.

@AStupidID : Legends Z-A is still TBA 2025. It won't release in January.

Ever since Persona 3 Reloaded wasn't announced for Switch, I had been hoping that it would be a launch title for the Switch 2. It's the only reason why I feel Atlus would be holding back. I think that having a major RPG available at launch would work well for them.

ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2 ARMS 2

@N00BiSH YEEES!!! Okay, dream launch lineup if Judaspete contols the universe: ARMS 2 (ARM2?), F-Zero, Smash Brothers Saga which would be like Kingdom Hearts in the Nintendo Universe. Third party offerings would include Viewtiful Joe 3, Vanquish 2, and a 3D Rayman.

Realistic predictions: Mario Kart 9, New 3D Mario, New Fire Emblem, some tech demo of new Switch 2 features sold for $70, Raytraced update to Metroid Prime 4.

1-2-3 switch baybeeee

I originally wrote off the idea of Metroid Prime 4 being a launch title, because I don't think it'll be able to hold its own if any more prominent game is competing against it, like a new 3D Mario. However, I think it's a candidate - as long as Nintendo releases a true killer app 3-4 weeks later. Remember how the GameCube launched with Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm, and then Super Smash Bros. Melee released shortly after as a killer app? I think we could see a repeat of that, except with Nintendo's launch-day output resembling the Switch's. At the very least, a casual-oriented title analogous to 1-2-Switch is a given (could be Nintendogs returning since a built-in mic is allegedly back, could maybe be something like Nintendo Land, Tomodachi Life, or Switch Sports, could be something new), though I'm not sure if we'll see a day 1 eShop exclusive from Nintendo this time. After Part Time UFO, they seem to have phased digital-only smaller releases out (not counting the FDC remakes because those were a full-price bundle that were also released physically in Japan) - Nintendo World Championships sort of counts, but they did a physical collector's edition of it.

My dark horse prediction is that a sequel to Astral Chain will release within the first 3 months and be positioned as the first true hardcore exclusive/the Splatoon 2 equivalent, with Nintendo trying to take an old IP from their last system and significantly grow its audience just by making its sequel an early release on the new console. I don't think Nintendo would've taken the unprecedented decision to acquire full ownership of the Astral Chain IP from Platinum instead of the original joint ownership (something I believe they've never done before or since) if they were just going to sit on it, and Platinum has said they're up for at least expanding Astral Chain into a trilogy.

For third-party games, I doubt we'll see any Switch exclusives even if they're timed, but I wouldn't rule out getting one or two. Otherwise, I think it'll be a stacked lineup of ports, headlined by Elden Ring and including the likes of Persona 3 Reload (with Metaphor probably coming a bit later), Hi-Fi Rush, Street Fighter 6, and (wishful thinking) Sonic X Shadow Generations. Maybe some smaller titles that skipped or are skipping Switch as well, like Humanity, Jusant, Two Point Museum, BIT.TRIP RERUNNER, Viewfinder, and What the Car?

I feel like a lot will depend on the hardware, meaning like is it gonna have crazy joycons again? I'm assuming it will with the backwards compatability.

I don't remember who said it, pretty sure it was SEGA, but the idea that hardware doesn't sell consoles, but the software. I think Breath of the Wild is a big reason the Switch had a pretty great launch year, almost everyone wanted it. So ideally I imagine they would pump out something with widespread appeal.

First thing that comes to mind for me is the new Mario Kart, either launch title or launch year kind of title.

I feel like we are probably due for a new 3D Mario? Last one came out almost 7 years ago now.

I doubt we'd see a new Zelda but Aonuma had that weird slip about something to do with Ocarina of Time, so maybe there's a sequal cooking, in a similar vain to A Link Between Worlds and A link to the Past? That would be sweet.

My dream launch title would be a Evening Star Sonic Mania sequal, or just a new Sonic game made by them. Superstars was dissappointing, and I still want more. Luckily I can replay Mania every week and never get sick of it, but I'd love another new one.

My current expectations for Day 1 launch titles are a more open, brand new (not a specific sequel like Odyssey 2 or anything) 3D Mario with a slightly older audience in mind (similar to Mario Odyssey) and a multiplayer new IP (probably something similar to the Wii series), and maybe some smaller published game.

Zelda open world conquest....

For me . . . I'd like to see Mario Kart and Super Smash as launch titles. If not launch titles, at least let's see the development teasers and get the game within a year.

I usually wait on a system before deciding to buy it.

For the Wii U . . . I actually consciously waited until they released Super Smash for it before considering it.

The Wii U was released in 2012, and Mario Kart and Super Smash were released in 2014. So 2 years later.

I'm just wondering if there was anyone else that held off buying the Wii U, waiting for Mario Kart and Super Smash like me?

@NintendoDad I've never bought a console day-1. For Switch I was mainly waiting to make sure the console was going to do better than Wii U. For Wii U, the launch games didn't seem compelling nor did the gimmick.

Switch 2 will likely be my first day-1 buy. tbh, my 2017 Switch is feeling its age and since I can play all my Switch games on Switch 2, there is zero reason not to upgrade... even if Switch 2 had no games 😆

@FishyS Perhaps someday we'll get a trailer that says 'Nintendo Switch 2 has games'

@PikminMarioKirby Nintendo should troll everyone by doing another batch of "Nintendo Switch has games" ads during the Game Awards this year, it would be very funny.

Yeah. Asymetric game play. It was great for Nintendo Land.

And maybe a bit gimmicky like with Wii Party U. (Although that was one of our favourite games. LOL.)

But the Wii U brought us 9 player Super Smash local matches. LOL. Great for when all the kids in the gang came over. More people playing, less people waiting.

And Wii U Mario Kart was a nice solid step up from the Wii.

+1

Yes. Good reason to get one.

For me . . . getting a Switch 2 would mean my kids can play with it, and I can finally get more game time on our original Switch. LOL.

@Grumblevolcano lol that would be amazing, maybe they could do 'Nintendo Switch still has games' or something like that XD