Topic: Anyone Else Concerned with Nintendo's First Party Output Recently?

I don't share this concern tbh. Switch just has too many games that I'm interested in for me to care too much about the next Mario, Mario Kart or Metroid.

Nintendo also tends to hold their cards quite close their chests these days. It's possible that we could have a new Mario and/or Metroid next year, but not know it yet. And while I would welcome a big first party title this year...the Switch's exclusive lineup is already packed as it is (two mainline Pokemon games, Splatoon 3, Switch Sports, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Mario and Rabbids 2, Kirby, Bayonetta 3, Fire Emblem Three Hopes; just to name a few).

As an agnostic gamer who owns a Switch primarily to play third party games portably, I'm not the least bit concerned about the first party output. All of the flagship Nintendo franchises are well represented on Switch now, so I have a laissez-faire attitude towards first party games until the Switch successor arrives.

Loving their output personally. New FE and Zelda next year, Pikmin isn’t dead, Mario Kart still getting support, Strikers is still getting support, Splatoon 3, Xenoblade 3, we got a new kirby this year and a remake of a great kirby game on the way and that doesn’t include the 3rd party games that only exist because of Nintendo. Bayonetta 3 looks great and Pokemon Legends was fun and no matter how one feels about it, Violet and Scarlet will sell like hotcakes. Been a very good year for me.

Not really. Now granted, Kirby & the Forgotten Land and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are the only two first party games releasing this year that really do anything for me personally (though XC3 is large enough to count as 2 or 3 games, lol), however I think it's prudent to look past my own biases, and when I do this year is absolutely stacked. Two big innovative (for the franchise) Pokemon games, Switch Sports (followup to one of their most successful titles of all time), Mario Strikers Battle League, Fire Emblem Three Hopes, Splatoon 3 (Japan alone in 3 days gave us 3.5 million reasons why this was needed), Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (the first game moved 4 million copies, so it's safe to see why they probably see this as a big release), and Bayonetta 3 (a much hyped released amongst the core crowd).

Luckily, I even play games that don't have Nintendo printed on the tin, so I can fall back & play the likes of Pac-Man World RePac, Klonoa Fantasy Reverie, Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core Reunion, & Nier Automata as well, and that's just games available on Switch & not even considering what I have available on Steam

tbh Nintendo's published output on Switch is probably my favorite of any of their consoles. I'm struggling to think of a notable IP where a Switch entry wasn't the best in the series to date (the closest that comes to mind is Yoshi's Crafted World). It's possible this isn't true of their sports games, but, to be brutally honest, I couldn't care less about those.

With Pikmin 4 confirmed, the only notable absences at this point that come to mind are a new 2D Zelda and Donkey Kong.

Although with all of the third party games coming out on the platform, these aren't even necessarily the biggest draw for me. Even if Nintendo had never released a single game for this console that was developed internally, I'd still be pretty satisfied with it.

I mostly notice that EPD 8+9 haven't really done anything. I imagine that they're prepping 3D Mario and Mario Kart respectively for the next console. But I'm still baffled that neither of them have yet to release a new Donkey Kong or Nintendogs respectively. Also, are people going to be burnt out by the time the new Mario Kart finally drops? I've been avoiding 8 Deluxe.

@Jhena It's moreso just how New Horizons focuses more on being a decorative doll-house sim, rather than a life sim. Most of the life sim elements are weak or are barely there. Tons of characters from the other games were cut and replaced with more soulless ways of getting the stuff which they used to give you. Things like shop upgrades are very minimal.

@skywake I know by technicality the switch's life isn't "cut short", but it'll feel like that to me, as games are starting to actually feel quality again, instead of just soulless versions of their previous games with less to do in them. And when I talk about having a Tomodachi Life sequel, I meant moreso as a brand new game, and not a port of a game that I already owned on 3DS. The reason I vastly prefer the 3DS library, even though it has the same series on it, is because back then it actually felt like Nintendo tried? All the games that released on Switch feel kind of inferior to their 3DS counterparts, aside from some stand out titles like Luigi's Mansion 3, BotW, and Maybe Mario Odyssey, if only because 3D Land wasn't very good.

It's not guaranteed, but those two IPs sell gangbusters. What could they possibly be working on that's more profitable than 3D Mario and Mario Kart? Furthermore, creatively they're likely to have enough gameplay ideas for further entries in those two IPs. I would say it's highly likely that's what they're working on.

It's been 5 years. They should be nearing the end of their next major project.

If they came up with a new idea for something else that would be great (although I'd be disappointed that they skipped 3D Mario or Mario Kart), I would love for them to come up with a new IP to add to their stable like Splatoon or a bold new direction for their existing franchises like Legends Arceus. But we're not even getting that much. There are multiple teams that haven't released anything in 5 years, so the quantity of games has decreased. Look at EPD's progress (which as I said in a previous post is actually my main sticking point with the recent lineup) and how many games they've released per year:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_Planning...

2017- 8
2018- 4
2019- 6
2020- 3
2021- 5
2022- 2

Now this is a bit of an oversimplification because there are variances in the size, scope, and platform of these games, but their output in 2020-2022 is noticeable lower on average than 2017-2019, with 2022 being their lowest output in the entire generation and really the lowest period (technically it's tied with 2015, but that was the year the restructure happened and EPD was started, there were several other games finished earlier in the year by its predecessor EAD). Something is VERY wrong at EPD right now and I don't think it's just the pandemic.

Oh no, the Switch is already the GOAT in my eyes, there's been so many entries for the console that have pushed their franchises in new directions and are the best in their respective series. My issue is that most of the games that made the Switch great came in 2017-2019 and the momentum's fizzled out.

No, 2022 has been the best year for Nintendo with the Switch since the 2017 blowout which also was complemented by ongoing 3DS support. Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Nintendo Switch Sports, Mario Kart 8 DLX Booster Course Pass, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Kirby's Dream Buffet, Splatoon 3, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Bayonetta 3, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet...2022 blows 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 out of the water in my opinion.

Now overall, from 2018-2022, most of the time I would've liked the Switch to have been complemented by another platform that isn't as demanding. Waiting 5 years for the next great wave of Nintendo content has made me think about whether or not I want to go through this again for the next generation. Droughts on the Wii and Wii U were usually alleviated by the content of the DS and 3DS, so those generations always delivered for me. This Nintendo generation hasn't been as solid, but the Switch is my 3rd favorite Nintendo system and could surpass the Wii next year with Pikmin 4 and Tears of the Kingdom.

@Bolt_Strike Y'know, I can totally see your point about the momentum. Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild is one of the best years I can remember in my 40odd years of gaming. I'm just not sure how reasonable it is to expect that to be a regular norm hahaha. Although with a Mario film out next year, I ouldn't be surprised if we get BotW 2, Odyssey 2, Pikmin 4 and who knows, even if we see Metroid Prime 4 (which I think they would be in a position to show) next year could be stella!

I honestly feel like 2022 and 2023 are going to probably be good years for switch, since it's like a clog in the drain being fixed. There's a ton of games that Nintendo seems to just be sitting on that got development interrupted by the pandemic. Xenoblade 3 was supposed to release late last year apparently, and Fire Emblem Engage was apparently meant for the anniversary, but got held back, with Nintendo shelfing it until they had an opening.

Ya, I'm inclined to agree with others that the content has been full tilt lately.

The thing about Nintendo is, they've always strategically partnered with outside studios to deliver exclusive content for their systems. So it doesn't make much sense limiting one's focus to an exclusive subset of internal development studios. Nintendo actually doesn't own that many studios. At least half their content is through 2nd and 3rd party partnerships.

At the end of the day, what matters to me, as a gamer, is whether or not enough quality games are coming to the system for me to play. And when I look at the lineup, it just makes me realize how insanely good we have it.

2022-23 Exclusives/Console Exclusives

• Pokemon Legends Arceus
• Triangle Strategy
• Kirby Forgotten Land
• Mario Strikers
• Switch Sports
• MK8 Expansion (48 additional tracks- 1.5x the content of the expanded base game with prior DLC includes)
• Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes
• Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3
• Live A Live
• Kirby Dream Buffet
• Splatoon 3
• Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope
• Bayonetta 3
• Pokemon Scarlet/Violet
• Dragon Quest Treasures
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe
• Pikmin 4
• Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
• Advance Wars 1+2

2022-23 Notable Multiplats

• Zombie Army 4
• Persona 3 Portable
• Persona 4 Golden
• Persona 5 Royal
• Nier Automata
• Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core: Reuinion
• No Man's Sky
• Tactics Ogre
• Diofield Chronicle
• Radiant Silvergun
• Overwatch 2
• Portal Companion Collection
• Life Is Strange Collection
• LEGO Star Wars
• Demon Slayer
• Tunic
• It Takes Two
• Trails To Zero
• Trails From Azure
• New Tales from the Borderlands
• Sifu
• Sonic Origins
• TMNT Collection
• Shredder's Revenge
• Capcom Fighting Collection
• Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
• Octopath Traveler II
• Tales of Symphonia Remastered
• Fatal Frame 4 Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
• Rain Code (launch exclusive)

And there's plenty others- Sports games, online games, farm sims, etc. But point being, we've got a lot of games to play, particularly exclusive titles.

Of course, there are some studios we haven't seen games from in a while, but Nintendo tends to strategically release their titles for maximum impact. And at some point, a new system will be releasing. Be it next year, 2024 or 2025. And they're going to want a jam packed lineup for when that day comes. Which means, they're simultaneously giving us an onslaught of content while also holding back games here and there to save for the launch lineup. Meanwhile, other games could just be held onto for release timing reasons, such as Fire Emblem Engage being done over a year, Metroid Prime Remaster supposedly being done since 2021, Advance Wars being held back for other reasons, etc.

But, everyone is entitled to their opinions. I'm not here to tell anyone they're "wrong", only to share my POV and reasoning behind it.

@GrailUK 2017 was a lightning in a bottle sort of year and I doubt it'll be repeated so easily. I was never quite expecting that (although some Youtubers certainly were and this year was sort of a 2017 "echo" year, but mainly for the smaller titles from 2017 instead of the larger titles that people remember most fondly from 2017 as we did not get sequels for BotW, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario Odyssey this year and those were the top 3 sellers from 2017). My focus is less on that they were unable to match the 8 titles from 2017 (which is a high bar for any year to clear) and more on how the last few years have only had 1 or 2 big titles with this year hitting a rock bottom of 2 titles the whole year. This year especially has been pretty bad. 2020 is excused because that was the brunt of the pandemic and 2021 they actually did okay (although I'd have liked slightly bigger/more popular titles but the quantity is fine), but 2022 has been inexplicably barren of EPD titles.

@Bolt_Strike It's a fair point. I mean, I really don't want to sound like I'm trying to make excuses up for them. Third parties have it tough competing with Nintendo on their own system. At least it gives them a shot lol. But also, I have no idea how bad Covid is in Japan. All I know is last month my mum nearly died from it and only today my sister is really ill from it. It's still a pain in the ass and hasn't gone away. So I am going to extend some goodwill and believe the Covid notice at the beginning of Directs. Heck, golf dlc got delayed. That's not even a full game.

It's easy to fantasise about them lining up projects for the next console, sitting on things for a rainy day or what have you, but the video game industry really has problems at the moment. Not just Nintendo, everyone. Look at Street Fighter 6! It's so ugly!

Agreed. Not much interests me….I am looking forward to Pikmin 4 but that’s probably a year or close to a year out. I don’t care how Nintendo is handling the Mario Kart franchise and wish they would at least bring in a new Donkey Kong or Mario game.

@GrailUK Japan generally locked down earlier and harder than most Western countries so, even though less people caught the virus and died there, the impact on games development was still severe.

I'd think that Nintendo EPD - having a lot of staff who'd typically come into the office, work very long hours and collaborate face to face with other teams - would fare particularly badly from having to pivot to working remotely, in small teams and using online tools to hold meetings and share work.

Smaller and more flexible partner studios would have been able to pick up the slack though, and that's how I'd read most of their output for the past couple of years.

Right off the bat the answer to the OP's question is a hard no - 1st party support this year has been great and titles have been releasing at a steady schedule.
This take seems to be completely based on the OP's personal disappointment with the direct.
If you compare this year to others in terms of Switch releases the output is easily one of the better ones.
Furthermore I don't get what people were expecting, we're nearing the end of the year, we got Xenoblade 3 and Splatoon 3 this year and we're getting Pokemon at the end I don't get what more you can ask.
Even then the direct managed to do it's job and more - showing new releases and giving updates on upcoming games and updates for ones that already came out.
We don't need a Mario or Zelda for the year to be good.

There's a major difference in sales potential between this year's lineup and some of the earlier lineups (especially 2017, but I also consider 2019's quality as well). They're focusing on a lot of games like Xenoblade and Bayonetta and Fire Emblem which have been relatively low selling games that don't really appeal to wide varieties of Nintendo fans. The IPs I've been questioning, such as Mario, Zelda, and Mario Kart, are among Nintendo's highest selling IPs. This goes beyond just personal preference, and I would argue saying that we don't need Mario or Zelda is your own personal preference because different people have different views on what a "good" lineup is. Sales wise though, it's tough to argue that the lineup doesn't feel a bit lacking when some of the higher selling IPs have been absent for a while.

At any rate, one of the responses to this thread raised a key point that leads to the source of my complaints: it's EPD's output, not specifically Nintendo's, that's fallen off.

The second party devs have been doing a good job of providing a steady flow of games to the console. We've had plenty from the likes of Monolith Soft, Game Freak, IS, NLG, Camelot, etc. and that's where many of the niche and supporting games have come from. The lack of higher selling IPs though is because we've gotten little from EPD as they develop most of Nintendo's highest selling IPs (5 of the Top 10 selling Switch games are EPD games). And if you look at that recent lineup from EPD, especially this year's lineup which just consists of Switch Sports and Splatoon, it definitely paints a picture that they're struggling to release games. So I think it's fair to question if something's going seriously wrong at EPD right now, and it could be an issue that significantly affects their bottom line and the quality of the lineup.

@Bolt_Strike
You know I probably agree with your point about Mario Kart 9 being worked on from a purely financial point of view. It makes sense to be pumping out sequels to one of your best selling franchises. But as a fan of Mario Kart to the point where I'm the person who's had a sprite of Bowser from Super Mario Kart as my Avatar here for over a decade? I don't really see the need for a Mario Kart 9. I hope they're working on something else

Every Mario Kart upto 8 had a technical reason to be entirely reworked. Whether it was the transition to 3D, the jump from N64 to GC, Motion Controls or the jump to HD. The portable versions, and even Tour, have also had similar technical reasons to be reworked. But with 8 we kinda hit a point where Mario Kart is kinda at its technical limit. I'd argue it's the best looking, best performing and mechanically sound kart racers on any platform

So what would Mario Kart 9 actually add? Some superficial new mechanic? More characters and tracks? I mean we're already getting more tracks and we did get new characters via DLC on the Wii U. So the thing that I most definitely obsessed over when trailers released for Mario Kart Wii, 7 and 8 is something we actually got in this last Direct. So if I'm being honest, I'm not really sitting here hoping for a Mario Kart 9. In the same way that I'm not entirely sure why Splatoon 3 needed to exist. Or how a game like Project Cars 2 didn't really need a Project Cars 3

Of course I'm talking about this from the perspective of a fan. You're probably right that they'll be bending over backwards to try and find a reason for Mario Kart 9 to exist so they can print more money. But again, I'm perfectly fine with just getting a dripfeed of new DLC tracks and I hope that they're working on something else entirely. Like gasp F-Zero (oh noes he said the thing) or something entirely new. Paper Mario Kart? Diddy Kong Racing? Something way out there like Splatoon was? Honestly, anything but Mario Kart 9

@GrailUK Japan is just coming down from the highest number of cases on record. The mortality rate is significantly down compared to the beginning of the pandemic, and restrictions on everyday life and travel are not as severe as they were in the early stages, but I feel sweeping statements like “the pandemic is over” and “the pandemic was three years ago” really miss the mark. Covid may have faded in the minds of many Westerners, but it is not definitely ‘over’, not least of all in Japan.

I imagine that due to a combination of eased restrictions, as well as workplaces gradually adjusting to new work styles (telework, etc. which yes, does exist [to an extent] in Japan) overall ‘productivity’ is now broadly comparable to pre-pandemic levels. However, due to the protracted effects of pandemic, and the fact that delays in one part of a system can have knock-on effects many months and years down the line, it seems fair to assume that the effects of Covid are still there in Nintendo’s output.

Still, I’ve got Splatoon so I’m happy, and then Xenoblade to dig into (if I find the time) after that.