You're not going to believe it, but Nintendo's releasing lots of new games this year. Thank goodness.
Yes, as you may well have seen thanks to our coverage of his comments surrounding Nintendo's increased R&D expenditure and its struggles keeping up with hardware demands, company president Shuntaro Furukawa has shared several updates in a newly-published Q&A today.
One question addressed the current scale of active Switch users, and after discussing the console's recent influx of new owners thanks to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Furukawa took the opportunity to confirm that "many" new titles will be launching this fiscal year.
Here's the president's full comment:
"After the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there was a substantial increase in the number of consumers playing Nintendo Switch. There was a gradual decrease afterward, but there was another considerable increase during the year-end holiday season last year, which reached the highest number of active users since the release of Nintendo Switch. Although the number slightly decreased after the beginning of this calendar year, a lot of consumers are playing Nintendo Switch with the recent March release of Capcom's Monster Hunter Rise, so we don't think that the momentum is fading.
"Many new software titles will be released this fiscal year, starting in the first quarter, which we think will help continuously expand the range of consumers who play Nintendo Switch to include those who haven't played Nintendo Switch in a while or are completely new users."
As we've touched upon previously, Nintendo's upcoming schedule for 2021 is already looking pretty positive, with games like Mario Golf: Super Rush, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and more already confirmed. We imagine more will be announced during E3 next month, too, and you can't rule out a major launch for the holidays later in the year.
Whatever happens, we're liking the sound of "many" – even if our bank accounts really can't handle any more game launches.
How are you feeling about Nintendo's 2021? Are you optimistic? Are you excited about the upcoming release schedule? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 117
Huge, if true!
..was this really a surprise? Of course they're making games
I’m going to take this rumour that Nintendo is releasing games with a pinch of salt. My uncle at Nintendo says they’re doomed.
Fingers crossed we get a few Zelda remasters and (less likely) a metroid prime trilogy remaster.
I may be misremembering but didn't Nintendo say they expect to sell insert massive number here of games this year? So possibly BotW 2 this Christmas?
Who knows, I'm optimistic anyway, actually looking forward to E3 this year, haven't felt like that since 2013 ish.
Rumors! My ancestors that works at Nintendo never agreed to this happening.
Thank heavens for that. I was beginning to think of my Switch as increasingly redundant these days 😥
Meanwhile, news reports say that the sky is blue.
I'd be surprised if they weren't!
I always assume they're making at least five games and new console at all times.
....and I'm sure they're developing something weird and gimmicky as always.
So those leaks in the past have a little more meat to em now eh.
Dark Souls 2, please!
Mushihimesama Black Label please!
More DoDonPachi please!!
But seriously, Dark Souls 2 PLEASE!!
Thank you Nintendo Santa.
NINJA APPROVED
Then show em' Nintendo. I don't believe you until I see gameplay.
I mean really, what was the last big game anyone cared about that wasn't just a collection or remaster. Animal Crossing in march 2020?
@BloodNinja I’d pay money not to have Dark Souls 2 come to Switch. Just to keep too many people from being massively disappointed by how trash it is 😂😂
Can we just get some Xenoblade Chronicles X?
Man! Who knew a game company makes games! I thought that Nintendo was baking sourdough bread, and leaving the gaming industry behind.
It was pretty obvious that we weren't going to go another year with almost absolutely nothing from Nintendo. I'm just hoping that Nintendo comes through with the big announcements at E3.
@nessisonett Hey! That’s my favorite souls game. It’s far from trash. If you don’t like it, that’s fine but that doesn’t mean others can’t.
It feels like its been ages since Nintendo released an honest to goodness all new game (meaning 3D World + Bowser's Fury doesn't really count although Bowser's Fury is great). I guess the last one was Age of Calamity unless I'm forgetting something else? And the last one I've even been interested in was probably Origami King back in July...
@Beeko3024 I know I said what I said about all new games, but YES, Xenoblade X doesn't deserve to die with the Wii U...I'd buy that in a heartbeat.
@earthinheritor Probably Origami King or Age of Calamity, though they're a lot more niche than Animal Crossing.
He could use some slight Reggie-level pointers on how to phrase his insights so as to read in a less negative way. The actual story here is a positive: the number of active Switch users increased substantially due to Animal Crossing, the Christmas season, and other popular game releases for 2021, but he focuses a word or two too long on the nitty gritty with the "but then activity went down again, but then went up again because a new game released, so we still have hope" tone. Makes it sound unnecessarily negative.
Wow! An author is writing a book!
New 2D Metroid? That would be the greatest reveal. As far as collections go, they could do a LoZ collection that has the NES, GB, SNES, GBC, and GBA titles (7 US titles, 8 if you count 4S on GBA, which isn't necessary). That would be a good one. Or 2D Metroid collection, I guess. But I'd rather have new games than collections of old ones. That new DKC would be nice to announce officially, too. Maybe a new F-Zero? Or a new Star Fox land/air type setup like with Adventures? Or a new multigame pack with a revamped Balloon Fighters and Ice climbers and Wrecking Crew, and give some good multiplayer options. A new Star Tropics in 3D even. I'm full of great ideas!
@Giygas_95
At this point you just have to hope that the remakes and sequels are good. Nintendo's glory days of good new characters pretty much ended in the 90's, in my opinion.
@screechums Imagine if instead of a remake they actually revealed Metroid 5, taking place after Fusion. I'm happy enough with Fusion as an ending to the series' story, but I'd loooooove a sequel.
@nessisonett my aunt, that happens to be your uncle's boss is confirming this information 😀
@Giygas_95
Oh man, Metroid 5 would be incredible. They could call it "Rebirth", or something self-aware like that. Maybe it could even have a new boss enemy for once in 30 years, too hahahaha.
I'm assuming Furukawa is talking about more than 1st party titles. I'm hoping and wishing for more Resident Evil, more sports titles, and the introduction of the 64 GB game card.
Will any of these releases include a Metroid title, even a remastered re-release?
Stay tuned to be disappointed!
Half Life 3 confirmed
@screechums And new power ups. The tried and tested space jump, morph ball, gravity suit, wave beam, plasma beam, etc could use some shaking up. Think Metroid Prime 2.
I'm not sure how it would handle Metroids being extinct unless they continue on with the story of Samus having the DNA of the last Metroid. Maybe now she could be a fugitive from the Galactic Federation who want to arrest her for getting rid of the X parasites against their orders. Or, let's be real...they probably have more secret facilities breeding Metroids if Fusion and Other M taught us anything.
Niiiice! Honestly, for me this year is looking great in terms of releases already even when just considering the current - and most likely quite incomplete - lineup (SoS Pioneers of Olive Town, New Pokemon Snap, Skyward Sword, Monster Hunter Stories 2, Rune Factory 5 and Pokemon BD/SP). If Nintendo throws in the rumoured 3D DK game, a new 2D Metroid and Wind Waker/Twilight princess collection - and perhaps even BotW 2 - 2021 is going to end up absolutely AMAZING!
The internet told me Nintendo stopped making games, so this can't be true.
Game company to make more games? Lies! 🧐
Was shocking enough when I found out Nintendo Switch Has Games, now you're telling me it still Will Have Games!?!?!?!?
I've been fairly impressed with 2021 so far and I think Switch will end up having another great year for software.
Really? B-but the Switch is in decline! It has no games! Nintendo is recycling Wii U content! They're out of ideas!
Something something Nintendo doesn't make games anymore something something.
But yeah, of course they are. Despite the common misconception, just because they haven't announced it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Sometimes they'll announce games a few months ahead of time(Mario Golf Super Rush, Skyward Sword HD) and others they''ll announce much closer to release (Age of Calamity, Origami King, Mario All-Stars, Game Builder Garage). Then of course there's games announced super early like BotW2 and Bayonetta 3, but thankfully those cases aren't too common.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
I hope to find out what's in the works soon. I'm not sure why Nintendo is so hush hush all the time. I like the way Brandon Sanderson does his status updates for his books. He says what he's working on, what stage it's at, and how far along that stage he is
“Already looking pretty positive”
Hahahaha!
@Classic603 E3 is soon
Least surprising surprise ever.
I just want a great year like 2019 for Switch. Three Houses, Ultimate Alliance 3, Mario Maker 2, Tetris 99, Astral Chain, Cadence of Hyrule, Luigi's Mansion 3, Ring Fit Adventure, Link's Awakening. It was the best year Nintendo has performed in a long time and I would love to see one more year like this. 2021 or 2022 it doesn’t matter, I just want it.
I bought a Switch at the beginning of the pandemic and it has been gathering dust for the last six months. All the games that I've hear about are re-released of things I've already played or (Mario Golf) things I couldn't care less about. If you are new to Nintendo, I guess the Switch is okay, but if you owned a WiiU or a Wii, there isn't much to recommend it.
@Hippy_Pirate_89 I could see at least a few Zelda games this year, starting off with the Skyward Sword release. My ultimate dream would be to see the Oracle games remade in the Links Awakening engine, but I do want to play Windwaker handheld more than anything else haha
@Ambassador_Kong The Switch has the biggest library of games, in all varieties and sizes. Do you only play brand new Nintendo IP's? Because that's very limiting to it's potential and what it offers.
Even with a PC and PS5, I find it hard to go a day without playing something on Switch. There's so much variety
I’ve got quite a backlog, so I’m hoping they slow down the pace of releases a bit
@GrailUK they can’t rule out this year’s release of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl!
Hopefully some of these games include F-Zero, Wave Race, 1080 snowboarding, Kid Icarus, KIRBY AIRRIDE 2.
A man can dream.
I'll believe it when I see it.
We desperately need new racing games. Surely there's a market for a new Ridge Racer, F-Zero and/or Wave Race on the Nintendo Switch?
Yes but will they count? This is the Internet where a lot of the games they release dont.
Not interested until we get a list of what games they are, and their release dates. 🤷🏻♀️
I am not optimistic about more new Nintendo games being released for the Switch this year.
When I am playing the games I will believe then.
Nintendo could easily announce BOTW 2 at E3 for a 2021 release and in October tell us more work needs to be done to it and another release date will be given early 2022.
Maybe some new third party games and indi games. But that's not AAA Nintendo games. At least not without the new Switch to play them on.
All we have confirmed is one golf game (I’m sure everyone is just losing their minds over a golf game) a Zelda port and a Pokémon remake. That doesn’t sound like a lot of games. Why are they taking so long to announce anything else? You can’t make every release a holiday release. It should be spread out over the year. We know Prime 4 is still a ways out so why not the Trilogy? I would love it if they dug back into their older IPs and made new games (off the top of my head Solar Striker, Mole Mania, F-Zero and Star tropics come to mind as great IPs that deserve new additions or the like).
MANY remakes and ports confirmed
Everyone went wild over that render of Waluigi with his tongue out, but here's what I'm losing it over: https://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/1391739845475713030?s=20
LOOK AT MY BOYS
Yeah, we kinda got that from the previous Directs and the upcoming one for E3.
Pikmin. Bayonetta. Metroid. That is all I ask for.
...But I will likely buy anything else you put out that isn’t a WiiU port or more Xenoblade. (Nothing wrong with it, just not my thing, don’t at me)
BRING IT ON NINTENDO! Few games have released in the last couple years that have been of interest to me, so I've been setting aside several hundred dollars for whenever good games start releasing.
You may jest but given that Nintendo was kind of silent throughout most of 2020, this is still needed.
Man, it's been awhile since we have had games released. I'm looking forward to dusting off my Switch.
You are all making fun of it. But I am still happy to just hear it from them.
Hopefully Nintendo announces the games in advance. Otherwise I’ll probably continue spending my gaming budget on PlayStation. I miss playing my Switch.
BOTW 2 better be extremely close to completion this year, it's been what? 84 years?
@BloodNinja Though the original in the series will always be my fave, I too would love to see Dark Souls 2 appear on the Switch, a very worthy successor to the original. Would love to spend more time in Majula in handheld form!!
@Giygas_95 I get your point but i am mostly laughing because we got a new game (New Pokemon Snap) literally last week.
I'm, sooo happy for this!! I think that maybe, the switch is running out of time though, and that maybe some or most of those games could be on the possible switch pro? And, they also didn't technically say " Games for switch " Either.
@link3710 Ah you're right, I forgot about it because I don't really follow Pokemon.
@electrolite77,
There seems to be an awful lot of games for a console that many claim has no games.
Ofcourse there is going to be a gradual decrease if there is no constant releases of games. It is really surprising that nintendo was releasing more games when there was a handheld and a console and after merging them it became very dry.
And I'll be interested in buying, maybe, one
does the rumored 2D Metroid game that continues the Metroid Fusion history and the 2D Donkey Kong game developed by Nintendo EPD tokyo count among Nintendo severals new games?
calm down Nintendo my wallet still have not recoverd for buying Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Generation Ultimate.
He never said they’re making them, just that there are many coming. Just look at the weekly download updates, there’s 20+ each week, so that’s 1,040+ per fiscal year...
I wonder if the Metroid 2D game is true. Maybe at E3.
Games company that has been making games since they made games in making more games.
Me - Wow.
At this point I'll accept anything as long as it's not too gimmicky and casual friendly.
What a year to be experiencing income insecurity 😑
@Giygas_95 I’m not sure what you mean by “Nintendo released” but if you mean published, then we literally got New Pokemon Snap less than two weeks ago. And if you mean developed, then Age of Calamity definitely doesn’t count. 🤔
Kinda figured this was the case, being a gaming console and all.
@ShadJV Yes, the previous person reminded me of Snap. I don't really follow Pokemon and forgot about it. I count Age of Calamity since Nintendo at least published it.
I mean after more and more
Donkey Kong
Fire Emblem
Kirby
Mario
Pokemon
Zelda
They really don’t do anything else much? Based on sales one would figure that we can add the Animal Crossing franchise to that list.
Pardon my cynicism but if “out of the blue” we were to get a new Endless Ocean or F-Zero or Golden Sun I would consider that a win. (Not all three but at least one.)
Wave Race MMORPG confirmed!
Breaking news, we will not have a repeat of 2016
@Giygas_95 that’s fair to not like it but that doesn’t mean only the last Nintendo published game you care about counts. Since Age of Calamity we’ve had at least 4 Nintendo published games, and even if you count 3D World as a port, that still leaves Fitness Boxing 2, Bravely Default 2, and New Pokemon Snap.
@ShadJV I did say unless I was forgetting anything, which I did forget a few apparently. Although the last non port Nintendo published game I was interested in was Origami King. So from my perspective it feels like it's been a long time.
Ok....so where are they? We haven't even see previews for anything yet...
@Precinct1313 I love Majula!!
@ATaco I imagine they will be saving the reveals for E3 next month. Hopefully by the end of the show we'll have a good idea how the next 6 to 12 months are going to go.
@Giancarlothomaz
If a new 2D Metroid and an EPD-developed Donkey Kong are real, they would absolutely count as new Nintendo games.
Beverley Goldberg confirms that Nintardo is definitely a system with games on it.
@Giygas_95 technically prime 4 could be after fusion.
@Ayilios Yup. 2019 was one of the best. It's odd that a lot of people online seem to ignore this year and claim 2017 was the only good year of the switch. Honestly 2020 was the only truly bad year but 2019 was an all-time high for nintendo.
I feel like nintendo fans need to learn to get out of their comfort zones. 2021 so far has been pretty amazing... so long as you dig third party stuff. We had a triple whammy with bravely default, monhun, and pokemon snap. Looking on the horizon there's plenty of good stuff coming from companies not called nintendo. Sure I would like nintendo to do more but I'm not gonna cry if they don't; I'm sure Capcom, square Enix, falcom, marvelous, atlus and a host of other companies will keep me entertained on the switch.
@Beeko3024 YES! The one port I want is Xenoblade X!
Honestly would've been a relief to hear this one year ago lol
Who knew, right?
A game company making games 🤷
I mean, the article already expresses that this is not a surprise, so I don't see the value in the comments suggesting the same.
"How are you feeling about Nintendo's 2021? Are you optimistic? Are you excited about the upcoming release schedule?" No. The only thing I am waiting for is BOW 2 and it is nowhere near sight.
Remember what Nintendo told us at The Game Awards. "Nintendo Switch has games!"
I don't get the whole 'There is no Nintendo gsmes' or 'Nintendo need to release more games' when they have been releasing 2-3 games a month since March (be it developped or published) and still continues to at least July so far.
Even weirder these get mentioned on a day Nintendo launches two games on the Switch.
Mario golf and two remakes ain't exactly rocking my world.
The list of reasons some games don’t count:-
On something else
Old
Indie
Third Party
Nintendo but not EPD
Nintendo but wrong Nintendo franchise
Nintendo but not BOTW 2
Casual
Golf because nobody likes Golf
Don’t like it
@Hippy_Pirate_89. Yay a remaster... The same way as the mario collection and tphd... How lazy... Id rather have new games we had enough ports
aleluia its raining money...its raining money (Nintendo's house).
Such weird quotes. One, he didn’t say Nintendo was making more games, just that there would be more. Well, sure, they run an app store. There are always new games on Switch. Two, if he wants to focus on the drop in people playing Animal Crossing or Splatoon.. well .. maybe they could keep running new monthly Splatfests (since that’s basically free) and maybe keep adding more value and multiplayer engagement to Animal Crossing which made them 💰 and make Animal Crossing kinder to those who don’t play every day. When you shame your players who play once or twice a week, you shouldn’t expect them to keep playing. 🤷♀️
"[...] Nintendo's upcoming schedule for 2021 [...]"
and we are already almost in the second half of May!
"Are you optimistic?"
Nope. Haven't touched my Switch for a year and I doubt there will be anything in 2021 that'll change that. The opportunity for that was SMTV and I have about zero confidence in a game with three teasers to its name releasing in time.
12 ports/remasters and 2 news games let go.
@nessisonett Uncle at Nintendo is actually the Doom Slayer.
@Lady_rosalina You're right, sorry.
@Ambassador_Kong nothing to recommend l? Super mario odyssey? Fire emblem three houses? Xenoblade chronicles 2? Astral chain? Pokémon sword and shield? Splatoon 2? Origami king? Age of calamity? Super smash bros ultimate? Animal crossing? Octopath traveler? Bravely default? Monster hunter rise? Super mario party? Arms? Luigi's mansion 3? Kirby star allies? Yoshi crafted world?
If you don't like anything I guess you should change console.
As long as they release enough games so I can do all of the things in all of them then I = <3
Pikmin4 would be a pleasant surprise
What they're saying is a lot of people buy a switch, play a few exclusives then stop using it. Yes they need to pull a finger out. About time...
So, Nintendo mainly releases their game exclusives in March, June, & November. Sometimes there is a October release , but only if it is close enough to pass as a Halloween release.
I've just seen another article on here about this very matter.... I believe that the new Donkey Kong will be the big game this year!! DK turns 40 this year, were the same age, but I'm still super sexy!!!
Either way, I play my Switch every day and don't even play any other consoles right now. (N64 is always there if I want something retro & different) As to my other comment, Do you think that a new DK game would be in the style/vain of DK64?
❗I hope the following are "for the many, not the few":
1️⃣Custom Robo
2️⃣Lunar Knights
3️⃣Remakes of both SMLand Games
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