2022 was a effective 12 months for Nintendo because the Swap noticed a variety of genres come to the console. There gave the impression to be a gentle circulation of releases all year long of first-party video games, although few titles actually held as much as Nintendo’s competitors, and probably the most anticipated video games ended up being delayed.
The celebs gave the impression to be aligned for Nintendo to have an important 2023. There are already a number of thrilling first-party video games introduced, and the corporate is exploring methods to increase its hottest franchises to media exterior of video video games. Though the 12 months for Nintendo appears shiny, there are a couple of essential resolutions that have to be stored in the event that they wish to go above and past.
Don’t Delay Video games
Nintendo usually does okay with sticking to the discharge dates that they’ve introduced, however there have been a couple of situations currently during which they’ve wanted to delay video games or content material. After all, typically that is needed so as to keep away from releasing damaged or unfinished video games, however in 2023 we wish Nintendo to make sure they will meet a launch date earlier than asserting it.
The extremely anticipated Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was delayed from 2022 to Might 12, 2023, and to this point we don’t know a lot concerning the recreation although it’s purported to be popping out in only a few months from now. It will be fairly disappointing if it will get delayed once more to the tip of the 12 months after anticipating it to return out a number of occasions earlier than then.
Pikmin 4 is ready to launch in 2023, however with no extra particular goal window and solely a teaser trailer to this point, that is one other recreation we hope makes it to our consoles this 12 months. For different video games that may finally be introduced for this 12 months, Nintendo must be sure they are going to be prepared earlier than they decide to these dates.
Carry Digital Console to the Swap
Many followers have been asking for Digital Console to return to the Swap for years, however this request is extra essential than ever in 2023. That’s as a result of the eShop on the Wii U and 3DS might be completely closed this 12 months on March 27, bringing an finish to Digital Console.
All issues should come to an finish finally, however the Digital Console lineup on Wii U and 3DS is the one strategy to buy lots of of titles from older consoles, from Sport Boy Coloration/Advance to Nintendo DS and even some third-party retro consoles just like the TurboGrafx-16 and Sport Gear.
We have already got many retro titles from NES, SNES, and N64 accessible on Nintendo Swap On-line, however there are nonetheless lots of of video games that have been accessible by way of Digital Console which might be lacking. In 2023, Nintendo ought to discover a strategy to both add these titles to NSO or just deliver the Digital Console library to the Swap for gamers to buy individually.
Launch a New 3D Mario Sport
There’s loads occurring with Mario this 12 months. Tremendous Nintendo World at Common Studios Hollywood, the interactive theme park that includes the Mushroom Kingdom, opens to the general public on February 17. The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film, the franchise’s first movie adaptation in 30 years, releases on April 7.
These are huge occasions, however to this point, Nintendo hasn’t introduced a brand new Tremendous Mario recreation to tie in with them. This looks like the right alternative for the corporate to market and launch a brand new recreation within the franchise.
It’s been six years for the reason that final unique 3D Mario (Tremendous Mario Odyssey in 2017), which is concerning the common time it takes for Nintendo to launch that kind of recreation. We had Tremendous Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in 2021 to ease the wait, however since that was a port with further content material, we’re prepared for one thing model new. 2023 appears like the appropriate time for that to occur.
Preserve Supporting Older Titles
Nintendo is often good at supporting video games which have already been launched by including new content material over time, however currently, they’ve been dropping the ball with this one.
Positive, there are some exceptions to this, like the brand new DLC booster course tracks which might be being added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, however there are a selection of video games that could possibly be receiving far more new content material than they’re.
One of many largest offenders of that is Mario Get together Superstars. This recreation launched with simply 5 boards to play on, which is lower than the Mario Get together earlier than it and three fewer boards than the very first Mario Get together recreation on the Nintendo 64. For the reason that boards in Superstars are simply remastered variations of older titles, there’s no cause why Nintendo can’t be updating the sport with extra.
Different video games like Nintendo Swap Sports activities and Mario Strikers: Battle League have gotten new content material, however it’s been remarkably gradual, and the updates have been uninteresting. Nintendo would be capable to breathe new life into these titles in the event that they acquired attention-grabbing content material updates that might deliver again older gamers and entice new consumers.
Announce New {Hardware} for 2024
Let’s face it: The Nintendo Swap is feeling fairly dated at this level. The unique system is already six years outdated, and whereas the OLED mannequin was a pleasant improve, there’s nonetheless much more that Nintendo can do to refresh its {hardware}.
It’s no secret that many video games from 2022 on the Swap struggled with efficiency and graphics, and a part of the rationale why is as a result of limitations of the {hardware}. The excuse was that the Swap is a handheld gadget, and that was holding it again, however latest competitors just like the Steam Deck proves that it could possibly be doing a lot extra.
2023 is the time for Nintendo to share what the plans are to take its {hardware} to the following stage, whether or not that might be a brand new iteration of the Swap or a successor console. Maybe this would be the final 12 months for the Swap earlier than we lastly see what may be in retailer for Nintendo’s {hardware} in 2024.
