Daily Debate: Was the Latest Nintendo Direct a Nail in the Switch’s Coffin?
Posted on September 15 2023 by Nick Miller
With rumors of a Switch successor swirling around the internet, September’s Nintendo Direct was to be, for many, an indicator of the Switch’s future. A major game announcement, like Metroid Prime 4 or a new Donkey Kong Country, would signify some longevity in the console’s life span. A lack thereof, however, may suggest that the Switch is on its last leg. So, how did the latest Nintendo Direct fare and what is its forecast for the Switch?
Of the games announced, five were remakes or remasters, three were first-party Nintendo titles, and one was a “reimagining” of a classic title in F-Zero 99. The three new first-party games are Princess Peach: Showtime!, WarioWare: Move It!, and Detective Pikachu Returns. While each of these surely have their audience, none are console-sellers like a Metroid or Zelda. Nintendo did announce a somewhat impressive lineup of third-party games, especially if you’re a JRPG fan, but like their first-party offerings, these are unlikely to move any hardware. All in all, this Nintendo Direct was geared towards Switch owners as it seems that Nintendo is losing interest in hardware-moving software for this console.
In my opinion, this is the writing on the wall for the Switch. With big titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and the newly announced Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remaster on the horizon, the Switch certainly has some life in it yet — at least enough to get us through Spring 2024 — but there aren’t any prospects beyond that. After the release of Princess Peach: Showtime! in February 2024, there are no original first-party titles confirmed for the Switch. As such, bigger titles, like the previously announced Metroid Prime 4, being moved onto a new console seems more and more likely by the day.
So, what do you think? How did this latest Direct bode for the Switch’s future? Do you believe the new console rumors? Do you believe the Switch is in its twilight years? Let us know in the comments.
Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders. His other favorite video games series include Kingdom Hearts, Fallout, and Ratchet & Clank.
