We already know it’s launching this year, shares the form factor of the Switch, has a mysterious C button, appears to support mouse style controls and a built in microphone. Backwards compatibility is confirmed for virtually all Switch titles
We also know from the supply chain it’s built on a similar, but more powerful chipset, likely will have some form of AI upscaling for better resolutions and probably is launching with LCD rather than OLED screens. In 2023 Nintendo allegedly showed off target hardware to developers running the Matrix Awakens demo with ray tracing and Breath of the Wild at 1080p / 60fps without load times - there’s no confirmation that this was anything more than a tech demo.
Rumours include pre-orders going live tomorrow (Best Buy Canada), some form of upgrade to Switch games (a reference to “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games” in the digital game card smallprint) and dual screen functionality for your existing Switch that means the old hardware won’t be obsolete.
Gameswise, we know a new Mario Kart with 24 kart races is coming, but other than a couple of indie titles, nothing else is confirmed yet. Based on Nintendo’s usual announcements expect some big exclusives like the next 3D Mario, a smattering of large multiplatform titles from the likes of Microsoft, Square and Ubisoft and perhaps another “impossible port”?
Launch trailer tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2pm, UK time.
Once upon a time in Wii U days these could be great and I seem to remember they even announced some exclusive new releases in them. Nintendo was so weird back then…
I think the growing theory that we will get a new 3D Donkey Kong or certainly something that elevates the franchise makes sense, given the characters role in the Mario films and the new kingdoms they are building in the theme parks. There must be a reason they are doing that, and it’s not a dodgy Wii remake…
I think Animal Crossing could be seen a lot earlier this generation than last. It is one of the franchises where you can see a ton of incremental improvements and a new setting, with ongoing gradual support, would really elevate it over the last one. Whereas it’s hard with Smash and 2D Mario to know where they go next?
I hope we get a break from Splatoon for a bit. I want to be excited for a new one again.
I wonder if Smash gets announced early on too as a live service game with all previous characters in it. With constant new news and ways to play a la Fortnite. Maybe?
No idea what Mario Kart 9 does but sure it’ll be fun.
The time feels right for new Kid Icarus too.
I think we are 5 years from a new 3D Zelda at least. And I will happily take any new 3D Mario
They used to be longer form content interviews with the developers in a more laid back setting where they’d play a few hours of the game. They used to go into more detail here around controls, systems in game, show off longer bits of gameplay etc.
Nintendo Treehouse are their US localisation team. Around about a decade ago, they started doing livestream follow ups to the main E3 shows, which (at the time) tended to show everything in a far better light than their generally dreadful E3 showings did. Usually you’d get around an hour dedicated to each game or feature they showed off, with someone playing early stages and them chatting about the key selling points, sometimes with the Japanese producers around.
They did these still early in the Switch era, but they kinda died off more recently. It’s fair to say that the people involved in those streams know more about the games than anyone else in the English speaking world at the point they’re showing them off - they’ve usually been embedded in the titles for months, if not years.
Labo is probably the coolest thing I think Nintendo did last generation, alongside reinvent the Zelda formula and merge their home / portable consoles into one.
Bloody loved it. Wish it had done better.
More weird stuff please like this, Ring Fit adventure, that Mario kart thing you control with your phone and Mario Maker.
Reckon there’s going to be maybe 20 titles announced that are ports from other systems that I’ve either already played or have no interest in playing.
Going to go with… Final Fantasy VII Remake and Elden Ring, although I’m quietly hoping they announce the weirdo Elden Ring multiplayer game thing and not actual Elden Ring, because that would be much more Nintendo.
