Nintendo has announced a strategic shift in its development efforts, moving its “primary development focus” to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. However, the company reassured fans that it will continue to create games for the original Switch, highlighting its commitment to maintaining a diverse gaming portfolio.
In its recent financial report, Nintendo indicated that while major franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong may not see new releases on the original Switch, there are still plans in place for ongoing game development. This announcement came during a shareholders’ Q&A session, where Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa emphasized the company’s intention to balance new titles with existing ones. “With software development costs increasing and development cycles lengthening, it is becoming more difficult than ever to consistently release new titles,” he remarked.
Nintendo is not abandoning its original platform entirely. Furukawa noted that the company has new titles in the pipeline for the original Switch, beyond the recently announced games, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Rhythm Heaven Groove. The president expressed that Nintendo aims to “recommend Switch software” to owners of the Switch 2 who may have missed out on previous releases.
In this context, Nintendo Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer Shinya Takahashi pointed to the upcoming update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a demonstration of how the company plans to refresh older titles. He suggested that updating past releases can help address the challenges posed by longer development times while also breathing new life into established games.
The Switch 2 is expected to feature backwards compatibility, which should ease concerns about the original Switch’s library becoming obsolete. This differs from the transition period when the 3DS was still receiving games after the Switch launched. During that time, many players expressed frustration at seeing late 3DS titles like Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey, which underperformed and ultimately contributed to the closure of developer AlphaDream.
Looking ahead, it is reasonable to expect that the original Switch will continue to receive support similar to other successful consoles; for example, both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have seen ongoing game releases well into their later years. The company’s strategy appears to be one of sustaining interest in their products while transitioning to new hardware.
Reflecting on the past, Nintendo Legend Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned that one of the motivations behind creating Pokémon Red and Green was a humorous comment from Satoshi Tajiri, suggesting that Mario could not be surpassed unless players were sold two copies of a game. This playful spirit continues to influence Nintendo’s approach to game development and audience engagement.
As Nintendo navigates the shift to the Switch 2, it remains committed to supporting its original console, ensuring that fans can enjoy a rich library of games for the foreseeable future.
