Nintendo Franchises That Need Launch Titles on the Switch Successor

New info about the successor to the Nintendo Switch is coming regularly and speculation about potential launch titles comes hand in hand.

The various rumors springing up about a Nintendo Switch successor make it seem as though the console is all but officially confirmed at this point. An important factor associated with the launch of any new gaming hardware is what games will be available to play immediately after the system hits shelves, and Nintendo has a lot of potential with its various franchises to give the Switch successor a major launch.

Of all the franchises to consider for the launch of the Nintendo Switch successor, it makes the most sense to balance realism and idealism. As much as many would like to see a new F-Zero game and Earthbound in the next generation, it's much more reasonable to expect games from the IPs that Nintendo seems invested in keeping alive right now.

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was one of the initial Switch titles that brought many players on board. The game has proved to have an extreme amount of longevity in comparison to other titles in the Mario Kart series, staying fresh through its DLC updates and maintaining its status as the best-selling game on the Switch even six years later. Considering how much success Mario Kart 8 has brought the Switch, it makes sense that the ninth main series entry would join a new Nintendo console day-one.

The frequency of new Pokemon games has only increased in recent years, with the Switch getting a major release almost every year since 2018. The system-selling franchise was notably missing from the Switch for the first year of its release, but considering the massive sales success of the recent Pokemon main series entries, it seems unlikely that Nintendo would want to launch its next console without some new Pokemon game.

The Fire Emblem series has continued the hot streak it started on the 3DS with its new Switch titles. The series has so much potential when it comes to its more recent popularity in the West, considering how many titles are Japan-exclusive as of right now. Overall, it seems as though Nintendo and Intelligent Systems are primarily focused on making new Fire Emblem titles rather than reviving old content, but the long-awaited English port of the original Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light getting a limited release in 2020 is a good sign that further ports or remakes could potentially be in the pipeline. A remake of Geneology of the Holy War or Thracia 776 would definitely have Fire Emblem diehards lined up for the Switch successor.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of the best-selling Switch titles of all time. Its release in 2018 was one of the major factors that cemented the Switch as a console destined to outshine its predecessors. Nintendo will obviously want another game in the series for its successor. The status of a Smash Ultimate follow-up is a bit up in the air, though, as the director of all previous Smash Bros. games, Masahiro Sakurai, is uncertain about the franchise's future. Sakurai has been saying he'll retire from directing Smash Bros. for years, but he always seems to return to make another, so anything could happen.

Metroid Prime 4 was announced when the Nintendo Switch was still an upcoming console. Now the successor is approaching and the fourth game in the critically acclaimed shooter series still hasn't even shown any gameplay. Nintendo did recently confirm that Metroid Prime 4 is still coming, and even confirmed that it will be launching on the Switch. If a new console comes out in 2024, Metroid Prime 4 could potentially be a launch title that's available for both systems, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being on both Wii U and Switch.

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Nickolas 'Saz' Davis is a writer, artist, and explorer originally from Asheville, North Carolina. It would be difficult to say where he is now because, by the time you read this, it has likely already changed.