Hardware
There’s no doubt that the Switch will be Nintendo’s largest hardware focus in 2017. After the failure of the Wii U, the company is in need of a console that can stand against the PS4 and the Xbox One. While the Switch may not be able to best its opponents with power, its hybrid nature (can be taken on the go like a handheld) and unique lineup of games will be the points that Nintendo pushes. This is an entirely new console, capable of feats that the competition simply can’t keep up with.
Of course, the Switch’s uniqueness isn’t without its shortcomings. We’ve already mentioned that it can’t compete in terms of raw power, most likely due to the console’s small frame. There’s also the matter of a sparse launch lineup. That’s not entirely Nintendo’s fault, though, as most new consoles have light offerings in their first few months. Unfortunately, when coming out in the middle of a generation, a new console has to contend with well-established libraries as well as solid fourth year lineups.
Nintendo will most likely focus on pushing their bigger games to combat the larger libraries. The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Odyssey, and Fire Emblem Warriors will definitely pull attention to help their hardware stand strong, and it may be their only method for the time being, as there is still a lot that we don’t know about the console.
There’s also the fact that Nintendo still has two other pieces of hardware to support. As of the time of writing, the company still plans on keeping the Wii U alive, at least for a little while longer. And the 3DS has been the strongest device from the gaming giant in a long time, and they definitely don’t intend on stepping on its toes. It’s going to be one hell of a balancing act, one that I predict will end with the Wii U being cast aside, simply because it’s the easier thing to do.
That will leave Nintendo focusing on its console/handheld hybrid, and keeping it from pushing its actual handheld into the shadows. If we’re being honest, though, the 3DS likely has very little to worry about seeing as how it is well-established and has an amazing lineup of titles. The only thing that would do it harm is if its parent company got desperate and started moving games over to the newer platform.
Games
Right now, games are the biggest concern for the Nintendo Switch. The fact that its offerings are paltry for the first few months isn’t much of a surprise. All new consoles have a slow first few months. The major issue is that it’s coming out in the middle of an already existing generation which means that the competition already has huge libraries. But one thing Nintendo has on its side is a library that includes some of the biggest (if not the biggest) franchises in history, and those will be the center of Nintendo’s push this year.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be kicking things off at launch. The franchise is a serious system-seller, so it’s definitely going to help the console keep competitive. Later on in the year will bring the likes of Splatoon 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, and Super Mario Odyssey, all big names, and all with the potential to sell consoles. So you can expect some bundles, especially around the holiday season to contend with the impending launch of Microsoft’s Project Scorpio and the PS4.
The Switch isn’t Nintendo’s only concern, though. The 3DS can’t be forgotten, that would put the company in a bad place. For the past couple of years, it’s been the handheld side of things that have helped the company stay relevant in a sea of blockbuster releases. Sure, the Wii U had some great games, but they were few and far in between. 2016 proved just how important the 3DS was for Nintendo as titles with the likes of Fire Emblem and Pokemon.
There is going to be some issue here, thanks to the need to push the Switch into the mainstream. The Switch can be used as a handheld, it’s one of the console’s selling points, but how will Nintendo leverage that against its extensive library? We know that the 3DS is safe for now, but if put against a wall, Nintendo may dip into the 3DS offerings, further blurring the line between the two devices and possibly rendering one useless. Right now, many are wishing for a true Pokemon experience on the upcoming console, and that’s a big selling point for the 3DS. Moving it over to a device that can do a whole lot more would help sell the newer console but at a possible, and likely, detriment to the other side.
What is most likely is that Nintendo will cherry pick titles from the handheld side and bring them over with various upgrades, but not anything that will leave the 3DS at a disadvantage. This will definitely help the Switch fill in any holes in its schedule, but may raise questions concerning its home console status.
PS4 and Xbox One
2017 signifies Nintendo re-entering the console space in earnest. The Wii U had a one year headstart on the competition yet still managed to be cast aside as the PS4 gathered impressive momentum and the Xbox One had its ship righted by Phil Spencer. It wasn’t long before the “Big Three” discussion became a battle between solely Sony and Microsoft. A strong 3DS and the Switch impressing fans can lead to Nintendo being a larger part of the conversation again, but that’s going to require a lot of work.
Dealing with Sony will be primarily scheduling games in a way that it can contend with the big titles. Horizon Zero Dawn releases late February, so Nintendo releasing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild just a few days later is a good match up. Both are open world, action-RPGs, but only Breath of the Wild has the benefit of being loved for decades. It definitely has the edge and will undoubtedly help Nintendo sell consoles between Horizon as well as the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda. The rest of the year is pretty rough as Sony is currently the only company that will have at least one major exclusive release every month, while Microsoft and Nintendo are spread relatively thin. Sony also has the more powerful hardware, but that’s never been an arena that Nintendo really wanted to compete in anyway.
For Microsoft, the biggest concern will be the upcoming Project Scorpio. It’s a beefed up Xbox One capable of VR and true 4K Gaming. Granted, that’s a different arena, but what this means is that Microsoft will also be vying for attention, especially around the holiday season when this new console is set to release. In order to combat the influx of advertisements from Microsoft, Nintendo will have to put out some of their own, as well as rely on deals and (hopefully) growing momentum. One ace that the Switch will have is a brand new Super Mario game which is going to be a killer come Christmas. Bundles with that game as well as some peripherals for a solid price will certainly help to give Nintendo an edge, especially since Microsoft will have to convince Xbox One owners to switch and pay more for a premium product.
It will be tough, but you can expect large campaigns as well as strategic bundles during slow months to help counter balance the competition. Whether or not that will be enough is something we cannot predict.
Final Thoughts
2017 is going to be a tough one for Nintendo, something that the company undoubtedly knows. It won’t be tough because they’re incapable, but because a lot is riding on this year and their new hardware. The Wii U put the company in a bad position in regards to the console space and that dark shadow is still looming over the Switch. It has a lot to prove, and that’s going to require a ton of work.
Nintendo is definitely going to step up advertising and marketing to get the word out that the Switch is coming and that it’s definitely not another Wii. They will also most likely have a more direct focus on just a few games in order to highlight its brightest points. Seeing as how they’re releasing a new console early in the year, it doesn’t allow for much wiggle room in terms of what else they can accomplish.
Hopefully they utilize this year as a chance to celebrate more franchises and games like they did with Pokemon in 2016. It helped keep Nintendo in the spotlight even when they weren’t actually selling anything. Positive attention is always a good thing, and if the company was paying attention last year, they’ll definitely be looking to capitalize on that once more. It will be very useful when dealing with competition, and will lead to success.
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