Games Inbox: Nintendo Switch 2 launch game prediction

The Monday letters page wonders if Xbox might be keen to start the next gen early, as one reader looks forward to Penny’s Big Breakaway.

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Process of elimination
So, it’s obvious that the Switch 2 is on its way, with an announcement next year, if not a launch as well. But what do we think about what will be the main launch game?

As far as I can see it’s a difficult thing to guess. I’m sure there’ll be an upgraded version of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom but there’s no way that’ll be the main one. Metroid Prime 4 is one guess, and maybe it’ll be available at launch, but Metroid is not that mainstream, so I can’t imagine they’ll go with that.

A Super Mario game would be better but with Super Mario Bros. Wonder out this year wouldn’t a new 3D one coming out next year be a bit soon? Short of a new IP, I really can’t see what the obvious one will be. Unless the rumours of a new 3D Donkey Kong are true after all? That would be Mario-esque but not so similar that it would seem like more of the same after Wonder.

What does everyone else think? Is there something obvious I’m missing?
Onibee

Start again
I have to say this court case with Microsoft has been the most entertaining the games industry (as opposed to the actual games) has been in years. Watching all the pratfalls and nonsense has been very instructive in terms of showing how unreliable and disorganised these companies really are.

It might be kind of random but it makes me wonder what Microsoft is thinking about for the next generation. They’ve said there won’t be a mid-generation upgrade (although who knows if that’s as reliable as what they said about The Elder Scrolls 6) but Sony seems to be planning one so what is going to be their response to that?

Could they be thinking of starting the next generation early? They’ve already said they’ve lost this one and it’s usually very hard to turn one around when you’re doing badly so maybe they will feel the best thing to do is start again with a new machine and a new line-up? It’s what they did with the original Xbox and that led to the Xbox 360, their biggest success so far, so I can imagine it being an idea on the table at least.
Gorf

Locked in
Exclusives again, I know, but let’s put aside our differences and let Xbox and PlayStation players be friends and think about it.

Recently Metro spoke about Phil Spencer decided Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 would be Xbox exclusives in 2021 and there was a quote from Time Stuart ‘eat into their profits’. Can Microsoft really afford to make all their games exclusive? We are now almost three years into this console generation and those who have a console are sticking with it.

Only a small amount will actually go out and spend £500 on another new console and sign up to Game Pass at this point, during a financial disaster. Microsoft trying to push everyone into digital downloads is working but Sony already having the biggest market share are people really going to pack in their PlayStation 4/5 library just for Call of Duty and a Bethesda game that comes out once every 10 years?

I think Microsoft, and particularly Phil Spencer, are throwing money at an ego trip rather than thinking of the big picture. They’ll make far more money as a publisher with a reputation and respect for producing quality games.

Call Of Duty timing got me.
BoyWonder

GC: Who’s Time Stuart, is he the new Doctor Who assistant? Other than that, you make a good point – switching sides right now is not going to be an option for many people.

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Art from adversity
Some very interesting comments from Nintendo on why having less powerful hardware actually gives them advantages in many ways. It’s not something you would purposefully plan for but the size of the Switch means even its sequel is only going to be so powerful, but I really think that’s all for the best. People say that Nintendo games would be better if they were 60fps or whatever but they wouldn’t exist at all, in the way are now, if it wasn’t for the restrictions of the hardware.

Not having to employ a small army to create 4K textures is the only way something like Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom ever got finished and why they had time to work on the physics and the missions and all the things that are actually interesting and fun about the games.

The GameCube was the most powerful and traditional console that Nintendo has made in the modern era and it’s by far the least interesting. Here’s hoping the Switch 2 is more powerful but not too much more.
Brock

Remake visuals
So with Resident Evil 4 remake done and Final Fantasy 16 adventuring on the go, I feel as though this year’s gaming journey, though only halfway through, currently has been a bit of a banger!

The fact that sequels and remakes are what’s been keeping me going this year shows that familiarity with a favourite series does not matter if the games are entertaining and challenging to my gameplay style.

I was taken aback by the level of graphical detail in these games and to see how realistic the dynamic lighting and textures are.

When playing the Demon’s Souls remake and watching the rain water run down the brick walls, as I lurk behind the ruined building whilst trying to engage with the Storm King, was fascinating to me and the effects just seem so satisfying. The same can be said in the Resident 4 remake when going through the laboratories where the Regenerators reside.

My eyes and mind, when fighting epic boss battles in Final Fantasy 16, are being melted by all the insane, explosive particle effects!

Well done to the designers and here’s to continuing the journey of these amazing looking games.
Alucard

New blood
Am I the only one that thinks Banjo-Kazooie wasn’t actually that good? The graphics were great, better than Super Mario 64, but in all other ways it was just an inferior copy that didn’t have any new ideas of its own.

Personally, I’m much more looking forward to Penny’s Big Breakaway from the makers of Sonic Mania. It was in the latest Nintendo Direct and it looks a lot of fun, with fast paced action and not just aimless exploration. It’s time for new blood and not endless trying to resurrect something that was only relevant 20+ years ago. Clearly that goes for more than just 3D platformers…
Colbat84

Third faction
I think the biggest article to come out in this whole Microsoft vs. Sony court case is nobody is complaining Nintendo games are single format?

Even to the point that they are saying it is for a different audience to Sony and Microsoft?

Lesson to be learnt for Sony and Microsoft?

Start getting a team together that can make games for your super consoles.

Stop worrying about turf wars and put something out there that not only means a lot to gaming fans but resonates through the gaming world.

This is how you win a console fight.

I might be wrong but it’s seriously worth considering.
freeway 76

GC: It’s not Microsoft vs. Sony, it’s Microsoft vs. the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has tried to argue that the Switch isn’t a competitor, whereas Microsoft has argued that it is. But you’re right, the attitude towards Nintendo, whenever anyone remembers to mention them, has been peculiar since the start.

Nothing is impossible
Starfield won’t be game of the year or even the best Xbox game. Why are people forgetting STALKER 2 exists?

We’re seeing a lot of discussion about Starfield on GameCentral. Plenty of people are pointing out that it’s made by Bethesda, who has never released a stable game, and others who say despite that they still enjoy the jank of Bethesda titles.

Then we’re seeing discussions about game of the year with people talking about Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, Final Fantasy 16, and Starfield. Let’s remember one thing, Bethesda’s last game of the year title was Skyrim back in 2011. It’s been 12 years since then and nothing Bethesda released during that period ever won awards against the competition.

In 2014, The Elder Scrolls Online wasn’t even in the competition against Destiny, which won the award for best online title. In 2015, Fallout 4 lost against The Witcher 3 which won game of the year, with Metal Gear Solid 5 also receiving more awards than Fallout 4. In 2018, Fallout 76 was considered one of the worst games of that year. Meanwhile, in many online retrospectives, Dark Souls 1 is considered by many to be the best game that came in 2011 and not Skyrim.

Honestly, I think the reason some are hyping Starfield up is because they are console warriors and simply are trying to point score. Many of the accounts I see on Twitter constantly proclaiming Starfield’s greatness seem to come from the same several Xbox accounts who also post about Sony fans being mad.

This I find amusing because most people outside of the console warrior subculture already consider that it’s impossible that Tears Of The Kingdom won’t win game of the year. What Nintendo achieved with that game had other game developers themselves praising Nintendo and even pondering in disbelief how Nintendo even achieved some of the technical functions of the title, with a physics system that works perfectly and with amazing logic. Can anyone honestly see that reaction with Starfield, which seems less innovative than No Man’s Sky?

But the other thing I find amusing is that Starfield just seems like the usual Bethesda gimmick, complete with the same engine and assets they’ve been reusing since Oblivion. Even the marketing is the same song and dance from Bethesda, with Todd Howard coming out on stage and pretending that god himself helped in the making of the game and that it will be revolutionary with infinite possibilities, which we all know to be a lie. And to add to that amusement, another Microsoft exclusive, STALKER 2, is being ignored.

STALKER 2 actually does look amazing and the developers have always been passionate. Their previous titles were developed with low budgets but despite that, unlike Bethesda, they always delivered on the experiences they promised. STALKER 2 is big budget and combined with the passionate developers, I believe it will truly be the best Xbox game to come out in years.

The only question is whether it will see a release this year or next.
David

GC: That is the question and the obvious reason why nobody’s really talking about it at the moment.

Inbox also-rans
RE: Zzap! Live 2023. Def coming to this. Have you seen gamechoir with the largest Halo chant ever?
Mark Strachan

GC: Did you know you have the same name as the co-founder of Domark, which went on to become Eidos Interactive?

Broken games at launch. Who gives a s***?
Anon

GC: You went to all the trouble of sending us an email, for that? Although we’re kind of interested to know what other things you buy where you don’t care if they work or not.

This week’s Hot Topic
Since it’ll The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Lamont, who asks where do you usually play your video games?

Since we’re now over the halfway point of the year this weekend’s Inbox asks what is your favourite new game so far?

You can name any game on any system, but it has to be something that was released new in the UK this year. 2023 has already seen many greats, including Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, Street Fighter 6, Humanity, Resident Evil 4, Amnesia: The Bunker, Diablo 4, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Hi-Fi Rush, and many more.

How does your pick compare to some of your existing favourites and what do you think of the year as a whole so far, and its potential for the rest of the year?

E-mail your comments to: [email protected]

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE : Games Inbox: Was Xbox lying about Elder Scrolls 6, Prince Of Persia rage, and Placid Plastic Duck Simulator

MORE : Games Inbox: Nintendo Switch 2 being as powerful as a PS4, The Witcher 4 worries, and Final Fantasy 16 cheese

MORE : Games Inbox: Microsoft winning the Activision Blizzard court case, Starfield cowboys, and Switch 2

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