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Kimishima: Switch won't replace 3DS, there's "many unannounced titles" in development
- Thread starter Richie
- Start date
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
So people are still in denial that the Switch is not a 3DS successor and is still a console as Nintendo have stated?
Sora the Cat
Member
So people are still in denial that the Switch is not a 3DS successor and is still a console as Nintendo have stated?
Who said Switch isn't a console?
It's too expensive to be a handheld in both hardware and software price. Say pokemon Stars comes out on both, do you think parents are going to buy 2ds and pokemon for $120 vs $360 for switch version? If they lower the price to $150 n3ds xl, and bring back and stock $100 n3ds I can see the 3ds selling better than switch in 2017.
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
Where have you been? There's a ton of lovely threads in which many people have taken the position that the switch is a handheld and the successor to the 3DS, not the Wii U. We've even had a thread where someone compared the graphical upgrade from the 3DS to the Switch completely purposely removing the Wii U out the equation. I mean, lol.
ArchedThunder
Banned
It's a successor to both.
It's a successor to both. There's no point in the Switch existing if they're just going to come out with a 3DS successor in a year or two.
Sora the Cat
Member
A handheld is a portable console. You said people claimed the switch isn't a console.
I've been in those threads and they are correct, Switch power should be compared to other portable devices, not PS4 or XBO. That makes no sense.
metalslimer
Member
Only way it won't is f it craters. Obviously they want people buying 3ds and aren't saying it's mainly done after this year
SporeCrawler
Member
Gamefreak doesnt have much power. They dont own pokemon (cant release it for PS4 fpr example) and their new IP Tembo didnt do that well on PS4 either so they cant abandon nintendo
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
When you find me the quote of Nintendo saying it's a successor, then I'll agree that you are right. But I'm not taking opinions and non facts as facts, okay? Cool.
Yes, as the traditional definition states. But it's not home video game console first and a handheld second which is how Nintendo has constantly described the Switch as. Both coexist as one, but it's not replacing the other...🙄🙄🙄
Please wait a little longer.
They decide what, when and where to release main Pokémon games. They have stated multiple times that Nintendo doesn't control in which platform a new Pokémon game is released. That alone is a big power and the only thing that made 3DS have a great 2016.
ArchedThunder
Banned
The biggest Nitnendo published game currently announced is a remake of an old Fire Emblem game using the same engine as the last two games. Most of Nintendo's currently announced output for the system are lower effort and cost titles. Meanwhile Switch has a lot of big hitters this year and we even and the rumor from multiple sources about the next Pokemon game being for Switch.
It's pretty obvious that this is simply for risk mitigation. The 3DS is doing well right now while the Switch is following the Wii U, which is not a good precedent. If the Switch takes off you can bet they will leave the 3DS behind. But they are keeping it alive right now "just in case" the Switch fails in the market.
This exactly what happened with the DS BTW.
This exactly what happened with the DS BTW.
ArchedThunder
Banned
The Wii U is dead and the 3DS is still doing somewhat okay, they aren't going to cripple the 3DS's twilight years by telling people not to buy it, they're going to let it just wind down.
When Pokemon is announced for it in May what are you going to say?
Shikamaru Ninja
任天å ã® å¿è
Mario Sports Superstar is going to outsell that Fire Emblem. EverOasis and Pikmin remain to be seen how polished products they are at release. But don't write off FE for recycling an engine when Pokemon thrives on doing the same thing.
capylikesgames
Banned
The thing is, Switch's output is uncertain as of now, I feel. Like yeah, there are games coming out for it, but only a few that people really want. Nintendo isn't exactly the biggest developer, and I feel it would be in their best interest to focus all their efforts on the Switch right now. The 3DS has had its time, and it sure as hell wont be increasing in sales anytime soon. The opposite, really. Especially considering they're the primary output; it's clearer and clearer every passing day that the 3DS hardware is old, and it's not enough for most devs to warrant cutting down their games down for it, let alone building a game for it from the ground up. At least in my opinion, if they want to succeed, they have to continue focusing on selling the Switch to consumers. I just feel like they look at the 3DS as their safety net, and they've got to be smart and realize that boat wont last them forever.
gaheris
Member
That doesn't mean they can release it on the PS4 and Nintendo holds all the rights to the Pokemon IP and no one else so you are reaching there. Game Freak has a ton of control over the games but they will never be able to release it without Nintendo. They can release their other games wherever they want but on Pokemon they are not the only ones that are driving the bus.
ArchedThunder
Banned
Mario Sports will be lucky to hit 1 million and Fire Embem isn't anywhere near as big as Pokemon. Pikmin is probably very cheap to make and will probably sell like 200k. EverOasis is something, but it is developed by a third party and has probably been in development for awhile.
GabeTheGrouch76
Member
This is not even remotely close to true. The game has sold over five million copies, and was still selling well in certain markets at late as 2015 in NA and Europe, and was still selling in the UK in particular as late as January last year.
Actually is obvious Nintendo support for 3DS is less than Switch at this point. I mean, for NA, these are the game will be published by Nintendo for 3DS:
Dragon Quest VIII (old game, Nintendo only publish it)
Poochy and Yoshi (Wii U port)
Mario Sport Superstars (new game)
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (remake from old game using existing port)
Fire Emblem Warriors (crossgen, New 3DS and Switch)
Ever Oasis (new game, i don't know much about this)
Pikmin (new game)
I like some games (DQ VIII, Yoshi, FE Echoes)... but they are not games will sell a lot, and I don't expect FE Echoes sells as good as Awakening or Fates. They are not Pokémon.
Maintenance
Member
It sold less copies than a glorified demo, and almost the same as the handheld version. It is the worst selling mainline game trailing by more than 4 million copies. And the free part was true, at least in the asian market / RoTW. I've seen the game bundled for free so many times I've lost count.
WordAssassin
Member
Oh shit you're totally, right, I didn't even realize I was doing that.
Ok so if the Dock includes the AC Adaptor and that's $30, then the Dock is $60. So that's $230 for a Dock-less Switch which, yeah, is $30 too much for a handheld.
There is precedence for Nintendo to leave the AC Adaptor out of their handhelds, though. T:<
I do believe that they're gonna offer a Dock-less Switch down the road as their "handheld" though. I dunno if it'll have a different form factor or just literally be a Switch without a Dock in the box but I could definitely see them doing it.
GabeTheGrouch76
Member
That may be true, but selling less copies than past installment is nowhere near the same as the game "bombing hard". That was what you claimed in your previous post; unless Sony/PD had Square Einx levels of sales expectations, selling over five million copies, especially during the twilight years of the console, is not even close to being a commercial disaster.
Maintenance
Member
But it did, those 5 mil weren't full priced sales, not even close to that.
ArchedThunder
Banned
I think it could happen as early as this holiday to go alongside Pokemon. The handheld only version wouldn't come with a Joycon grip either.
Nintendo said the exact same thing when the DS came out, how they saw it as a 'third pillar' to the Game Boy and home console lines. If the Switch proves unpopular, then they have an out, and continue making handheld consoles, if it's a hit, they can officially merge everything together.
That being said, the only developer I hope continues working on 3DS is M2. The Sega 3D Classics are fantastic, and I'll be sorry to see the day they're officially stopped. I'm just hoping we can get Sonic 3K.
That being said, the only developer I hope continues working on 3DS is M2. The Sega 3D Classics are fantastic, and I'll be sorry to see the day they're officially stopped. I'm just hoping we can get Sonic 3K.
GabeTheGrouch76
Member
This isn't really a significant point, you could say this about any game released that was discounted or given away for free at some point. Not every game is sold without a discount or given away as a free bundled game.
For what it's worth, Super Mario 3D World would count as a commercial bomb by your argument. It's the lowest-selling 3D Mario, was bundled with the console at one point, and is now sold for $20 as a Nintendo Select title.
Crazyorloco
Member
Nintendo portables have a longer lifespan...I don't get why people want the 3DS dead. It's helping Nintendo immensely.
It has a great install base and deserves to be supported. The Switch lineup for the year looks good, so Nintendo it supporting it well too. It's all good people.
And for those harping about the GBA and DS third pillar. The GBA was supported 2 years after the DS was released. It was a third pillar. I don't see why Nintendo should only have one console. Did Nintendo specifically say we're going to have one console only to put all our games on it? (Links please). A hybrid console sounds like it would benefit game production for them, but I don't see anything changing now. Not unless the Switch is a huge success. So I think supporting the 3DS AND Switch is wise right now.
It has a great install base and deserves to be supported. The Switch lineup for the year looks good, so Nintendo it supporting it well too. It's all good people.
And for those harping about the GBA and DS third pillar. The GBA was supported 2 years after the DS was released. It was a third pillar. I don't see why Nintendo should only have one console. Did Nintendo specifically say we're going to have one console only to put all our games on it? (Links please). A hybrid console sounds like it would benefit game production for them, but I don't see anything changing now. Not unless the Switch is a huge success. So I think supporting the 3DS AND Switch is wise right now.
GameCenterXDS
Member
Yep. 3ds will see some more games but it will end eventually and everything will go to switch which will then be itterated on
Fredrik
Member
Yup. They could have Switch downports on 3DS but exclusive AAA 3DS games is a complete waste imo, they need to get all their best devs on to Switch and have all their popular franchises on Switch or it'll fail like WiiU.
capylikesgames
Banned
Yeah, good point. And this could all just be the usual PR near the end of a piece of hardware's life! It just seems like they try to remind us every couple of days, and it's a bit concerning on the Switch's end. Could just be to "comfort" 3DS owners, but I think they should be confident enough at this point to know that anybody who doesn't have one by now probably wont down the road, and those who do have one are likely to keep it and continue using it regardless of what happens.
I still don't know why people expected them to abandon the 3DS when the Switch is a) unproven and b) not out yet. If the Switch proves to be a hit both at launch and at the end of the year, then the 3DS winding down fast is inevitable. If the Switch fails, then the 3DS needs to somehow carry Nintendo for the next few years while they salvage it.
What's important is that third parties start to transition and that Nintendo both encourages that and puts the bulk its dev time into the Switch, not that the 3DS is immediately publicly abandoned. It's archaic hardware now but it's also the only backup plan they have in case of the Switch project not taking off. In terms of software development though, the focus of their pipeline has shifted: 'many unannounced titles' doesn't mean 'many huge, major first-party projects' when a slate of mainly ports and encouraging late localisations to take advantage of the install base is more likely. Just because those customers don't all immediately want a Switch at £330+ for a console and a game doesn't mean you can't sell them other stuff.
I mean, they've announced the next main entries of Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem and Xenoblade for Switch. Does anyone really think the next Animal Crossing or Mario Kart will be exclusively on 3DS? I'm fully predicting a meltdown at this point when Pokemon Stars ends up being both a 3DS and Switch game.
It's understandable that early adopters want old hardware cut off so that all new software comes to their new toy. It just isn't very practical to expect their tiny install base to fully support a multinational company immediately, hence the pillars thing with the GBA/DS. You only kick one away when the new one is proven stable.
What's important is that third parties start to transition and that Nintendo both encourages that and puts the bulk its dev time into the Switch, not that the 3DS is immediately publicly abandoned. It's archaic hardware now but it's also the only backup plan they have in case of the Switch project not taking off. In terms of software development though, the focus of their pipeline has shifted: 'many unannounced titles' doesn't mean 'many huge, major first-party projects' when a slate of mainly ports and encouraging late localisations to take advantage of the install base is more likely. Just because those customers don't all immediately want a Switch at £330+ for a console and a game doesn't mean you can't sell them other stuff.
I mean, they've announced the next main entries of Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem and Xenoblade for Switch. Does anyone really think the next Animal Crossing or Mario Kart will be exclusively on 3DS? I'm fully predicting a meltdown at this point when Pokemon Stars ends up being both a 3DS and Switch game.
It's understandable that early adopters want old hardware cut off so that all new software comes to their new toy. It just isn't very practical to expect their tiny install base to fully support a multinational company immediately, hence the pillars thing with the GBA/DS. You only kick one away when the new one is proven stable.
We can already see this strategy in the current 3ds line up of upcoming releases. Smaller projects with wide appeal to make the most of the install base. It doesn't mean the 3ds isn't already roadmapped to wind down, its just that Nintendo plans on making money on the 3ds right to the end. It makes sense, even as they phase out the hardware, there is still a lot of money to make on non-resource intensive software.
coughlanio
Member
If Switch is successful out the gate, watch Nintendo's tune change overnight. This is exactly how they positioned the GBA and DS as two pillars alongside the GameCube.
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
It's a Pokémon game that exist on the switch. I'm going to say, "finally, Nintendo has made a full fledge Pokémon game on a console that I've been dying for." But making it seem like one Pokémon game is going to kill the 3DS is over exaggerating the entire situation. That's like saying Poken saved the Wii U. It didn't, it's just one game. The rest has yet to be determined and I'm not putting absolutes on anything.
I get that with the way the Switch was designed, it makes entire sense that Nintendo would just phase it out, but it's not a replacement and it's not a direct successor, point blank period. And until Nintendo says so, then I will believe it.