Retro finished working on Tropical Freeze in ~August 2013 iirc. We're looking at a possible five years of development time. Hope that means it's massive in scope.
Actually I suppose it's possible they finished the game a while ago and Nintendo decided to shelve it until next year because they felt the lineup for 2016 was good enough already?
Monster Games and Retro began partnering up during the 3DS/Wii U era. It's been stated Retro is capable of taking on one project as well as assisting with another such as what they did with MK7 and DKCR3D. They could be working on one Switch project of their own as well as working with Monster Games on another title. Monster Games also has been mysteriously quiet after releasing Pilot Wings Resort and DKCR3D on 3DS. If Monster and Retro worked together on a title, I would love if they did F-Zero, Diddy Kong Racing or Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Okay, so non-Retro things to speculate on.
-What comes out first from EPD 4: Mario Maker 2 or Pikmin 4?
-Will Smash for Switch be a GotY edition of Smash 4 or a new Smash 5?
... I don't know what else to speculate on D:
Hmm, well I guess we could think about whether or not the Mario Kart guys will make ARMS 2 or a new IP.
- Mario will be the first priority. Mario Maker 2 would be easy and quick to develop for. However, another poster pointed out a new 2D Mario. I agree that I could see a new 2D Mario releasing first then a year later including that engine in MM2. Granted Mario Maker is a major ip and I don't see them delaying that title past 2019. Even that is pushing it given how easy it is to develop for. Given statements Miyamoto made about Pikmin 4, I think it could be a 2nd half 2018-2019 title. What I could see:
2D Mario/Mario Maker 2- Q2 2018
Pikmin 4- Q3 2018
2D Mario/Mario Maker- Q3 2019
I think Mario Maker and Pikmin could both get announced at (or by) E3. The timing is right for both.
At this point they won't just do a simple Smash 4 port, but I also don't think they're going to start from scratch. I could see something like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Everything included plus more (characters from Splatoon, ARMS etc.)
Agreed. I think we'll see the next project by the 2D Mario/Mario Maker team around the same time as Pikmin. Granted I think 2D Mario/Mario Maker could hit before E3. The team hasn't released anything since Mario Maker in 2015. Mario Maker 3DS was handle d by NAT.
Also I think it will be essentially a SSB 4.5. Engine updated and optimized for Switch, now that it no longer has to worry about 3DS restrictions. 5-10 new characters including Snake, Ice Climbers, Wolf, Bomberman, Marie(Callie alt), Inkling, Spring Man, and Chorus Kids. Some characters are updated and altered as well. Also includes new stages and items. All characters from 4 return but not necessarily all stages, items and modes. Majority of content returns but some superfluous content is cut in favor of new content. New modes including a short adventure mode.
Something like the above is the level of content, I'd expect from Sakurai. He would never do a simple port and he has a tendency to throw everything but the kitchen sink into his games in terms of content. We know he is working on Smash since Nintendo put out hiring ads for a new Smash project right after Smash DLC finished. I'd say 2+ years would be sufficient time to accomplish this. I also expect/hope this to be Sakurai' s directorial swan song for the series. I think he should move on to a supervisor position of the series and be able to work on different projects.
