Nintendo has a history of being very Japanese focused when it comes to publishing deals and collaborations with third parties. As someone who's really into Japanese games, I think this is great, but there's only so much appeal your platform can have with those kinds of games. Since we are close to the launch of their next console, I was wondering if to help widen the appeal of the Switch, Nintendo could start looking to some western publishers for exclusive collaborations in the same way they do with Japanese publishers.
Let's look at some examples of collaborations with publishers on Wii U:
- Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (Keoi Tecmo, Japanese)
- Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate (Capcom, Japanese)
- The Wonderful 101 (Platinum Games, Japanese)
- Sonic Lost World (Sega, Japanese)
- Wii Sports Club (Bandai Namco, Japanese)
- Hyrule Warriors (Koei Tecmo, Japanese)
- Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games, Japanese)
- Super Smash Bros. Wii U (Bandai Namco, Japanese)
- Fatal Frame V (Koei Tecmo, Japanese)
I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting but you get the point. Outside of some Skylanders marketing deals, and Ubisoft, I don't remember much in the way of western partnerships for Wii U. Maybe things could change for Switch, but so far it looks like we're headed down the same road. Western third parties are the dominating sales force in consoles now. As a platform holder, I you'd think it would be in Nintendo's best interest to try and work with them even a little bit like they do with Japanese publishers. Western third party support on Switch is likely gonna be dry, so it's on Nintendo to try and work with those publishers one way or another.
Let's look at some examples of collaborations with publishers on Wii U:
- Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (Keoi Tecmo, Japanese)
- Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate (Capcom, Japanese)
- The Wonderful 101 (Platinum Games, Japanese)
- Sonic Lost World (Sega, Japanese)
- Wii Sports Club (Bandai Namco, Japanese)
- Hyrule Warriors (Koei Tecmo, Japanese)
- Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games, Japanese)
- Super Smash Bros. Wii U (Bandai Namco, Japanese)
- Fatal Frame V (Koei Tecmo, Japanese)
I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting but you get the point. Outside of some Skylanders marketing deals, and Ubisoft, I don't remember much in the way of western partnerships for Wii U. Maybe things could change for Switch, but so far it looks like we're headed down the same road. Western third parties are the dominating sales force in consoles now. As a platform holder, I you'd think it would be in Nintendo's best interest to try and work with them even a little bit like they do with Japanese publishers. Western third party support on Switch is likely gonna be dry, so it's on Nintendo to try and work with those publishers one way or another.