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Nintendo Switch: What are the launch titles?

By Cheryl Wassenaar

Image courtesy of Nintendo.
Image courtesy of Nintendo. /
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With a console launch as anticipated as the Nintendo Switch, launch titles are everything. Here’s what we know from the presentation.

The games that come with a console at launch can mean the difference between sales being bonkers and sales being soft. With the Switch — and after the Wii U — Nintendo probably would prefer the former as opposed to the latter. That means coming out with some killer launch titles.

According to the Nintendo Switch presentation, which aired live on the night of Jan. 12, here are some of the titles we’ll see:

  • 1-2 Switch: a game utilizing the new HD Rumble function of the controllers, where you don’t look at the screen, but rather at the player. There was a shootout and duel mode shown, and it’s intended as a party game. This is a launch title.
  • Arms: a fighting game where characters have arms that are basically springs, thus combining boxing and shooting into one. Although it seems simple, it was promised that the fighting system becomes more complex as you go along. Given a spring 2017 launch window.
  • Splatoon 2: a sequel to the paintballing game for the Wii U. This game includes new weapons, and can be played with the Pro Controller as well as the Joy Con. Given a summer 2017 launch window, with plans for in-game events and updates.
  • Super Mario Odyssey: a brand-new Mario game. Do you really need to know more? Well, okay. It seems like it’ll take place in a city not dissimilar to New York City, and Mario displayed the ability to use his hat as a floating platform. The hat also has eyes and is now apparently sentient. Set for a holiday 2017 release date.
  • Xenoblade 2: Appearing to take more nods from Xenoblade Chronicles for the Wii, it sounds like it is a direct sequel. No launch date was given.
  • Fire Emblem Warriors: Teased only, but it’s Fire Emblem crossed with the Samurai Warriors or Dynasty Warriors games.
  • Dragon Quest X, XI and Heroes 1 and 2: From Square Enix, no launch date given.
  • A teaser for a new Shin Megami Tensei game of some sorts came from Atlus, which is just in development.
  • Project Octopath Traveler: a new RPG from Square Enix, also in development.
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Bethesda confirmed a port would come to the system. No launch date was given.
  • Travis Touchdown of No More Heroes will return, although no title was announced or any further details were given.
  • EA Sports FIFA: Given a launch date of “later this year”. Promised to be incredibly social in its construction, and the EA representative said there was more to come.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: After approximately the longest delay ever, we got a look at what appears to be Zelda, and the implication that this Link has been sleeping for 100 years. And yes, it is a Mar. 3 title, which means that it is a launch title.

Nintendo also discussed other titles in development, saying that over 80 games were in development from third-party developers. That could mean a lot of things, but support sounds quite robust at this point.

During a mashup trailer, we also spotted what appeared to be new F-Zero, Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft, Dragon Ball Z, and NBA 2K18 nods among others, including a retro-styled Street Fighter.

All in all, it’s a fairly robust set of titles. Right now, Nintendo needs as much help as it can get after Pokémon GO petered out a bit more quickly than most expected, especially since the 3DS is also likely nearing the end of its lifespan. With Zelda as a launch title, we suspect they’ll do just fine.

Next: How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch launches on Mar. 3 worldwide at $299.99.