The Nintendo Switch: Can Nintendo Win Over Gamers Once Again?
Nintendo has officially announced that their newest console, the Switch, will be released worldwide on March 3rd and will sell for $299.99 in the U.S. With its release drawing near, many are wondering whether the Switch will be able to capture gamers' hearts (and wallets) as the Nintendo Wii has since 2006 or whether the Switch will suffer the same fate as Nintendo's previous generation console from 2012, the Wii U. Hopeful Nintendo fans see an opportunity for Nintendo to regain its former glory in the home video game console market, but others are concerned that the Switch will be a flop.
One of the major factors in a console's commercial success is the game titles -- especially the titles exclusive to the console -- that are set to release with it. According to technobuffalo.com, the Switch only has five games confirmed for release with the console on March 3rd: 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Skylanders: Imaginators, and Super Bomberman. Six more games are set for a spring release: Arms, Has-Been Heroes, I Am Setsuna, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Puyo Puyo Tetris, and Snipperclips, Cut It Out Together. More games are rumored to come later 2017.
With a measly 6 games at launch and a short list of games to follow, the Switch has valid concerns; however, some might say that the small group of games is a strategic move rather than an unfortunate shortcoming. The Wii U, which was heavily outsold by its competitors, launched with 23 games, and some see the Switch's launch titles as a concise, focused group of high-quality games compared to the Wii U's more scattered library. Nintendo has heavily pushed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the premiere title of the launch, and it may be enough to drive initial sales of the console. Only time will tell.
Even if opening sales for the Switch don't break any records, that won't necessarily mean failure for Nintendo. Console sales are a long-term battle, and their marketing strategies, price changes, and certainly their game releases will have a major impact on the extended success or failure of the platform. Regardless of one's gaming preferences, it's an exciting time to watch as Nintendo takes a bold step into the market with an original product. Will you be purchasing a Switch this year?
One of the major factors in a console's commercial success is the game titles -- especially the titles exclusive to the console -- that are set to release with it. According to technobuffalo.com, the Switch only has five games confirmed for release with the console on March 3rd: 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Skylanders: Imaginators, and Super Bomberman. Six more games are set for a spring release: Arms, Has-Been Heroes, I Am Setsuna, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Puyo Puyo Tetris, and Snipperclips, Cut It Out Together. More games are rumored to come later 2017.
With a measly 6 games at launch and a short list of games to follow, the Switch has valid concerns; however, some might say that the small group of games is a strategic move rather than an unfortunate shortcoming. The Wii U, which was heavily outsold by its competitors, launched with 23 games, and some see the Switch's launch titles as a concise, focused group of high-quality games compared to the Wii U's more scattered library. Nintendo has heavily pushed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the premiere title of the launch, and it may be enough to drive initial sales of the console. Only time will tell.
Even if opening sales for the Switch don't break any records, that won't necessarily mean failure for Nintendo. Console sales are a long-term battle, and their marketing strategies, price changes, and certainly their game releases will have a major impact on the extended success or failure of the platform. Regardless of one's gaming preferences, it's an exciting time to watch as Nintendo takes a bold step into the market with an original product. Will you be purchasing a Switch this year?
No comments: