Who knows when: Where is Netflix? What about Hulu? YouTube? Amazon?
It seems like a given that Nintendo's Switch console — a system built for use as a handheld and a home console — would get video streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, and others. It's 2017, and there are approximately zero game consoles without these services.
Yet, somehow, Nintendo's Switch launched without any of these services and continues to exist without them. Though Nintendo's never put a date on it, the company has repeatedly pointed to those services coming at some point in the future. When those services will arrive is the big question, and it's one that Nintendo's not answering (nor are Netflix, Hulu, and other services — we've asked).
This stuff isn't exactly crucial, but it sure doesn't hurt.
What's still missing? "Super Smash Bros.," "Animal Crossing," and many more.
There are still plenty of Nintendo franchises that could use a spin on the Switch. The most notable ones are obvious: "Super Smash Bros.," "Animal Crossing," and "Star Fox" all come to mind immediately.
Then there's the more obscure stuff: "WarioWare," "Punch-Out," "F-Zero," Nintendogs," "Dr. Mario," and "Brain Training." And that's before you start talking about really obscure stuff like "Earthbound."
All to say one thing: Nintendo still has miles of depths to plumb before it runs out of classic characters and game franchises.
Of note, it looks like we've just seen the beginning of Nintendo's effort to re-release updated versions of games that debuted on the Wii U. Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime told Vice recently, "Given the [very low] install base of Wii U, there was some fantastic content that consumers did not get to play. So that creates certainly a business opportunity."
The Nintendo Switch Online service is scheduled to launch in 2018, and it costs $20/year. For that fee, you'll get instant access to a classic game library and the ability to play games online.
Nintendo's new service costs $20 per year ($4/month, $8/three months), and is planned for launch in 2018. When it arrives, it'll only be available on the Nintendo Switch — Nintendo's newest game console, which operates as a portable handheld and a home console.
Beyond access to online gaming — which is free for now on the Switch — you'll also get access to a library of classic games from Nintendo's history. The first three games Nintendo showed off were "Super Mario Bros. 3," "Dr. Mario," and "Balloon Fight," but more are expected to be announced as we learn more about the service.
Notably, those classic games are all from the NES — Nintendo's oldest home console. Nintendo has yet to confirm if games from the SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, or Wii U will appear on the service (to say nothing of Nintendo's handheld gaming library appearing). There is no release date for the service outside of "2018" thus far.
In addition to a new spinoff game this year, an entirely new entry in the Pokémon series is coming to the Switch. Pokémon company president Tsunekazu Ishihara calls it a, "core RPG Pokémon title." That sounds like a main entry in the Pokémon series for the Switch — a first for Nintendo, which has always made these games for its handhelds. There's no gameplay to show yet, and Ishihara says the game could be "more than a year" out. Don't hold your breath for a 2018 release on this one.
You can tell Nintendo's really serious about getting back into the good graces of its fans because it's releasing a new entry in the "Metroid Prime" series, long-thought to be dead. The company showed nothing more than a trailer, but that was enough to get some fans to lose their minds.
Similarly, Nintendo recently debuted a new game in the "Kirby" series. It looks like a return to form for the series, with Kirby traipsing through 2D levels, sucking in enemies and absorbing their powers. Both Kirby and Yoshi are unnamed thus far, and neither has a release date beyond "2018."
During Nintendo's presentation at E3 2017, an annual video game trade show that took place earlier this month, the company unveiled a new entry for Yoshi. The game thus far is just named "Yoshi," and it looks like a twist on the old "Yoshi's Island" format from back in the Super Nintendo days.
2018: A "core" Pokémon game, new entries for Kirby and Yoshi, Nintendo's online service, and a new game in the "Metroid Prime" series.
Everyone's favorite cartoon plumber isn't just getting his own game later this year — he and his pals are joining up with Ubisoft's Rabbids for an entirely new game: "Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle." It's a more tactical game than anything else, and it arrives on August 29.
Following the launch of "Splatoon 2" this summer, a spinoff of the Pokémon series is heading to the Switch: "Pokken Tournament DX." It's a 3D fighting game featuring — what else? — Pokémon, and it's a re-release of a game previously available on the Wii U. Think of it as a precursor to next year's "core" Pokémon game on the Switch. It arrives on September 22.
Before "Super Mario Odyssey" arrives this October, Nintendo's summer plans are dedicated to "Splatoon 2" — a sequel to the delightful shooter that debuted on Nintendo's failed Wii U console. It arrives on July 21.
At this point in 2017, we know much of Nintendo's plan for the rest of the year. While there are several games launching for the Switch leading up to this holiday season, the heavy among them is "Super Mario Odyssey." It's a gorgeous new "Super Mario" game along the lines of "Super Mario 64" and "Super Mario Sunshine." It launches on October 27.
2017: A new "Super Mario," a sequel to "Splatoon," a Pokémon spinoff, and an entirely new series for Mario.
For a launch year, the Switch is getting a mess of fantastic games. Nintendo started with the showstopper in "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," which launched alongside the Switch in March.
"Zelda" was quickly followed by an updated re-release of "Mario Kart 8" — arguably the best "Mario Kart" game ever made — and an entirely new entry in "Arms." The launch of "Minecraft" followed soon after, and Nintendo even allowed the Switch version of "Minecraft" to play nice with the Xbox One, PC, mobile, and VR versions of the game. If you're playing the game on one of those platforms, you're also playing with people on the Switch!
And that's just through to now (June 2017) — there's much more coming in the back half of 2017 and next year.
