Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -is the sequel going to be out this year? (pic: Nintendo)
A reader makes a bold prediction about Nintendo’s software and hardware plans, and claims there’s even some evidence to support it.
Everyone says it’s pointless trying to predict Nintendo but to hell with it, I’m going to do it anyway. Not only because it’s fun but because I believe there are enough hints and rumours to make some fairly accurate guesses as to what they’re planning. My only caveat is I think this is what they want to do, but these plans could be thwarted by boring stuff like manufacturing problems, which I suspect is what happened to the Switch Pro.
With that said I’ll point out there have been multiple rumours, one of them today (Friday), that claim the Switch 2 is on track for this year. From an objective point of view that would be a great time to launch a new console. Sony and Microsoft don’t have any new hardware this year and only one major game each, that we know of, due out before Christmas. It’s an open goal for Nintendo to launch a new console and be seen as the exciting new product for the gift-giving season.
On top of that, there’s the fact that Nintendo has no major new games scheduled for the second half of the year. Now, you may say that’s not unusual – Nintendo’s schedules aren’t always the fullest – but it is odd to have absolutely nothing. Especially as the only game we know for a fact exists, Metroid Prime 4, shows no sign of being imminent.
Not only is there nothing scheduled for this Christmas but it’s not obvious what would be out next year either, there is literally nothing in Nintendo’s pipeline that we know about beyond Metroid Prime 4 and, let’s face it, Metroid has never been a big seller.
I do feel it’s possible it could be being set up as Switch 2 launch title, perhaps taking the place of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, in comparison to the first Switch’s launch (well respected franchise but not necessarily one of Nintendo’s biggest sellers). However, I believe the biggest launch game will be something else: Mario Kart 9.
It’s almost a decade since Mario Kart 8 was first released and the Switch has never had an exclusive Mario Kart of its own, so a new sequel is well overdue and must surely have been in the design stage for a long while already – no matter whether my other theories are right or wrong. Mario Kart 8 is the biggest seller on the Switch and to have a sequel available at launch for the Switch 2 would be an enormous draw.
In terms of pure logic it makes sense but there’s also the unexpected emphasis on Mario Kart in the The Super Mario Bros. Movie coming out this April, which is not a part of the Mario franchise you would’ve expected them to focus on for his first proper film. And then there’s the DLC for Mario Kart 8, that is suddenly starting to get brand new content halfway through its run, for no obvious reason.
Not that anyone is complaining, of course, but how about the idea that the last set of DLC, due out this Christmas, is one big ad for Mario Kart 9 on the Switch? It’s never been done before but I don’t see why it shouldn’t be and it’s just the sort of non-standard thing that would appeal to Nintendo.
Will I be proven right? We’ll see I guess, but I am convinced that both the Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 are a lot closer than people think.
By reader Onibee
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A reader makes a bold prediction about Nintendo’s software and hardware plans, and claims there’s even some evidence to support it.