Will Nintendo games ever come to PC?

Games Inbox: Will Nintendo games ever come to PC?

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – not available on PC (Nintendo)

The Monday letters page worries that it’s being priced out of buying a Nintendo Switch 2, as one reader is disappointed by Elden Ring Nightreign.

Outside influence
While I’m sure the Xbox website listing Xenoblade Chronicles X was some kind of mistake, I’m not sure the idea that Microsoft has talked Nintendo into supporting the PC can be completely ruled out. Microsoft has been trying to get influence over Nintendo for decades, including two separate attempts to buy them, so I can absolutely imagine them nagging and coaxing them into supporting PC.

I’m not saying they’ve convinced Nintendo but think of what they could offer them. Maybe free use of their servers for streaming or sharing the cost of making new games, now they’re more expensive on Switch 2. Doesn’t sound likely but I think you could say that for a lot of things that have happened recently, which is basically what the Reader’s Feature about PlayStation 5 was getting at this weekend. So I wouldn’t rule out Nintendo games coming top PC at some point.

I agree that Sony seem to be out of the conversation at the moment and are not influencing gaming the way they used to, whether the PlayStation 5 is selling or not. Even if Microsoft can never compete with them on even ground, I still feel they’d like to see Sony taken out of the picture and this way they can use someone else to do it.
Manson

The plan worked
I had no intention of getting Elden Ring Nightreign because of it being multiplayer-focused but it’s still disappointing to find out that it was a cheap cash-in and that it’s popular anyway. FromSoftware are one of the developers I respect the most right now, but this is really disappointing to me.

My theory is that they ‘owed’ Bandai Namco another Elden Ring game and so they knocked this out quick, with less care than usual as to whether it was any good or not. And people still bought it.

I shouldn’t be bothered, if it doesn’t affect me, but it doesn’t sit right with me. Especially as we still haven’t got a single-player game to look forward from them.
Stolz

Lasting reputation
I finally finished Astro Bot (it has the best Christmas level as free DLC) and the Horizon Zero Dawn planet made me pick up that game on the cheap. It’s really good and I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying it, as I heard bad things about it

I don’t play games for storylines and I only really need a reason to go from A to B, but I’m still enjoying it so far with the lost industrialised world, etc. I’m only about four hours in but I can see this being one of my 50+ hour games. I also read that Aloy is annoying, but I don’t know where that comes from unless something happens later on.
Simon

GC: Horizon Zero Dawn has always been thought of favourably, although Aloy and the other characters have a reputation for being a bit boring – rather than annoying.

Old-fashioned pleasures
Just seen that two shops are opening at midnight for the Switch 2 launch. For those who are going and have never had the chance to do a midnight launch you’re going to love it and I do mean it. The waiting outside, saying, ‘Come on, hurry up!’ every three seconds, then getting to the door of the shop and trying to see how many more is in front of you. And then being next to be served and then walking to the counter, waiting for them to scan the Switch2 box.

Hearing them famous words, you have never heard: ‘cash or card? Them putting it in a bag and saying thanks, while handing you the bag. Getting out the shop as quickly as possible, before trying to get home as fast as possible to start the process of setting it up and download the updates. I promise you’re going to love it, it’s how gaming was and how it still should be. You’re all going to love it.
David

Physical source
Just in case anyone still wants a physical game, Vinted is a pretty good source. I’ve filled my shelves with Xbox One and Xbox Series X games for some very reasonable prices.

Just recently I got Doom and Prey for £3 plus P&P. Dead Island 2 for £8. Haven’t had any bad experiences yet.

I’m using it to get all of the Call of Duty games for as little as possible, got the World War game for two quid, I think. I like playing through the story campaigns. Does Vanguard have a story to play through?
Bobwallett

GC: Yes. Black Ops 4 is the only mainline entry without a campaign mode.

Full comment
I know GC has been good enough to pass on issues with comments being rejected in the Underbox but it’s still very difficult to know where the issues are and benign comments to not be rejected, like this one under Wetbandit’s Sunday feature:

I think you’re mixing up backwards compatibility and Switch 2 upgrade patches. Nintendo is responsible for ensuring Switch games are backwards compatible with Switch 2 and it’s an ongoing exercise.

That Modern Vintage Gamer video is a month old and he’s using the official Nintendo list from the 15th of April. It was last updated on the 27th of May and the list of games with no issues or issues that will be fixed at launch or shortly after has grown by 40%. Everything else is marked as under investigation.

Like any other console it’s up to the devs to offer a native Switch 2 version if they want and if it will be free or paid for.

Nintendo and Sony both offer free upgrades on some games where the work is minimal. Charge an upgrade fee of around £10 for others and more if there’s some extra content/new DLC with the new native version like Kirby or GoT on PlayStation 5.

In short, back compatible on Switch 2 works like other consoles. The only games that are flat out not playable are two of the Labo games, where the Switch 2 doesn’t fit the accessories. Then there’s a few games like Ring Fit that need Switch Joy-Cons, but they are back compatible with Switch 2, as is the Pro Controller.

Also, the console is £395 and its price was meet with mild pleasant surprise. Not so much Mario Kart World.
Simundo

The bitter end
It’s crazy to me how long games to make nowadays. Cyberpunk 2 might not even be out this decade and that’s the norm now. I can’t think of anything else creative that takes this long to make.

A movie is two or three years at the maximum and usually less. I guess there would be some serious books that take a long time to write but a lot of that would not be entirely full-time, I would’ve thought. And even then it still might not be as long.

How many people making these games actually stay for the whole thing? Or do they feel they should always see it through to the bitter end?
Rosco

Priced out
I won’t be getting a Nintendo Switch 2 next week, not because I’m not a fan but because I just don’t feel I can afford one.

I’m a traditionalist and prefer physical copies of games, at least when it comes to big releases anyway, as I feel they deserve a place with my other games on the shelf.

I would definitely want Mario Kart World and that, along with a Switch 2, wouldn’t leave me with much change from £500, certainly not enough to purchase another game anyway.

I bought the Xbox Series S because I thought it was reasonably priced at £250, and I certainly wouldn’t have given the Xbox Series X a second glance at £450 if that would have been the only option.

For the time being I will stick with my original Switch, while I’m picking up cheap games for less than a couple of quid.

Although I do expect Nintendo to start squeezing customers like me out of that oasis sooner rather than later.

They are just a business after all.

I wish them luck because I’ve never hated Nintendo even when they were at some of their lowest ebbs. I went out and bought their products because I enjoyed them.

Unfortunately for now at least, my mind says yes, but my bank balance says no.

I hope it does do well but then again if it doesn’t, maybe I could afford one.
freeway 77

Inbox also-rans
Is GC planning on reviewing Nice Day For Fishing from Viva La Dirt League/Team 17? Thanks, I read you every day.
Timothy

GC: We’ve never heard of it till now, so we’re not sure. It’s going to be a busy week.

Oh look, another day another U-turn from Microsoft. So they suddenly found out that Steam Deck and co. don’t really sell that much and so their new idea is to *checks notes* focus on Windows. Really, what was the point of Xbox?
Dandy