The Nintendo Switch has finally released in North America and other parts of the world with record sells beating its previous predecessor Wii U sales for launch. For now it seems that Nintendo is seeing the fruit of their crop so to say.
Although the Nintendo Switch’s sales look promising at 1.5 million units sold world wide according to a Superdata report covered by Polygon , the Nintendo Switch Conference back in mid January received some criticisms of Nintendo’s 2017 titles and third party support to come to the Switch console. Some are finding the first year’s line up somewhat bland other than the popular Legend Of Zelda and Mario franchises.
In an interview with TIME , Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America responded in regards to future titles by saying,
I can say that our pipeline is quite robust, in what we are working on and that we will deliver next year and early into the year after that. We have that visibility in our pipeline.
It seems that future titles and some third party support will be paced throughout the console’s lifetime, one of them being the mysterious Pokemon game code named Pokemon Stars.
Laura Kate Dale a video game reporter revealed through a Reddit AMA that Pokemon Stars game like that of Pokemon Sun and Moon is indeed coming to the Nintendo Switch. It would be a first main series game to ever make it to one of Nintendo’s home consoles. The game will include at least 20 new Pokemon and continue the adventure in the Alola region. The main Pokemon series has always been exclusive to Nintendo’s handheld hardware. With that being said, it brings up a question about the future of the current 3DS handheld hardware line.
Is it possible that the movement of Nintendo’s biggest franchise like Pokemon be hinting at the 3DS’ final days?
In looking at Nintendo’s Top 3 selling handheld titles, it paints a picture of the possibility that the 3DS may be on its last leg. In a Nintendo 2016 year report on Gamespot the top selling tiles were Pokemon X and Y at number one, Mario Kart 7 at number two, and Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire at the number three spot.
Pokemon being a best selling game on the handheld hardware could be a big hint that its movement to the Nintendo Switch console may be getting all those handheld owners ready to finally say goodbye to the 3DS family. It is important to note that the same report list other top selling games which were not exclusive to the handheld and saw more play on the home console like the Mario Kart 7 port, Super Smash Brothers, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.
Some initial reactions that code name project Pokemon Stars will be a potential main series title on the Nintendo Switch has a mix of emotions from fans uncomfortable with the idea of purchasing a Nintendo Switch while others applaud the potential to see their beloved Pokemon run on the unreal engine hardware capable of pushing the series to new graphical possibilities. As is, the new Pokemon Sun and Moon games already push the limits of the 3DS with some players seeing some lag and graphical inconsistencies. What are your thoughts on the matter?
the johto press 