What will we see first: Metroid Prime 4 or Shin Megami Tensei V?
With no E3 this year and COVID-19 forcing many developers to work from home, the next few months are going to be interesting for the industry. While Sony and Microsoft ready to launch new and possibly very expensive consoles, Nintendo has its work cut out for itself making games to bolster the Switch profile. This year has already had one massive hit in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and with Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition launching at the end of the month, it may have another instant million-seller on its hands.
But what about after that? A Nintendo Direct a few weeks ago shone a light on some of the games coming in the next few months, but beyond that, it’s a guessing game. Particularly when it comes to three of the biggest titles previously announced for the console. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Prime 4 are all stuck with the dreaded “TBA” release date in the latest Nintendo financial report. Just two first-party titles on the list of upcoming games have confirmed release dates: the aforementioned Xenoblade remake (May 29, 2020) and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (June 5, 2020). Additionally, Bravely Default II still has a general 2020 release date attached to it.
As for third-party games, there are a lot of ports on the way including Bioshock: The Collection, Borderlands Legendary Collection, and XCOM 2 Collection, all of which launch on May 29, 2020. Also ahead for Switch owners are The Outer Worlds (June 5, 2020), Ninjala (May 27, 2020), Minecraft Dungeons (May 26, 2020), and Burnout Paradise Remastered (June 19, 2020). What’s interesting is this list only seems to contain games that will be released in the immediate future, with other confirmed titles like Mr. Driller DrillLand and Catherine: Full Body absent from it.
With most trade shows canceled for the year or going digital, we have to wait and see how Nintendo chooses to announce its slate of games that will make up the back half of 2020, and if any of those “TBA” titles will manage to make it out this year.
Financial Results Explanatory Material [Nintendo]
