October 24th 2024.
There have been rumors floating around that a new and improved version of the Nintendo Switch, aptly nicknamed the Switch 2, will be arriving in the year 2025. While the anticipation for this new console is building, it seems that Nintendo has been keeping busy by reaching out to other game developers to create remastered versions of their old games for the original Switch.
As we approach the end of October, the chances of hearing an official announcement about the Switch 2 this year seem to be dwindling. However, Nintendo has promised to reveal it before April, so we can expect the big reveal to happen at some point in the near future.
The release date for the Switch 2 is still a mystery, but so is the fate of the original Switch. This year has been a busy one for the current console, with numerous new releases and the playtesting of a new online game. But according to rumors, Nintendo is also planning to bring some new remastered games to the format.
Reports from reliable Nintendo leaker PH Brazil suggest that the company has been in talks with third party publishers such as Ubisoft, EA, Bandai Namco, and an unnamed Western company to remaster some of their games for the original Switch. Titles like Splinter Cell Blacklist, Driver 1 and 2 have already been mentioned, and there could be more to come.
Despite the rumors, Lippe (the leaker) continues to insist that the Switch 2 will be unveiled this year. However, as time goes by, it seems less and less likely. Nevertheless, the idea behind Nintendo reaching out to other publishers for remasters makes sense. With their own internal studios focusing on developing games for the Switch 2, it's important for them to keep a steady stream of new releases for current Switch owners.
So what exactly can we expect in terms of these new remasters? Well, according to Lippe, Splinter Cell Blacklist and Rayman 3 are some of the titles in the works, along with two other unknown games from Ubisoft. It's unclear if the Rayman 3 release is the same as the recently announced new Rayman game, which is rumored to be a full remake of a previous title.
Nintendo and Ubisoft have always had a good relationship, so it's not surprising to see them working together on these remasters. However, the most surprising suggestions from Lippe are the remasters of PS1 games Driver 1 and 2. It's a mystery how these games will be remastered for modern day without significant changes to their controls, graphics, and difficulty. But, they were popular games back in the day, so it will be interesting to see how they turn out.
Lippe also mentions that the more recent game Driver: San Francisco may also be remastered, but this information comes from a less reliable source. Considering that Blacklist was originally an Xbox 360 game and Rayman 3 a GameCube title, it's clear that Nintendo is reaching back into the past for these remasters.
In addition to Ubisoft, Bandai Namco is also rumored to be contributing a former PlayStation 3 title and at least one other unknown game. And it seems that EA will also be jumping on the remaster bandwagon by releasing more of their old Wii games. The recent announcement of remasters for two MySims games supports this rumor.
EA didn't release many Wii games, but there were versions of Need For Speed Carbon, ProStreet, and Nitro, as well as SimCity Creator and sandbox game Create. However, the most likely candidates for remasters are SSX On Tour, which featured Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach in the GameCube version, and NBA Street V3. Unfortunately, EA no longer holds the licenses for these sports games.
According to Lippe, this initiative is not an indication that the Switch 2 will be delayed, but rather that Nintendo simply doesn't have enough time to develop more games for the original Switch. However, Lippe also claims to know about two unannounced remaster projects from Nintendo themselves, one for a GameCube game and the other for a 3DS title.
In addition to these remasters, Nintendo still has some high-profile releases in the works for the original Switch, including Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and a rumored remake of the Japanese-only SNES game Fire Emblem: Genealogy Of The Holy War. It's expected that Metroid Prime 4 will be a cross-gen game, and the recent hack of developer Game Freak suggests that the next mainline Pokémon game will also be released on both the current Switch and its successor.
While we wait for more information about these remasters and the Switch 2, fans can't help but express their excitement and anticipation through various channels like email, comments, Twitter, and our newsletter. And for those who want to contribute their own thoughts and ideas, our Submit Stuff page makes it easier than ever.
So, it looks like the future of the original Switch is still up in the air, but we can expect some great remastered games to keep us entertained while we wait for the Switch 2. With all these exciting developments, it's an exciting time to be a Nintendo fan!
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