How Nintendo's Gamble With the Switch Paid Off in 2017

Its been less than a year on the marketplace and seems like the Nintendo Switch has been able to turn Nintendo's sinking ship around. Both reputation, and in a financial way Nintendo has been able to really turn it around. What has made the Switch such a success in 2017, was it solely based on The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey, and Splatoon 2. Is Nintendo's luck going to remain in 2018.

[PhoenixUp]

And all Nintendo had to do was sacrifice Wii U at the alter

[Perjoss]

If you wanna make an omelette you gotta break some eggs

[_-EDMIX-_]

I think it was completely worth it.

Them going portable only and having an HDMI out for the TV was probably one of the best decisions they could have made.

[Sitdown]

But they didn't go portable one, despite how much some of you don't want to recognize it as a home console first. The best decision was making sure there was a bigger difference between their generations, and being able to advertise such......plus bring the games.

[michellelynn0976]

They didn't go portable only. They have a docking device that ups the performance. No matter how hard you try to make the Switch a portable only. It isn't.

[michellelynn0976]

If the Switch is a portable only. Why are Mario and Zelda getting nominated (and winning) console game of the year?

[PhoenixUp]

Especially when you need to purge the undesirables from public consciousness

https://m.youtube.com/watch...

[Many-hat5]

Telling comment for me, was mentioning how third party support isn't that important. I have no concerns about Switch doing well so long as Nintendo continue to supply first party games,regularly. If that's stops, there could be problems. Let's be honest, when people discuss Switch it's always mentioned how great Zelda or Mario are, and that's true. Nintendo,imo, are more reliant on first party than either of it's main competitors.It's a great console,and keep me supplied with first party games, and I'll be happy. So far, so good.

[DrJones]

I want continued strong third party support, Skyrim and Doom is what sold me on the Switch

[michellelynn0976]

I love both. Doom and Skyrim are amazing.

[TGG_overlord]

Well, I'm pretty much a PC Gamer at heart, and still I'm going to pick up the Switch. So that says quite a lot about the situation if you ask me.

[InTheZoneAC]

All I took from this was you play PC games, and probably didn't buy a Wii or Wii u but will buy a switch(for what reason as Nintendo games don't seem to be your reason) and you made it unclear if you play PlayStation as they also have a ton of great exclusives.

[michellelynn0976]

Such as? And I am so sure you like Nintendo. Like someone else who says they do, but sent me a harassing message calling the Switch a Fisher Price toy.

[kevnb]

i didnt feel like they needed saved, the wii u didnt do so well but the 3ds and amiibo was solid.

[sk8ofmnd]

I just want them to make new ips like they used to or bring back much older franchises. It seems much of what came to the switch this year very well could have been on the wiiu like mario odyssey...

Their biggest 1st party games this year was zelda, splatoon 2, mario, and mk... Every last 1 of those could have been wiiu ports like botw. Whats big next year like these heavy hitters? Kirby, ssb, and... If metroid prime was comming in 2018 id be estatic but i highly doubt it. To me it looks like nintendo gave up on the wiiu early in the gen just to make the switches 1st year a strong one.

If you look what is comming from fall 2017 - fall 2018 on gamefly it doesnt look too promising

[michellelynn0976]

They are working on new ips. And besides Horizon, what has Sony had for new ips this year?

[MrMagz]

Realistically they didn't give up on Wii U because no one in that position could have thought they could save it if they tried. Even releasing Mario Kart and Smash Bros in the same year did little to boost sales in the long run, so releasing even something as good as Mario Odyssey probably wouldn't have helped much more. Could there have been more support in the Wii U's last year, absolutely. 2015 and 2016 was fairly light on quality content, so having a few more good games would have made a better transition into Switch. However, it makes sense that they would stop making games for Wii U earlier than most systems simply because it wasn't selling well and Nintendo knew they needed to have a strong 1st and 2nd year line-up for Switch.

[chris235]

all thumbs down. in my personal opinion: nintendo is still crap with no clue. no matter how many people are getting tricked into thinking otherwise. i'd rather toss my money down the gutter than spending it on anything remotely nintendo. and i'm feeling damn good about it. just wished more people had a sense for quality and showed them the way out.

[michellelynn0976]

Because Sony's games are so great. Oh wait? They aren't.

[InTheZoneAC]

When can we expect a screen-less, joycon-less switch slim bundled with a pro controller? Price would be around $175-$200, would buy day one

[MrMagz]

Yeah, that's not going to happen. If anything, there will be a Switch that does not connect to the TV, but there will never be a Switch that only plays on the TV. At that point it wouldn't really be a Switch anymore.

[InTheZoneAC]

But options are good, especially when doing so would bring in more sales

A switch that can't play on the tv wouldn't be considered a switch either.

[MrMagz]

@InTheZoneAC That's why I'm hesitant to say that they would even do a portable only version. The main reason why I feel they would do that before a home console only version is because Nintendo is heavily known for their handhelds. Having a portable only Switch could fill that niche potentially better than the Switch can right now, but I highly doubt they would change it anytime soon.

[hiawa23]

It clearly has paid off for Nintendo and it is great to see them back doing well in the console space. I wanted a traditional Nintendo console with at least PS4 specs and not into portable gaming so I can't see buying a Switch, but there really is no debate, it was the right move. A healthy console market is great for all gamers.

[Bandit50]

i love my switch and have since day one