(Image credit: Nintendo/Xbox)
The upcoming Switch 2 is anticipated to usher in a renaissance for third-party support on Nintendo platforms, as forecasted by two former marketing leads from the company. The popular podcast, Kit & Krysta, hosted by ex-Nintendo veterans Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, recently expressed immense optimism about the platform’s potential. With over a decade of experience at Nintendo, Ellis and Yang explored their enthusiasm for Switch 2’s third-party opportunities by focusing on two pivotal points.
The first point Ellis highlights is that the Switch 2 introduces an already ‘proven’ concept, a hybrid system that players recognize and embrace. He notes, “People understand what a hybrid system is,” referencing the proliferation of devices like the Steam Deck and the PlayStation Portal. “There’s this thing that can play games on a TV but it can also be played handheld,” he elaborates, emphasizing the public’s comfort with this concept.
The second reason for potential success lies in Nintendo’s comeback from the Wii U era, which struggled to win over third-party publishers. Following the commercial flop of the Wii U, obtaining third-party support was a challenge. Yang recounts, “The transition from Wii U to Switch 1 was tough… and getting third-party support on a Nintendo platform at the time was really hard.” Yet, with the original Switch now among the top-selling consoles, this revival journey has set a promising stage for Switch 2.
Yang passionately argues, “There’s no more proving yourself to these big third parties. You’ve proved yourself.” The burgeoning interest from third-party developers eager to tap into Nintendo’s expansive audience underscores the excitement surrounding Switch 2’s support—an era of fertile collaboration seems imminent.
Ellis further observes that Switch successes in software, not just hardware sales, debunk the stereotype that Nintendo players are solely interested in first-party titles. He points to diverse successes from AAA titles down to indies, like Monster Hunter Rise for Capcom and the unexpectedly popular Switch version of Hogwarts Legacy.
While details about the Switch 2’s game lineup are sparse, the future looks promising. Although only a new Mario Kart title is confirmed, rumor has it that remastered classics like Metal Gear Solid Delta and Ubisoft titles such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage are in the pipeline. As speculation swirls, concrete information is on the horizon with the forthcoming April Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.