Hey guys and gals

Two weeks ago I made a thread in which I looked at what Nintendo's own EAD studios in Kyoto and Tokyo are (possibly) working on (http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=205414&page=1#).

In this thread I will discuss what Nintendo's other studios are coordinating and developing and what their affiliated studios and partners are working on. Some of it has already been announced, the rest of it is conjecture (or sometimes simple guessing). Because there are so many studios that develop (or developed) games for Nintendo I will split it up in several posts and will add new information to the thread over the coming days/weeks!

I wrote this as a series of articles for my own blog (https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/), but you are getting all of the goodies right here as well - mostly because I value your opinions

So enjoy!

Cheers

MakeAccountLater

For the data, guesstimates and discussion of Kyoto EAD 1, EAD 2, EAD 3, EAD 4 and EAD 5, as well as the data, guesstimates and discussion for Tokyo EAD 1 and EAD 2, see: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=205414&page=1#

In this post: SPD 1, and SPD 2 and some of its (third-party) partners

SPD 1

What are they working on?

SPD 1 usually co-develops (rhythm) games together with Intelligent Systems and TNX Music Recordings. With Intelligent Systems they work on the WarioWare series. With TNX Music Recording they work together on the Rhythm Heaven series. SPD 1 also develops games in the Tomodachi series. Because of the success of Tomodachi Life (the first entry in the series that was released overseas), SPD 1 is probably already working on a new entry in the Tomodachi series which will probably be released on the next handheld system (Fusion or not), but may still come to Nintendo 3DS as well.

A new WarioWare should also be in development. Since Game&Wario wasn’t really a success (I’m being nice) the next WarioWare game will probably be for a handheld device again, possibly still for the 3DS, but most likely for the next handheld system.Rhythm Heaven: The Best Plus just released in Japan last month. It may be localized for the Western market and if so, it could already release around Summer 2016.

SPD 1 also co-produced (i.e. not co-developed) Metroid Other M. This happened when Yoshio Sakomoto (co-creator of Metroid) was still one of the main producers at SPD 1. He has now been promoted to Deputy Manager of SPD in general. Metroid Other M was mainly developed by third party developer Team Ninja (of Koei Tecmo) and was not very well received by Metroid fans. Chances of Team Ninja working on another 2.5 D Metroid game are slim. Because of Sakomoto’s promotion it is unsure whether another 2D Metroid game would have to be produced by SPD 1. It may as well be produced by another SPD group. Chances that we could see another 2D Metroid game before the next Metroid Prime and after Federation Force are high though in my opinion, but that is mostly because the next Prime isn’t in active development yet.

What does this mean for WiiU?

SPD 1 does not regularly make or co-develop home console games. Game & Wario was somewhat of an exception, together with Metroid Other M. Because those game weren’t really successes, we will probably not see any more of SPD 1’s work on WiiU.

SPD 2

What are they working on?

Nothing. SPD 2 hasn’t developed its own boxed game since the release of Brain Age 2 in the West. The Brain Age series is currently housed at Nintendo NST (and EAD4 possibly?). The other notable release of SPD 2 was Tetris DS. The Tetris license is now held by Ubisoft. Their last real feat was a DSiWare Majhong game in 2009, which was never released in the West.

Nowadays SPD 2 mostly co-produces games together with Japanese third party developers, notably: Arika, Creatures Inc., Game Freak, Ganbarion, Intelligent Systems, Mistwalker, Monolith Soft, Red Entertainment, Platinum Games, Syn Sophia, Tose, Treasure and Valhalla Game Studios. I will discuss these co-production relationships separately.

What does this mean for WiiU?

No SPD 2 developed games will release for WiiU. Some SPD 2 co-produced games will release for WiiU before Spring 2016. Some may release at a later date.

ARIKA

What are they working on?

Arika is also known for the Street Fighter EX series (last game released in 2000). No game in the series has been released for a Nintendo system so far. It is known that they made a sample for a new fighting game on 3DS which featured characters from the Street Fighter EX series. That game demo never became a real game (unless it is still in development). They did make Tekken 3D Prime (released in 2012 for the 3DS) for Namco Bandai games. They could be working on a new fighting game, but chances are slim. On the other hand, with Street Fighter V being a PlayStation exclusive, why not release a new Street Fighter EX game on multiple platforms? I would be very interested in playing that game on WiiU.

Arika has mostly been making smaller games for digital and smartphone platforms ever since the release of Endless Ocean 2. If they are making another big game for a Nintendo platform, it will most likely be Endless Ocean 3, which may still come to WiiU, but chances of that happening are very, very slim.

A Dr. Mario game they made just released for 3DS and Dr. Luigi was released on WiiU in 2013. We will not see any more Dr. Mario games for current gen Nintendo platforms. The next Nintendo system will, of course, get a new Dr. Mario game developed by Arika somewhere in its life span. Development of that new title will probably be underway.

Other than that, Arika hasn’t released a 3D Classics game since 2012. It’s safe to say they are not working on any games in that series anymore.

What does this mean for WiiU?

The only possible big name game that Arika may be working on for WiiU is Endless Ocean 3. Chances of that happening are very slim, but one can hope. They may still release a smaller match-three title (Puzzle Bobble? or something similar (they did Puzzle Bobble Universe 3D for Nintendo 3DS) for WiiU, but that’s not likely to happen.

CREATURES INC.

What are they working on?

Creatures Inc. are mostly known for making Pokémon trading cards and Pokémon toys nowadays. Currently they are also making smartphone games. They haven’t released a single game for Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo WiiU so far. Chances that they are still actively making big budget games are slim. A new game in the Earthbound series would probably be made by HAL Laboratory and 1-UP Studio (the former Brownie Brown), but since Itoi said he would not be involved in a new Earthbound game, and with the passing of Mr. Iwata, this is not likely to happen... ever. The Pokémon games would be handled by Game Freak.

I’m going to go on a limp here and say that they may still be working on PokéPark 3 for WiiU with a release window of Summer 2016. Not likely to happen, but let’s just hope these guys haven’t completely stopped developing actual videogames. The original Pokémon Trading Card game for the GameBoy was one of my favorite games as a kid. I would love to see another one of those (i.e. story driven) on 3DS or on the next Nintendo handheld.

What does this mean for WiiU?

PokéPark 3 for WiiU, Summer 2016, or bust. No, in reality chances are slim of seeing a Creatures Inc. game on WiiU.

GAME FREAK

What are they working on?

Game Freak is currently working on Tembo the Badass Elephant which is being published by Sega for PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One in July 2015. This is probably a side project, just like HarmoKnight for 3DS and Drill Dozer for DS were.

Game Freak is most likely working on Pokémon Z, which should release for Nintendo 3DS November 2016. If not Pokémon Z, they are working on the next gen Pokémon game which may still release on 3DS, but may as well release on the next generation of Nintendo handhelds.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Game Freak is most likely not working on a WiiU game… unless Sega would still want them to port Tembo the Badass Elephant to WiiU after the game flops or becomes a huge success on the other current gen platforms.

GANBARION

What are they working on?

Ganbarion is mostly known for developing One Piece videogames for Namco Bandai. Ever since 2005, every One Piece game they have made has seen a release on at least one Nintendo platform (as well as on other platforms sometimes). They are probably working on a new One Piece game. Probably another game in the Unlimited series, which may still come to WiiU (and 3DS), and which I’m labeling One Piece: Unlimited World BLUE. Maybe the fans can correct me on the color? I haven’t seen an episode past season 1 to be honest, so I don’t know which ocean color would be more logical.

Ganbarion also made Pandora’s Tower for Nintendo. Although a pretty unique game, it’s not likely to see a follow-up anytime soon.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Ganbarion is probably working on the next One Piece: Unlimited game. This game may still come to WiiU after Spring 2016.

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

What are they working on?

Though not really a third party studio anymore (although they have done some work with Square-Enix for DSi and Wii somewhat recently), relations with Intelligent Systems are still being handled by SPD 2 (though some of their series are being handled by SPD 1 and SPD 3 as well).

Intelligent Systems should have finished working on Fire Emblem Fates by now because it was already released in Japan. This game reuses a lot of assets from Fire Emblem Awakening. Because of there being three different story versions of the game, it will still have taken a moderately sized team to produce. A small team may still be working on upcoming DLC for the game, but the main team will have started drawing the blueprints for the next Fire Emblem which will most likely not release on current gen systems anymore.

That we will not see another real Fire Emblem on current gen Nintendo systems, is also related to the fact that the we will still see Fire Emblem on WiiU in the form of Genei Ibun Roku X FE (Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem), which Intelligent Systems have been working on with Atlus. Development of that title is mostly taken care of by Atlus though.

Other notable projects of Intelligent Systems that have seen recent Western releases are Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. and Fullblox (Stretchmo), both released in May. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. was not a commercial success and we will most likely not see a second game set in that world anytime soon. The WiiU may still get a Fallblox/Fullblox (Pushmo/Stretchmo) game in 2016, since Intelligent Systems have annualized the series… sort of, with one game per year ever since 2011, apart from 2013, which saw no release in the series. Possible title candidate: Fullblox World for WiiU. I say it will be released on WiiU mostly because the 3DS already has three games in the series. Free to play? Maybe.

As has been said when discussing what SPD 1 is working on currently, a new WarioWare should also be in the works at Intelligent Systems. Since Game&Wario wasn’t really a success (I’m being nice) the next WarioWare game will probably be for a handheld device again, possibly still for the 3DS, but most likely for the next handheld system.

The team that did Codename S.T.E.A.M. will probably have begun working on a new Advance Wars game (Fusion Wars? I'm just being cheeky ). That game will most likely be released on the next handheld system.

The Paper Mario series is also one of Intelligent Systems’ staple series. Unlike most of the franchises they work on, the Paper Mario series is not coordinated by SPD 2, but by SPD 3 (which normally coordinates working relations with Western third party studios). There’s usually three to five years between every Paper Mario iteration. That means we may still see a  Paper Mario game on WiiU in 2016 (Sticker Star was released in 2013). On the other hand, in 2016 we will already be getting Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam on Nintendo 3DS, which is a crossover game between the Mario & Luigi series and the Paper Mario series. Most likely then, Paper Mario will skip WiiU, unless the console is still relevant in 2017.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Genei Ibun Roku X FE (Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem) will release in 2016. Chances are we will also see Fallblox World for WiiU in 2016. Paper Mario or Advance Wars? Don’t get your hopes up.

This is an update version of an article I wrote. Original article: https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/the-future-of-nintendo-whats-to-come-after-spring-2016-2/

In this post: the rest of SPD 2’s Japanese (third-party) partners:

MISTWALKER

What are they working on?

Mistwalker is Hironobu Sakaguchi’s company (the creator of final fantasy). Mistwalker also houses Nobuo Uematsu (the composer of most Final Fantasy games). Mistalker’s team is currently working on the mobile game Terra Battle. Because the game has already been downloaded more than two million times on mobile devices, Sakaguchi should honor is promise of bringing Terra Battle to current gen consoles. Whether WiiU will be one of those consoles, is hard to tell. Mistwalker’s last big production (before they switched to mobile) was for the Nintendo Wii, but I’m not sure if that would actually play a role in their decision to bring Terra Battle to WiiU or not. SPD 2 probably won’t have any involvement in the decision since Terra Battle is not a Nintendo franchise.

Although the studio is best known for some high profile RPG’s (including Blue Dragon and – a personal favorite – Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360), chances that they will produce another high profile RPG by themselves are small. The studios that assisted Mistwalker (Artoon) or that were created to assist Mistwalker (feelplus Inc.) in producing these titles are now part of Marvelous AQL, who have their own franchises to worry about. A sequel to The Last Story seems very improbable at the moment.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Maybe Terra Battle will come to WiiU, but chances are slim. The Last Story 2? Don’t count on it.

MONOLITH SOFT

What are they working on?

Just like Intelligent Systems, they are not really a third party studio anymore (although they still make games that are published by Bandai Namco). Relations with Monolith Soft are still being handled by SPD 2 though.

Monolith Soft has finished it work of Xenoblade Chronicles X which will release in December for WiiU. It has already been released in Japan. Director Tetsuya Takahashi has already confirmed that they have started working on their next big RPG, which may or may not be another title in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, but which most likely will not appear on WiiU anymore.

Project X Zone 2 will be released early 2016, which they are co-developing with Banpresto (a subsidiary of Bandai Namco) and which will published by Bandai Namco on Nintendo 3DS.

Apart from working on their own franchises, Monolith Soft has a supportive role. For instance, they helped EAD 3 in the development of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and have mentioned wanting to work with EAD 3 again on the new Legend of Zelda for WiiU.

Although Monolith Soft has worked on several Super Robot Taisen games, chances are small that they are currently working on a new game in the series, which is published by Bandai Namco. Mostly because there’s already a game (Super Robot Wars BX for the Nintendo 3DS) that will be published by Bandai Namco this year in Japan, and I don’t think Monolith Soft is involved in its development.

What about Baten Kaitos? Around the launch of the 3DS there were rumors about a Baten Kaitos game being in development for the platform (titled Silence of the Mechanized Sun). Nothing has been heard of this game since 2011, so chances are that is has been cancelled – if it ever existed in the first place. Baten Kaitos on WiiU? Not going to happen.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Xenoblade Chronicles X will release in December (if it is not delayed). Monolith Soft may help EAD 3 on their new Legend of Zelda game, but that will be all we can expect from Monolith Soft for this generation of Nintendo home consoles.

PLATINUMGAMES

What are they working on?

PlatinumGames has been releasing about two games per year the last few years, and have at least four development teams. One team is currently working on Star Fox Zero and Project Guard together with EAD 5. Platinum Games has taken over most of the development effort for these games.

PlatinumGames is also working on Scalebound for Xbox One (published by Microsoft), the newest NieR game for PlayStation 4 (published by Square Enix), and Transformers: Devastation  for every non-Nintendo platform out there (published by Activision). It is unlikely that they have the capacity to be working on another game for Nintendo at the moment, which means that: no, we won’t get to see Bayonetta 3 anytime soon, nor will be getting a Wonderful 102 – if anybody still expects to see a sequel to that game. A port of Transformes: Devastation? Maybe, but not likely. The other two Transformers games on WiiU didn't do all that well sales wise.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Star Fox Zero and Project Guard are releasing later this year. Those will be the fourth and fifth PlatinumGames games on WiiU. Not a bad track record for a third party developer. Chance of another one of their games on WiiU? Zero. And I don’t mean Star Fox Zero.

RED ENTERTAINMENT

What are they working on?

Red Entertainment finished working on Fossil Fighters Frontier by the end of 2013 or at the beginning of 2014, when it was released for 3DS in Japan. Although the latest game in the series isn’t a big success, development on the next installment may be well underway. The new Fossil Fighters game will probably release on the next Nintendo handheld.

Red Entertainment has assisted Intelligent Systems in the development of Fire Emblem: Awakening, but they were apparently not involved in the production of its sequel: Fire Emblem Fates (correct me if I'm wrong). They are probably not involved in another Fire Emblem game at the moment.

Red Entertainment’s  other big franchise is Record of Agarest War which they co-develop with Idea Factory. The Record of Agarest War games have not yet made an appearance on Nintendo consoles, and for the time being, probably won’t.

What does this mean for WiiU?

No Red Entertainment games will be released on WiiU.. unless you would consider a possible Fossil Fighters Virtual Console release as a new release.

SYN SOPHIA

What are they working on?

Syn Sophia was formerly known as AKI Corporation, as which they were mostly known for creating fighting games (Ready 2 Rumble Revolution, Def Jam Vendetta and WCW/WWF games). After their name change they have only released two games in the West, and those are the two games in the Style Boutique (Style Savvy) series.

Style Boutique 3 was released in Japan this year. It will probably still be localized for the West and will most likely release after Spring 2016 for Nintendo 3DS. Work onStyle Boutique 4 for the next generation of Nintendo handhelds may have already begun.

Syn Sophia also makes Japan exclusive mobile games.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Syn Sophia will not make a game for WiiU. The first Style Boutique may still come to the Virtual Console.

TOSE

What are they working on?

TOSE is mostly known for its close working relationships with Nintendo and Square Enix. They handle the Dragon Quest Monsters series. Although two (remade) games (Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry’s Wonderland 3D and Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Ira & Luca) in the series have already been released for Nintendo 3DS in Japan, none of the Dragon Quest Monsters 3DS games they have made, have come to the West so far. With the localization of Dragon Quest VII and VIII for 3DS having been (somewhat) confirmed, it is not entirely impossible that these games will still make it West though. Today (15/7) is has been confirmed that Dragon Quest Joker 3 is in the works for Nintendo 3DS. I expect that TOSE is developing the game.

With regards to Nintendo’s own franchises, TOSE has assisted EAD 2 with the development of Splatoon. As such they have shown that they still have a good working relationship with Nintendo, even though they haven’t released a single game for a Nintendo platform published by Nintendo itself that was coordinated by SPD 2 on this generation of consoles.

TOSE also has a lot of experience creating platform games (Kid Icarus: Of myths and monsters, Super Princess Peach and The Legendary Starfy). Since Nintendo has not announced any platform game for WiiU coming in 2016, and I cannot fathom Nintendo NOT releasing a single platform game on WiiU that year (or any year), it may just be TOSE’s turn to show us what they have been working on ever since they have finished working on Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns (for non-Nintendo systems), Resident Evil Revelations HD (for different systems, among which WiiU) and Splatoon (a WiiU exclusive). Super Princess Peach WiiU? Who knows?

TOSE also makes the The Legendary Starfy games for Nintendo, of which four games have been released so far in Japan and only one in the West (in 2008). The series has been dormant for some time now, so maybe it would be opportune for a new game in the Starfy series? For 3DS? For WiiU?

TOSE developed both Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and Resident Evil Revelations for Nintendo 3DS. They also ported that last game to WiiU (as well as other systems). Could a port of Resident Evil Revelations 2, which they did not develop themselves, to WiiU still happen? Probably not, but one can hope.

What does this mean for WiiU?

TOSE may be working on a platform game for WiiU like Super Princess Peach WiiU or Starfy WiiU. They may also be working on a port of Resident Evil Revelations 2 for WiiU. But they may as well be working on nothing at all for Nintendo’s current home console. Time will tell.

TREASURE

What are they working on?

Treasure is mostly known for its shoot-em-up games, with Ikaruga and the original Sin & Punishment being cult classics. Treasure is most likely working on another game in the genre, though it is not certain whether that will be for a Nintendo platform. With them having published Ikaruga by themselves on Steam (which did pretty well there) they may just start publishing more of their games themselves... on Steam. And even though they would be the go to developer for Nintendo to make a new Sin & Punishment game, most likely they’re letting the series have a little rest at the moment.

Treasure’s last two (new) games were published exclusively in Japan by Capcom for the Nintendo 3DS: Gaist Crusher, and its sequel:  Gaist Crusher God. It is unlikely that these games will come West, but apart from a possible new game in the Bleach series, it is unlikely we will see another game by them anytime soon on a Nintendo system.

Or can we expect to see Ikaruga HD on WiiU?

What does this mean for WiiU?

Treasure won’t be releasing a game on WiiU. The only possibility seems to be Ikaruga HD, but that is unlikely to happen.

VALHALLA GAME STUDIOS

What are they working on?

Valhalla Game Studios has been working on Devil’s Third since 2010. It will release in August. No other games are in the works. They will shift focus to mobile now that Devil's Third is finished.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Devil’s Third will release on WiiU in August. That’s the only game we may expect from this studio for the console.

CONCLUSION FOR SPD 1 AND SPD 2:

SPD 1, SPD 2 and Japanese third parties supervised by SPD 2 are working on three of the most important WiiU releases still coming to the Nintendo WiiU this year, namely Devil’s Third, Star Fox Zero (including Project Guard) and Xenoblade Chronicles X. Also the only big title announced for WiiU (apart from Zelda) next year is being taken care of by SPD 2, Intelligent Systems and Atlus. Apart from those titles we can only guess whether these studios still have titles in the works for WiiU. Sadly, it may not be much from looking at it. (i) PlatinumGames and Intelligent Systems are very busy with their other projects for the moment. (ii) Monolith has started working on its next big RPG, which we won’t see within the next 2 years. (iii) Many of Nintendo’s known previous partners have shifted their focus from home console development to mobile development (Arika, Mistwalker and Syn Sophia for instance), (iv) while others have worked on less popular/smaller Nintendo franchises which may be in rest for the time being (Ganbarion, Treasure and Tose for instance).

So while I have made some suggestions about possible games these studios are working on, it may actually be that we see none of them release on WiiU at all. The most likely game to release on WiiU of the bunch? Fullblox World/Stretchmo World, and that isn’t exactly the big name game Nintendo fans are still hoping for.

This is an updated version of an article I wrote on my blog. Original article @ https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/the-future-of-nintendo-whats-to-come-after-spring-2016-3/

In this post: the Western (third party) studios in charge of Nintendo franchises that are coordinated by SPD 3:

CURVE DIGITAL

What are they working on?

Curve Digital is known for developing, porting and publishing digital titles. They work on the Fluidity series for Nintendo and develop the Stealth Inc. series, of which the latest title Stealth Inc. 2: A game of clones, came to WiiU before it was ported to other consoles. They also ported Lone Survivor, Thomas was Alone, The Swapper, Titan Attacks, Ultratron and OlliOlli to the current generation of Nintendo consoles.

While a new Fluidity title may be in the works for Nintendo WiiU, it has already been confirmed that they will still be porting Action Henk to Nintendo WiiU. The title will still release this year. Most likely Curve Digital will add other indie titles to their portfolio in the coming months, which may end up on WiiU (and 3DS) as well. A good contender is OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Curve Digital has been very generous in releasing digital titles for Nintendo’s home console. Action Henk will be the seventh title they release on WiiU. More will definitely follow, with OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood being a very good contender.

KUJU ENTERTAINMENT

What are they working on?

Kuju Entertainment has two studios working for it, namely Headstrong Games and Zoë Mode.

Headstrong Games just released Art Academy Atelier (Home Studio in the U.S.) for Nintendo WiiU. They have developed every Art Academy title so far. It is, however, unlikely that we will see another Art Academy game for current generation Nintendo consoles. Work on a new Art Academy for the next Nintendo console may have started.

Headstrong Games also developed both Battalion Wars games in the past. It is not unlikely that they would be asked to develop Battalion Wars 3, which may still come to WiiU. It is, however, possible that the franchise (together with the Advance Wars series) lies dormant at the moment.

Zoë Mode is best known for its work on the Zumba series which is published by Majesco Entertainment. The series had its most successful entries on Nintendo Wii. Zumba Fitness: World Party was released for WiiU December 2013. No titles in the Zumba series have been released since then (I think). Zoë Mode has also worked on games with the Grease license (for Nintendo systems) and has developed SingStar and EyeToy games for Sony. It is uncertain what games they will still release on Nintendo consoles in the future. Maybe in 2016 we will see the return of the Zumba series of WiiU? Get your dance moves ready!

What does this mean for WiiU?

Kuju Entertainment just released Art Academy Atelier on WiiU. Chances for another one of their games being published by Nintendo on WiiU are slim. In 2016 we may see another Zumba game on WiiU though, unless Majesco Entertainment doesn’t hold the license to that series anymore.

MONSTER GAMES

What are they working on?

Monster Games’ specialty is racing games. They have worked on the NASCAR and the Test Drive series in the past (mostly for non-Nintendo platforms), but have been working exclusively on Nintendo franchises ever since the release of Excite Truck for Nintendo Wii in 2006. They have made two other titles in the Excite series (Excitebots and an Excitebike remake) since the release of that game. The Excite series has been dormant for this generation of consoles (apart from the 3D version of the original Excitebike on 3DS) and it is unlikely we will be seeing another game in the series anytime soon, unless a port (or remake) is in the works.

In 2013 Monster Games ported Donkey Kong Country Returns (a Wii game) to the Nintendo 3DS. They also assisted Retro Studio in the development of its sequel on WiiU, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Most likely they have been given the Donkey Kong Country IP to work with now, so that Retro Studios can focus working on another (or entirely new) Nintendo franchise. Because of their track record in the racing genre, the next Donkey Kong game may not be a Country game, but may be Diddy Kong Racing 2, which has been rumored to exist. They may be working on it by themselves or in cooperation with Retro Studios. The game could be a cross gen game for WiiU and NX.

The last game Monster Games released was Xenoblade Chronicles 3D for the New Nintendo 3DS. They may be releasing another port of a Wii game on (New) Nintendo 3DS in 2016 (or possibly in 2017). Maybe they will get to port one of their own franchises this time around: Excite Truck 3D? Let the race commence!

What does this mean for WiiU?

Because they have a WiiU development kit and have only assisted Retro Studios on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for WiiU, it would seem likely for Monster Games to still produce a game of their own for Nintendo WiiU. Diddy Kong Racing 2 seems possible, though the title will most likely be playable on NX as well, and may be a collaborative effort with Retro Studios.

NEXT LEVEL GAMES

What are they working on?

Next Level Games is currently working on Metroid Prime: Federation Force for Nintendo 3DS. After the big success of Luigi’s Mansion 2 on 3DS it was expected that they would get to handle another big Nintendo franchise. Metroid is definitely big enough.

In 2014 Next Level Games announced that they will be working exclusively with Nintendo from now on. And who knows, if Federation Force turns out to be a better game than people are expecting it to be, maybe they’ll get a chance to develop the next big Metroid Prime game for NX?

Next Level Games is also known to have a development kit for WiiU in their offices. They have, however, not released a single game for the console yet. With a team of 70 people working for them, it is unlikely that the only game they were able to produce in a period of five years is a Nintendo 3DS game. We may thus still see a game from them on WiiU. Most likely a sports game. The next Punch-Out? Probably not. The next Mario Strikers? Far more likely. Super Mario Spikers? The pitch for that Nintendo Wii game was never greenlit in the first place and probably never will be (instead we got that Mario Sports Mix game from Square Enix).

What does this mean for WiiU?

A team of seventy people which has a Nintendo WiiU development kit and which only has released one (very successful Nintendo 3DS) game in the last five years? That must mean they have been working on something else as well. Perfect contender: Mario Strikers WiiU which will be released after Spring 2016, and even more likely: around Holiday 2016. As such it will not be released too close to Camelot’s Mario Tennis (Holiday 2015) and Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Spring or Summer 2016).

N-SPACE

What are they working on?

n-Space is mostly known for developing spin-off games of big name franchises for mobile platforms. They have made, among others, Nintendo (3)DS versions of entries in the Call of Duty, Skylanders and 007 series which are all published by Activision. They have not been making mobile versions of Activision franchises since the release of Skylanders: Swap Force in 2013.

They also developed the Nintendo Gamecube exclusive shooter Geist, which was published by Nintendo itself, and the Nintendo 3DS exclusive RPG Heroes of Ruin, which was published by Square-Enix. It is unlikely that they are working on sequels to these games.

n-Space is known to be working on a Dungeons and Dragons RPG, called Sword Coast Legends which will release on current gen home consoles and PC this September, though not on Nintendo WiiU. It is not likely to receive a port to WiiU, but since it is unlikely that they are producing anything else for WiiU at the moment, let’s just dream that they will eventually port this game to WiiU. Dream a little dream for me!

What does this mean for WiiU?

n-Space will not release any games on Nintendo WiiU.

RETRO STUDIOS

What are they working on?

Retro Studios is best known for its work on the Metroid Prime series and the Donkey Kong Country series. All of their games have been praised by critics. They finished working on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze somewhere in 2013. From the credits of that game, it became clear it was not the whole team at Retro Studios that did work on the game. Production of an entirely new WiiU game may thus be well underway. This game may be a third Donkey Kong Country game or it may be another Nintendo franchise (old or new) entirely. A follow-up to Donkey Kong 64 isn’t entirely out of the question either.

Also, because Retro Studios have assisted EAD 1 with the development of Mario Kart 7 (they developed the retro courses and provided the Donkey Kong character assets), it has been rumored that they have been working on Diddy Kong Racing 2. It is possible that they are co-developing this game with Monster Games, who also have experience in the racing genre, as well as with the Donkey Kong franchise. Diddy Kong Racing 2 will most likely be a cross generation game and will have a WiiU and an NX version.

What does this mean for WiiU?

We may still see one more Retro Studios game on Nintendo WiiU. This game will probably be cross gen and will most likely be centered around everybody’s favorite ape. Possible contenders: Donkey Kong Country Returns 3, New Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing 2.

TT Fusion

What are they working on?

TT Fusion is a subsidiary of TT Games, which itself is a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

TT Fusion has made two games in the LEGO City Undercover series which were published by Nintendo in 2013. One game for Nintendo 3DS, and one game for Nintendo WiiU. Because the original WiiU game was generally well received and because the engine is already there, it shouldn’t prove to be impossible for TT Fusion to make LEGO City Undercover 2 for Nintendo’s current generation of consoles. Spring 2016? Why not. TT Games has been pushing out LEGO games like crazy!

TT Fusion also develops most of the mobile versions of LEGO games (Nintendo (3)DS and Playstation Vita). Sometimes they get to create original games for these mobile platforms (e.g. LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin) and sometimes they develop the mobile spin-off of a home console LEGO game (e.g. The LEGO Movie Videogame). They will, most likely, produce another LEGO 3DS game before the handheld console’s successor shows up. Possible even 2… or make that 5!

What does this mean for WiiU?

TT Games will still release LEGO Marvel’s Avengers on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo WiiU and LEGO Dimensions on Nintendo WiiU this year. The next few LEGO games, whatever licenses they may use, will also appear on Nintendo WiiU. Whether TT Fusion will get to make another Lego City Undercover game for WiiU remains to be seen, but here’s hoping! One thing is for sure: there will never be a shortage of LEGO games on Nintendo platforms.

CONCLUSION

Nintendo’s (former) Western partners have mostly been focusing on developing Nintendo 3DS games. From Cruve Digital we can still expect to see some digital only releases on WiiU. From the other Westerns partners we should not expect too much. And if another game from these studios does come to WiiU it is most likely ape related.

This is an updated version of an article I wrote for my blog. Original article @ https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/the-future-of-nintendo-whats-to-come-after-spring-2016-4/

In this post: the Japanese (third party) studios in charge of Nintendo franchises that are coordinated by SPD 4:

ALPHADREAM

What are they working on?

AlphaDream are currently working on Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam for Nintendo 3DS. It is probably the only game they are developing at the moment. Paper Jam has been in development since the release of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team on Nintendo 3DS and reuses assets from that game. The game is a crossover game with the Paper Mario series. As such it also reuses assets from Paper Mario: Sticker Star for Nintendo 3DS.

No Hamtaro games have been released since the anime’s twelfth and final season aired in 2006. Chances of AlphaDream working on a new game in the series are therefore very slim.

What does this mean for WiiU?

AlphaDream has only developed games for Nintendo handhelds. It is unlikely that they are developing a game for Nintendo WiiU.

CAMELOT

What are they working on?

Camelot is currently working on Mario Tennis: Ultimate Smash for Nintendo WiiU. It should release before the end of this year.

Because Camelot isn’t the largest studio (there were 42 people working there in 2010) it may well be that this is the only title they are currently working on. A new Mario Golf game for WiiU may still happen, but it is not likely to release before 2017. Also because in 2016 we will already get another Mario sports game from Sega (and maybe one from Next Level Games?). As such it will most likely be an NX game.

The Golden Sun series, which for now has only seen releases on Nintendo handhelds, seems to be dormant. I would expect to see a new game in the series after the new Mario Golf game... at the earliest.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Mario Tennis: Ultimate Smash will release before the end of the year. It is unlikely that we’ll be seeing another Camelot game on WiiU after that. A new Mario Golf game may still come to the system, but for that to happen, WiiU should still be relevant in 2017.

EIGHTING

What are they working on?

Eighting is mostly known for developing fighting games (Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Castlevania Judgment). They have also developed the Kururin games for Nintendo and have worked for Capcom on Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Nintendo 3DS and WiiU and on Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for Nintendo 3DS. They work on the Kamen Rider series for Bandai Namco, which mostly remain exclusive for the Japanese market. A few games in the series have been released for Nintendo Wii, and the latest game was released on WiiU (as well as on Playstation 3).

Eighting is currently working on four (or more) smartphone games. One game is a cross between Tertris and a monster RPG. One game is based on the Kamen Rider franchise and one on the Assassination Classroom manga. The last one may be Monster Hunter related, but I'm not sure - Google Translate doesn't work all that well from Japanese . These games will probably not make it to Nintendo platforms, nor will they likely be released in the West.

The last Kururin game was released exclusively in Japan for Nintendo Gamecube (2004). The series has been dormant ever since, and will probably remain so for a while longer.

Eighting may be working on new games in the Monster Hunter and Kamen Rider series. These games could (as they often do) come to Nintendo platforms. Whether they will come to the West as well is another thing entirely.

What does this mean for WiiU?

A new Kamen Rider game may be in the works for Nintendo WiiU, but that game will not likely be published outside of Japan. Other than that, I do not see any WiiU game from Eighting on the horizon. Unless that HD release of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on WiiU is still incoming.

INIS

What are they working on?

iNiS has developed three games for Nintendo DS in the Elite Beat series. Only one of those games (Elite Beat Agents) has made it to the West. If we will ever see another of their games come West it would be something like Elite Beat Agents 2, and it would still have to be released on Nintendo 3DS (or on a future touchscreen handheld Nintendo console).

iNiS is currently focused on developing games for smartphones. In the past they have also worked on the Gitaroo Man games (for PlayStation) and the Lips series for (Xbox).

What does this mean for WiiU?

No iNiS games will be released for the WiiU, unless Elite Beat Agents comes to the Virtual Console.

ND CUBE

What are they working on?

Nd Cube took over the Mario Party series after Hudson Soft became part of Konami. They also develop the Wii Party series.

Having already developed two party games (Wii Party U and Mario Party 10) for WiiU, it is unlikely that we will see another party game from Nd Cube on the system. Mario Party 11 will probably be released on Nintendo NX, but given the series track record,  it may still appear on WiiU.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Nd Cube is probably working on Mario Party 11 at the moment. It may not come to WiiU anymore... but it may as well.

PAON

What are they working on?

Although Paon was given the Donkey Kong franchise to work with during the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS era, they have not made any games for Nintendo systems during the current generation. Their last effort for Nintendo systems were three English course games for Nintendo DS which were released in 2012. Their last boxed release game was a Japan exclusive pachinko simulator game for PayStation 3 in 2013.

Paon currently focusses on developing mobile games and pachinko slot machines.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Paon will not release a game on Nintendo WiiU.

This is an updated version of an article I wrote for my blog. Original article @ https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/the-future-of-nintendo-whats-to-come-after-spring-2016-5/

In this post: the last few internal Nintendo developers (SDD and NST) and affiliates (1-UP Studio, Genius Sonority and HAL Laboratory):

In this post: other Nintendo partners, namely: Ambrella, Arzest, Bandai Namco, Chunsoft, Good-Feel, Grezzo, indieszero and Jupiter.

AMBRELLA

What are they working on?

Since Ambrella have only worked on Pokémon Rumble games since 2009, chaces are that they just started developing the next one for the next generation of Nintendo hardware.

What does this mean for WiiU?

With the release of Pokémon Rumble U in 2013 we have probably seen all of Ambrella’s work for Nintendo WiiU.

ARZEST

What are they working on?

Yoshi’s New Island wasn’t received very well by critics and fans of the series. As such it is most likely that Arzest has not received a new project from Nintendo.

Arzest did work with Mistwalker on Terra Battle, so if that game would make it to WiiU (highly unlikely) we will still see some of Arzest work on a Nintendo platform. For now, however, they seem to be focusing on smartphone games, with Boost Beast planned to release this year.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Mistwalker’s Terra Battle on WiiU? Not very likely.

BANDAI NAMCO

What are they working on?

Bandai Namco is working with Sora Ltd. On DLC for Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros for WiiU and Super Smash Bros for 3DS.

Bandai Namco are developing Pokkén Tournament, a crossover between Pokémon and Tekken, for Arcades. This game may still come to WiiU in 2016. They are also developing Project Treasure, a free-to-play multiplayer action game for WiiU which is also set to release in 2016.

Bandai Namco are working on at least two titles for Nintendo 3DS. Disney Magic Castle 2 and Project X Zone 2 (which they develop together with Monolith Soft) should both release in 2016 as well.

No titles from their other big series are known to be in development for Nintendo platforms at the moment, although it is very likely that Ganbarion is working on One Piece Unlimited: World BLUE, which may also come to Nintendo platforms.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Bandai Namco is still developing DLC for Super Smash Bros for WiiU. With Project Treasure set to release in 2016 and the possibility of Pokkén tournament and a new One Piece game releasing on WiiU in 2016 as well, Bandai Namco has all but abandoned WiiU development. Sadly they won’t be publishing Project C.A.R.S on WiiU, since the studio that developed the title was unable to get it to work on Nintendo’s console.

SPIKE CHUNSOFT

What are they working on?

Spike Chunsoft are in charge of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. The next installment in the series (Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon) will be released next year.
Spike Chunsoft has also started working on Zero Escape 3 for Nintendo 3DS, the third game in the series, after 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward. They game will be released in 2016

What does this mean for WiiU?

Spike Chunsoft does not develop games for Nintendo WiiU.

GOOD-FEEL

What are they working on?

With 97 employees Good-Feel has become quite the studio. It is, however, unlikely that their next game will still be released on WiiU, though not impossible. Development on Yoshi’s Woolly World has been finished for a while now, and Good-Feel has expressed their willingness to develop a new Wario Land game. With their track record, Nintendo may just grant them their wish.

Good-Feel has also made some smaller mini-games that are part of larger compilations or are part of another game (they did the giant battles for Mario & Luigi: Dream Team). It is possible that they one of their new mini-games releases before their next big platform game.

What does this mean for WiiU?

A Wario Land game may still be in development for WiiU, but a lot depends on when development for the game started. If they just recently begun working on it, chances are that it will end up on NX.

GREZZO

What are they working on?

Tokyo EAD 1 has mostly been working together with external developer Grezzo to remake several The Legend of Zelda games for Nintendo 3DS (Occarina of Time 3D, Four Swords Anniversary Edition and Majora’s Mask 3D).

Most likely they just started working together with Grezzo on another The Legend of Zelda remake, and the most likely contenders in that respect are: Twilight Princess HD (for WiiU) and Four Swords Adventures Anniversary (for New 3DS and WiiU). While the latter may seem the most feasible for the studio, fans have really been dreaming of a Twilight Princess remake ever since the tech demo shown at E3 2013. With some help of Kyoto EAD 3, it is not unlikely that Tokyo EAD1 is working on making this dream a reality together with Grezzo… but most likely for Nintendo NX.

Grezzo may, however, be working on remaking an entirely different N64 game for Nintendo 3DS.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Chances are small that Grezzo is working on a game for Nintendo WiiU. Most likely contender in that respect would be Four Swords Adventures Anniversary, which could release on both WiiU and (New) Nintendo 3DS.

INDIESZERO

What are they working on?

While Theatrhythm Dragon Quest was already released in Japan for Nintendo 3DS, it has not (yet) been announced for a Western release.  With Dragon Quest VII and VIII for Nintendo 3DS having been (somewhat) confirmed for Western release it is not unlikely that we will see the game come to Europe and the U.S. It is likely that indieszero is working on yet another Theatrhythm game.

Indieszero is also a known partner for Tokyo EAD 2. They have co-developed the NES Remix series and Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre. A SNES Remix may be in the works, and could still come to Nintendo WiiU.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Indieszero could be working on SNES Remix for WiiU.

JUPITER

What are they working on?

Jupiter is probably working on PICROSS e6, which may still release this year. (EDIT: it was released a month ago, well after I originally finished writing this piece. So that’s one good prediction . At the moment they’re probably working on PICROSS e7, which may come to 3DS in 2016).

The only non-PICROSS game they have made for the current generation of Nintendo systems is a Medabots game which released exclusively in Japan on Nintendo 3DS. While a new Pokémon Pinball game for Nintendo 3DS may be in the works, it does not seem very likely, since the series didn’t even appear on the immensely popular Nintendo DS.

Although Jupiter co-developed The World ends with You and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories with Square Enix, they have not worked together with the publisher since the release of those two games.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Jupiter does not develop games for Nintendo WiiU.

In this last post: the last of Nintendo’s other known partners (Koei Tecmo, Level 5, Noise, Sega, Sora Ltd., skip, Square Enix, Vanpool)

KOEI TECMO

What are they working on?

Koei Tecmo and Nintendo have had a very good working relationship ever since Nintendo became co-owner of the Fatal Frame series (Project Zero series in Europe). While Koei Tecmo owns the franchise, Nintendo co-owns the rights to every installment in the series that appeared and will appear after Project Zero 3. The fifth game in the series (Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water) will release in the Fall. Anew Fatal Frame game will undoubtedly be developed, but will not be coming to current gen Nintendo consoles.

Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force (in charge of the Warriors series) developed a cross over between the Warriors series and The Legend of Zelda series, named: Hyrule Warriors. They are currently porting an updated version of the game to Nintendo 3DS, which will be called Hyrule Warrios Legends. Because of the first game’s success, and Omega Force’s track record of developing sequels for and developing updated versions of their successful Warriors games, it won’t take long before we see Hyrule Warriors 2. The game may even still come to WiiU, though with Legend releasing next year on 3DS, it all depends on whether WiiU is still relevant in 2017.

Nintendo also helped Team Ninja in bringing Ninja Gaiden to Nintendo WiiU. Since that game didn’t do as well as hoped for, we may not be seeing the series anytime soon on a Nintendo platform again – although there have been rumors of a Ninja Gaiden 3DS game being in the works for years.

Other notable games Koei Tecmo developed for Nintendo are Pokémon Conquest (a spin-off of the Nobunaga’s Ambition series) and Metroid: Other M (together with SPD 1). While chances of Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja working on another Metroid game are almost inexistent, it isn’t impossible that a new Pokémon Conquest game is in the works for Nintendo 3DS.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water will release on WiiU this Fall. We may still get another Koei Tecmo game on WiiU in 2016, most likely that would be a game in the Warriors series.

LEVEL-5

What are they working on?

Although Level-5 started out as a company with a very tight relationship with Sony and the PlayStation brand, they have been diversifying their output and have been releasing different titles for Nintendo systems ever since the success of the Professor Layton series on Nintendo DS. What more: Nowadays Level-5 is mostly known for its fantastically successful series on the Nintendo 3DS, including Inazuma Eleven and Yo-kai Watch, though some of their focus has shifted away to smartphones.

Though none of the series Level-5 works on are owned by Nintendo, Nintendo does publish most of their in the West. The latest game they published (in Europe only) was Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone. The series remains popular in Europe, so it is likely that Inazuma Eleven GO 3 (which is already released in Japan) will release next year in Europe. First we’ll be getting Little Battlers eXperience in September though.

Nintendo (1-UP Studio) also assisted Level-5 in the development of Fantasy Life. Fantasy Life 2 has been announced, but it will be released on smartphones, and from the looks of it, we should not want it to come to Nintendo platforms.

Level-5’s biggest franchises are without a doubt Yo-kai Watch and Professor Layton. The first Yo-kai Watch game will release in Europe in 2016, while Japan will still get Yo-kai Watch Busters and Yo-kai Watch 3 this year. If the first game in the series becomes a success in the West we may still get Yo-Kai Watch 2, Yo-kai Watch 3 andYo-kai Watch Busters as well. Layton 7 will also release in Japan this Summer. It may come West, but not necessarily. Just Dance x Yo-kai Watch is in the works for WiiU, but chances that we will be seeing it in the West are slim. Maybe Ubisoft and Level-5 are keeping an eye on how well Persona 4: Dancing All Night will be received in the West, and may release it over here if that game turns our to be succesful? Wishful thinking.

Level-5 is also rumored to be working on Dragon Quest XI. Most likely this game is in development for PlayStation 4, but who knows, maybe it will come to Nintendo WiiU as well (UPDATE: the game has been confirmed for PS4 and is also coming to Nintendo 3DS. Square Enix is looking at bringing it to Nintendo NX as well).

What does this mean for WiiU?

Unless Dragon Quest XI also comes to WiiU, or Just Dance x Yo-kai Watch comes to the West, we won’t see Level-5 release a game for WiiU.

NOISE

What are they working on?

It is not known what Noise is currently working on. They are a small team of developers (21 people) who are focused on creating Nintendo handheld and smartphone games. Their last game to be released outside of Japan was Go Go Cosmo Cops! for Nintendo DS in 2009. It was published by Bandai Namco. They also developed a Gyrozetter game for Square Enix. This game was published exclusively in Japan in 2013. It was not a commercial success and will not be released in the West.

They developed five games in the Custom Robo series for Nintendo. A new Custom Robo game may be in the works, although the franchise hasn’t proven to be too popular. It would most probably be made for a Nintendo handheld console. Maybe Nintendo is keeping an eye on how Level-5’s Little Battlers eXperience will do in the West, before making a decision in the respect?

What does this mean for WiiU?

Noise will not release a game for Nintendo WiiU.

SEGA

What are they working on?

After they stepped out of the console business, one time rival SEGA seems to have found a new home for its famous Blue Hedgehog on Nintendo consoles. Although not all Sonic games are exclusive to Nintendo platforms, he has had quite a few outings on Nintendo’s current generation of consoles to say the least. Indeed, at one point Nintendo even made a contract with Sega stating that no less than three or four Sonic games would come exclusively to Nintendo WiiU. With Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games arriving Spring/Summer 2016 (a sports game which does not only have Sonic characters in its roster, but also famous characters from the Mushroom Kingdom) that contract will have been fulfilled. It will most likely be the fifth and final game staring Sonic (made by Sega) on Nintendo WiiU: the other four games are: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing transformed (the only non-exclusive game), Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter, Sonic Lost World and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric.

A version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games will also be released on Nintendo 3DS around Spring/Summer 2016. Before that, however, we will still see at least two other Sega retail titles coming to the platform: Hatsune Miku – Project Mirai DX in September and Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice in December.

Sega also releases some of their classics remastered in 3D for Nintendo 3DS in the e-shop on a regular basis. It is not known which game will be next in the series (recently we have seen the release of 3D Thunder Blade, 3D Out Run and 3D Streets of Rage 2), but it may actually still arrive before Hatsune Miku – Project Mirai DXreleases.

While HD remakes of Yakuza 1 and 2 for Nintendo WiiU have been released in Japan, it is unlikely that they will be released in the West. Also, though it was rumored to be in the works, chances of another Yakuza game on WiiU are slim.

May we still see another F-Zero game developed by Sega? The studio that developed F-Zero GX under the auspices of Sega, Amusement Vision, has been defunct since 2004, so it is not very likely that the franchise would still be handled by Sega. And although Sega has its own successful race series, most of the games in these series have been developed by independent developers (e.g. Sumo Digital).

What does this mean for WiiU?

While we will still see plenty of Sega’s games on Nintendo 3DS, their retail support for WiiU will probably end after the release of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. A port of the Game Freak developed digital only title Tembo the Badass Elephant may still stomp its way over to WiiU.

SORA LTD.

What are they working on?

Sora Ltd. Is the independent company founded by Smash Bros and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai. The company has close working relationships with Nintendo and Bandai Namco, with which they produced the latest titles in the Super Smash Bros series (for 3DS/for WiiU).

Sora Ltd. is currently working on DLC for both Smash Bros titles. Its future after the release of these DLC packs is uncertain. They may start working on the new Smash Bros, but Sakurai has indicated that he may want to work on smaller titles, if he doesn’t outright retire… or become Nintendo’s new CEO (unlikely, but still…)/

What does this mean for WiiU?

Sora Ltd. will keep supporting Super Smash Bros for WiiU with more upcoming DLC. After they have finished working on DLC, they will not release any more content for Nintendo WiiU.

SKIP LTD.

What are they working on?

skip Ltd. is mostly known for its work on the Chibi-Robo! series. The newest game in the series will release this October for Nintendo 3DS. Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is, however, quite different from its predecessors. It is a 2.5D platform game. It is unlikely we will see another game from them on the current generation of Nintendo consoles.

What does this mean for WiiU?

It is unlikely that we will see Chibi-Robo make an appearance on Nintendo WiiU. But who knows? Maybe we’ll see the little robot do his little thing on WiiU in 2016. Don’t get your hopes up, though.

SQUARE ENIX

What are they working on?

While Square Enix and Nintendo cooperated very actively during the previous generation of consoles (for Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii), with Square Enix developing several titles for the big N (Mario sports games and Boom/Fortune Street) and Nintendo publishing in the West and cooperating in the development of several Square Enix titles (mostly Dragon Quest games), the cooperation between the two Japanese giants does not seem to be as active as it used to be – though with the rumors of Dragon Quest X and XI being considered for NIntendo NX this may change once again in the future.

For one, none of Square Enix’ legacy titles have made it to Nintendo’s Virtual Consoles in Europe and the U.S. (they are available in Japan though) and secondly, apart from publishing the first Bravely Default game, Nintendo hasn’t published another Square Enix title in the West so far. The second game in the series, Bravely Second End Layer, will be published by Square Enix itself and will release on Nintendo 3DS in 2016. Although it has been (somewhat) confirmed that the Dragon Quest VII and Dragon Quest VIII will be published in the West, it is not sure whether it will be Nintendo or Square Enix themselves doing the publishing.

While many Square Enix titles are coming to the current generation of home consoles, none of these titles have been confirmed to be coming to WiiU. The only current generation game that has been announced to also be coming at least one Nintendo platform, is Dragon Quest XI, but it has been confirmed for 3DS, not WiiU. The previous Dragon Quest title (Dragon Quest X) was released on Nintendo WiiU in Japan, but it is unlikely that that game will ever be released in the West on WiiU; because it is a MMORPG and because Square Enix somewhat confirming that the game may be coming to Nintendo NX in the future.

One final straw, Tantalus Media, who ported Deus Ex Revolution to Nintendo WiiU have said to be porting another big name game to Nintendo WiiU. They have also stated that this is not a mature game. So, looking at the companies they have been working with and looking at the non-mature games (that will be releasing) on PS4 and XOne, chances are that they are porting another Square Enix game to WiiU. What game may that be? Because a noticeable portion of the active Kingdom Hearts fan base owns Nintendo consoles, could it be that Kingdom Hearts III will also come to Nintendo WiiU? Wishful thinking, I know. But then again, the Kingdom Hearts series is all about wishing and dreaming.

On the other hand, because we haven’t heard from Tantalus in a while now, and because NX may be coming sooner than thought and Kingdom Hearts III later than hoped, chances are that they are no longer porting this (or any other Square Enix) title to WiiU, but to NX. Or is it that Tantalus is working together with another top Notch developer, and is bringing Minecraft to Nintendo WiiU?

What does this mean for WiiU?

Square Enix hasn’t been very actively producing content for Nintendo systems this generation. It may be that we will not see another of their titles on Nintendo WiiU.

VANPOOL

What are they working on?

With their last game released beginning of 2013, Vanpool should be almost ready to announce what they have been working on the last two years. Will we see a new Dillon’s Rolling Western? On Nintendo WiiU? On Nintendo 3DS?

They have also worked on Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland, and another Tingle game that was only released in Japan. A new Tingle game does not seem very likely at the moment, with all of the other The Legend of Zelda spin-offs releasing in the near future (or having been released recently).

Vanpool has also developed some mini-games for other games on Nintendo systems.

What does this mean for WiiU?

Unless the game Vanpool has been working on these last two years turns out to be a new Dillon’s Rolling Western for Nintendo WiiU, we will not see  any of their games on Nintendo’s current gen. home console.

This post was first published as an article on: https://makeaccountlater.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/the-future-of-nintendo-whats-to-come-after-spring-2016-8/

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