Why is the Switch still not getting big games from 3rd parties? October edition

[WhatATimeToBeAlive]

Mnementh said:

WhatATimeToBeAlive said:

But RPGs also (and games in general that focus on story and characters, so not just games "that sell over technical feats") sell better on PlayStation/Xbox. And action games contains many sub-genres, like action-adventure games (where majority of big 3rd party games belong). And just like Zelda BotW is an action-adventure game, so are games like Assassin's Creed, Tomb Raider, Red Dead Redemption,...

So when you look at big 3rd-party games support on Switch, it is lacking in action-adventure, RPG, shooter and driving genres (I would say shooters are actually on top with DOOM and Wolfenstein, since they are not last-gen ports).

You kinda make a strange argument that mixes RPGs with action games. RPGs sell well on Switch:

BattleChasers Nightwar: 55K on PS4, 41K on Switch, 30K on XB1

Ys VIII: 170K on PS4, 60K on Switch (it had 55K on PS4 at the same time after launch) and no release on XB1

Shining Resonance Refrain: 56K on PS4, 60K on Switch, 7K on XB1 (released first on PS4)

I am Setsuna: 74K on PS4, 49K on Switch, no Xbox release

Lost Sphear: 24K on PS4, 42K on Switch, no Xbox release

Switch releases of RPGs hold well against the PS4 version even as late ports and clearly outdo XBox version. Add to that exceptional sales of Switch-exclusive RPGs Octopath Traveler and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and you can clearly see that Switch has a RPG-affine userbase. It matters for RPGs without a doubt more than the XBox One and does look not bad compared to PS4. Hence as a result the flood of RPG releases and announcements for Switch.

I am also not so sure about the driving genre. As I see it there are the simulation subgenre (Gran Turismo, Forza, etc.) which focuses on realistic physics and damage models. Besides that you have arcade racing, like Mario Kart, Sonic Racing, Burnout etc. The second one does actually pretty well on Switch with lots of releases, the first one is focusing more on PS4 and Xbox One.

But those aren't AAA games (or even AA), except Xenoblade Chronicles 2. And only Xenoblade and Octopath Traveler (and Skyrim) have sold well but not close to Witcher 3, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy XV,... numbers.