| noshten said:
Bandai Namco best encapsulate this as they were the Top 3rd Party on the PSV and continue to create timed-exclusives for the PlayStation ecosystem and haven't fully embraced the Switch as a PSV replacement.
Their sales this year will be at their lowest since the PlayStation launch, because they continue to create exclusives which lead to franchise decline. Their late ports on the Switch are not a winning strategy - this is clearly demonstrated by any 3rd Party that manages to launch their game on both the PlayStation and Switch at the same time. It's especially puzzling with DBZ which is a franchise which always sold best on Nintendo hardware.
Tales of Ariseis launching on the PS4/X1 next year and PS5 version hasn't been revealed. The game's development costs aren't small for a Publisher of Bandai's size but with the decline of Sony I struggle to think what the assumption is. Counting on Western sales to save the game when they haven't even reveled a next gen version is not exactly a sure thing. Especially with the rest of Asia trending towards the Switch.
|
Bandai Namco is in a very interesting position. While it has provided decent support such Doraemon Story of Seasons, Naruto Ultimate Ninja, Taiko No Taksujin, My Hero One’s Justice 1 and 2, Captain Tsubasa, One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 and 4, etc. (not to mention helping Nintendo out with games like Smash Ultimate, Pokken DX, and the upcoming new Pokemon Snap), I feel they could do more on Switch with their more original properties.
I think it’s kinda too late at this point, but damn Soul Calibur VI on Switch would be awesome. Especially if they included a Nintendo character as a guest ala Link in Soul Calibur II, which led to the GC version be the best selling version. I’m not saying SCVI on Switch will be the best selling version at this point, but there’s potential for success here. If they’re concerned about completing the current dlc season, why not release a deluxe edition aka Jump Force? It basically had season one added to the base game while season two was under development. How did that release on Switch (choppy frame rates and graphics and all) before SCVI?
Or DBFighterZ? How did that get ported so soon (less than a year) after it initially released on PS4/Xbone? It’s also an UE4 game like SCVI.
Or a new Tales of game. It doesn’t have to be Arise, but there’s potential to be had on Switch with JRPGs finding success on Switch such as Octopath Traveler, Xenoblade 2, FE:TH, the many FF ports, Disgaea 5, Ys XIII, Rune Factory, and DQXIS.
But I guess it all boils down to Harada, who doesn’t appear interested in investing more on Switch games. Just mostly ports or new licensed games and little else from their original franchises. It’s a shame, but it is what it is.
Last edited by Kai_Mao - on 29 December 2020
Essay Pro