If Nintendo waits a long time for a Switch successor, what do you think will happen?

[The_Liquid_Laser]

curl-6 said:

Wman1996 said:

IMO, Nintendo really should make at least 3 titles cross-gen, possibly more.

Switch has a massive userbase, and not throwing them a few bones from the successor for the first few years is a risky move.

Mario Kart has become such a massive IP. Yes, Nintendo could make Mario Kart 9 exclusive on Switch 2. But even if it moves less Switch 2 units, Mario Kart 9 would probably sell more overall if it's cross-gen. Most mid to low-budget titles early on during the lifecycle of the next system should be cross-gen, or like you said to put them on Switch. 

3D Mario, I'm mixed on. I'm not opposed to it being cross-gen, but it would probably make more sense to be Switch 2-only. 

Super Smash Bros. should not be cross-gen, neither should Zelda.

Pokemon Gen 10 would probably be a decent cross-gen choice. The game could take more advantage of Switch specs than previous games have, and the Switch 2 version will have far better specs to work with. 

I'm not saying don't throw the Switch 1 base any bones, I'm saying throw them the mid to low tier stuff while keeping the big killer apps only on Switch 2 to drive adoption. 

Nintendo only have only one hardware line now, so they absolutely cannot afford to risk Switch 2 failing to get off the ground. There's no 3DS to bail them out this time. 

This. 

You are describing exactly what Nintendo did with the 3DS during the Switch's first couple of years.  This is also what Nintendo did with the NES during the SNES's first couple of years.  After the Switch 2 releases, Nintendo is going to act like they have 2 relevant systems: a premier system (Switch 2) and a budget system (Switch). 

Another reason they like to do this is to hedge their bets.  If Switch 2 ends up being a disaster they can still make money on the Switch.  This goes back to what happened with the Virtual Boy and Gameboy.  The Virtual Boy was a disaster, so they kept supporting the Gameboy.  A year or so later, Pokemon got released on the Gameboy and totally saved Nintendo's bacon.  Then the life of the Gameboy was extended for several more years.

Nintendo is going to keep supporting the Switch with minor titles for a few more years, if for no other reason than they want an insurance policy in case Switch 2 turns into a disaster.