From its specifications to its potential launch line, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been heavily discussed. The longer the discussion goes on, the more fans expect from the console, as their expectations are not controlled by Nintendo, which has not yet revealed its appearance. Naturally, fans have started thinking about what games will be released for the Switch 2, whether there will be any graphic-intensive third-party releases, and what first-party games they should look forward to.
Many may look at Breath of Nature as a prime example of a perfect launch title, which sold well over 32 million copies in its lifetime. However, as much as everyone would love to see another innovative release coming from Nintendo, it seems highly unlikely that the Switch 2 will achieve something of this scale and ambition. While the Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to solve the Switch’s biggest problems, it likely won’t replicate its industry-changing success in the same way.
BOTW was a groundbreaking launch title
This changed open world games forever
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild it was such a groundbreaking achievement that it completely revolutionized the gaming industry and open-world game design as a whole. Its launch established the Nintendo Switch as a console worth owning for casual and hardcore gamers alike.introducing those who were used to the cozier side of Nintendo’s output to more traditional game design and those who were tired of open worlds to a breath of fresh air. Breath of Nature is one of the highest-rated games of all time and remains a truly impressive feat to this day.
The many innovations of BOTH have been discussed at length, but most importantly it has changed the way players and developers approach environmental and open-world design. Instead of filling a map with a multitude of markers, as has become the trend since the late 2000s, BOTH gave players a world full of genuinely interesting things that were, at almost all times, visible on the horizon. There was an encouragement to get out and explore and a sense of accomplishment in doing so.
Naturally, with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, gamers are wondering what kind of exclusives will be released on it and whether any of them will have the same impact as BOTH I had. When a developer creates something as truly tremendous as Breath of NatureThere’s a lot of pressure to deliver equally incredible experiences, especially when trying to sell players on a brand-new console in an era of financial strife. However, living up to these expectations is a futile effort, as the Switch 2 won’t have a BOTH moment, and Nintendo has already proven why.
The Nintendo Switch 2 won’t have a game like BOTW at launch
It was a lightning in a bottle moment
Tears of the Kingdom was the audacious follow-up to Breath of Natureand I also had a lot of expectations. Not only did it have to deliver a fun and innovative sequel, but it also it also had to prove that Nintendo understood what it was doing BOTH so good in the first place, and what needed to improve. While, for the most part, Nintendo has been successful on both fronts, TOTK did not leave a lasting legacy, at least when compared to its predecessor.
In fact, while Reviews about Tears of the Kingdom were generally positive, there was an air of disappointment that despite all the new gameplay mechanics, it never captured what made the original so special. It lacked its own BOTH moment and, as a result, failed to captivate audiences in the same way. It’s not fair to say this won’t inspire other developers like BOTH did, as its various innovations are quite spectacular to behold. However, TOTK became more about mechanics and technical creativity than atmosphere and explorationand that was ultimately what let him down.
Another from Nintendo Zelda title, Echoes of Wisdomwas also very good, but failed to have as lasting an impact as BOTH he has. In truth, There really hasn’t been another Switch game that has had as immense and transformative an effect as BOTH. Even within the broader industry, on any platform, the only game that comes this close to BOTH and Elden Ringand it was even BOTH-inspired. So it’s not that unreasonable to claim that the Nintendo Switch 2, despite its improved specs and new features, won’t have that game-changing BOTH moment.
It’s okay that BOTW was a lightning in a bottle moment
The Switch 2 doesn’t need an industry-changing game to succeed
The Nintendo Switch 2 is in a unique position in that it isn’t revolutionizing the console space like the original Switch did, largely thanks to the recent boom in portable computers that have saturated the market. With Xbox and PlayStation reportedly planning handheld devices, it’s clear that Nintendo is no longer the creative exception. It may have started the trend, but now it appears to be chasing it. Then, It stands to reason that what will differentiate the Nintendo Switch 2 from its predecessor and its competitors are its exclusives.
Breath of Nature It was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, and it’s okay that the Nintendo Switch 2 will never have anything as good.
This was always the case during the early years of the console wars, something that is thankfully slowly fading away. However, with Nintendo largely producing games for a specific demographic, a BOTHA style game that caters to both traditional and cozy gamers seems like a necessity. Then, It’s not hard to understand why gamers feel the Switch 2 needs its own BOTH momenta game that completely redefines players’ expectations and makes investing in a new console a worthwhile experience.
However, despite Nintendo’s immensely creative talent, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Nintendo’s Switch games were largely remakes, remasters, or iterative sequels that rarely delivered anything that felt truly new. Whether it was the Mario Kart 8 remaster and subsequent DLC, the best Crush experience, the infinity of Mario’s Party games that eventually got it right in the last inning, or in the various Zelda titles that went back to the classics or tried to enter the mainstream, Nintendo has proven that it knows how to capitalize on its innovative formula, but not break free from it.
However, this seems to be enough for most players. TOTK performed well critically and commercially, as well as Animal Crossing: New Horizonsa game that similarly prioritized mechanical innovation over what made the series great in the first place. The Switch 2 doesn’t need one BOTH time to succeed; it just needs more of what Nintendo does best. In many ways this is fine, as waiting for a Elden Ring, BOTHor Baldur’s Gate 3 each time is a futile effort. Breath of Nature It was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, and it’s okay that the Nintendo Switch 2 You’ll never have anything as good.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube