Nintendo has found major success with their hybrid handheld/console, the Switch. A new revision is set to come out later this month in the Switch Lite, and the system has seen more third party support than Nintendo has seen for a very long time on one of their systems. Apparently, it’s something that companies have taken a big notice of, according to Elijah Freeman, VP of Games Division at Virtuos.
Speaking to Nintendo Life, Freeman said they have already had multiple partners come to them looking to create exclusive games for the Switch based on “beloved” IPs. The studio worked on the Switch versions of Starlink and Dark Souls: Remastered, so they have a lot of experience with the system already. Freeman stays light on specifics, but sees it as an opportunity to work with elements of the system unique to it.
“Many of our partners are already approaching us to help them create bespoke Switch titles for some of the most beloved IPs in our industry.
“I believe that we could and will see unique versions of franchises developed specifically to harness elements of the Switch that make it so special. I would credit this to the unique portability of the console and the quality of gameplay experiences that it offers players, not a result of technical constraints.”
With next gen consoles around the corner for Sony and Microsoft, the power gap that already exists will only widen. Whether we could be seeing a situation like the Wii, which saw various spinoffs from popular franchises, is anyone’s guess. We’ll just have to wait and see what these “beloved” IPs have in store for Nintendo’s system.