Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12, which comes six years after the groundbreaking title Breath of the Wild. However, what’s next for the beloved gaming company after the release of this highly-anticipated game is shrouded in mystery. Nintendo may unveil its future lineup at Gamescom in August, its first return to the European video game conference since 2019, according to Eurogamer. With both The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4 already confirmed to be released by then, fans are left wondering what else Nintendo may have in store for them.
Switchlineup for Gamescom
If Nintendo decides to showcase already-released Switch titles at Gamescom, then fans may expect to see the continuous development of DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The recent teasing of five new characters has increased the excitement for this game. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 3 tournaments are also expected to be held by the company at public events. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, will have their first DLC expansions, with Part 1: The Teal Mask set to be released in fall and Part 2: The Indigo Disk aiming for winter. Both adventures are expected to expand the boundaries of Paldea.
Metroid Prime 4
Nintendo fans have been eagerly waiting for the announcement of the release of Metroid Prime 4. Although Retro Studios took over production of the game in 2019, there has been almost no news of its progress since then. Fans have been left wondering if this much-awaited game will ever see the light of day. However, Nintendo released Metroid Prime Remastered earlier this year, and reports suggest that Metroid Prime 2 and 3 may come to Switch sometime in the future. Nintendo has a history of focusing promotion on one big game, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, before marketing another franchise. Therefore, there is still hope that Metroid Prime 4 could be a significant press push in the coming months.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wind Waker
There have been rumors of the Switch release of these two games since both received remasters on Wii U. However, the timing of their release may not be perfect, as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is about to be released soon and will undoubtedly have its DLC.
Mario
The flagship franchise of Nintendo, Mario, has not been updated since Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in 2021. However, since that game was mainly a Wii U port, the iconic character has not had an original adventure since Super Mario Odyssey in 2017. Fans expect a Mario game to be released soon, though it is possible that it won’t happen until the release of a Switch successor.
The Future of Nintendo
The big question among Nintendo fans is whether the company will continue with Switch or move on to a successor. Doug Bowser, the president of Nintendo of America, mentioned in March this year that the company has nothing to announce regarding a Switch 2. However, reports suggest that a next-gen Nintendo console could be out in 2024. Interestingly, Nintendo has never let more than seven years pass between releasing new home consoles, and the Switch will reach that milestone in March 2024. For now, there are no confirmed games for Switch, and it’s unclear what Nintendo has planned for the future on this platform.
Conclusion
The gaming community eagerly awaits Nintendo’s announcement for upcoming games. The release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12, 2022, marks the end of Nintendo’s most significant games on Switch for the foreseeable future. Fans are curious whether the company will release more classics, such as Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, or focus on new concepts with substantial developments like Metroid Prime 4. Gamescom in August may reveal more information, and with no confirmed games for the future, it seems as though Nintendo has some surprises in store.
