![\"Nintendo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783859531_88_SEI_294497161-50b4.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoes Nintendo know what it\u2019s doing? (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDoes Nintendo know what it\u2019s doing? (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
A reader argues that, despite the complaints, Nintendo<\/a>\u2019s software line-up makes plenty of sense, given the changing market into which it launched.<\/p>\n For all the frustration and supposed confusion over Nintendo\u2019s Switch 2<\/a> strategy, I think over the past year a clear pattern has emerged and it seems\u2026 actually pretty decent. To me, it\u2019s all about extending reach.<\/p>\n Coming off its best-selling console of all time, Nintendo is in less need of the one-two knockout punch of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild<\/a> and Super Mario Odyssey<\/a>, that was needed after the Wii U<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mario Kart World<\/a>, a sequel to the Switch\u2019s best-selling game, was the obvious choice of launch title even if it didn\u2019t excite hardcore fans. But with a hundred-odd million Switch owners as potential upgraders, the real system seller has been the system itself.<\/p>\n Switch 2 editions were early indications of what this thing can do, and some have been literal game-changers. I\u2019ve put hundreds of additional hours into Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom in 4K and dozens of additional hours into Balatro with mouse controls.<\/p>\n The focus on third party ports has made the Switch 2 a credible main console. The likes of Star Wars Outlaws<\/a> and Cyberpunk 2077<\/a> playing at all on a Switch was previously unthinkable. For the people who\u2019ve dreamed about rolling back to the cost\/development\/graphics sweet spot of the PlayStation 4, well, here it is. And this time it\u2019s portable. I plan to clear my PlayStation 5<\/a> backlog and then dump it.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n To further extend reach, new first party titles, from both in-house and partner developers, have explored the breadth of the back catalogue, using the momentum of the Switch\/Switch 2 to spotlight neglected series: the first Star Fox game for 10 years; the first Tomodachi Life game for 13 years; the first Kirby Air Riders game for 22 years; the first 3D Donkey Kong game<\/a> for 26 years.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s been a kind of cross-pollination to draw in fans from other best-selling games: Bananza for fans of Odyssey; Air Riders for fans of Mario Kart; Pok\u00e9mon Pokopia<\/a> for fans of Animal Crossing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n As November\u2019s GTA 6 wipeout will demonstrate, releasing these second and third tier series in the shadow of 3D Zelda or Mario would have dimmed the spotlight they\u2019ve been given. Cash-strapped gamers would have been far less likely to give them a go.<\/p>\n As initial upgraders start to wane, in years two and three, presumably, the new 3D Mario and 3D Zelda will appear, to give the boosts that weren\u2019t needed at launch. By that time, we could be heading for sequels or DLC for the franchises rebooted in year one.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t to say every game has been perfect or even popular, and for me only Mario Kart and Bananza have appealed. But we should acknowledge the difference between strategy and our personal preferences. The first year of the Switch 2 has aimed for depth, breadth and reach, and if it works it\u2019ll pay off for years to come. We won\u2019t have to wait 26 years for a sequel to Bananza.<\/p>\n Compare that to some fans\u2019 strategy \u2013 which amounts to \u2018Mario now!\u2019 \u2013 and to whatever crackpot schemes Xbox and PlayStation have cooked up while I was writing this, and Nintendo\u2019s approach seems perfectly logical. And with nearly 20 million units and 50 million games sold in launch year, it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n By reader Jim G<\/p>\n \t\t The reader\u2019s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.<\/p>\n You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.<\/p>\n Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a> or use our Submit Stuff page<\/a> and you won\u2019t need to send an email.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Fox](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_299799291-572c.jpg\")
\n\t\tAt least they brought back Star Fox (Nintendo)<\/p>\n
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