It appears that Nintendo may be preparing with other companies to make sure it has a healthy flow of games using various Nintendo IPs, given the flurry of speculations circulating around the Nintendo Switch replacement platform. In an attempt to increase the number of titles it publishes in the near future, new reports claim that Nintendo has been in constant contact with other studios regarding the ongoing development of titles as well as the potential for games to be developed utilizing Nintendo IP.
A story on GamesIndustry.biz revealed that Nintendo and other developers have been in communication. Head of Games Christopher Dring claims that these discussions regarding Nintendo IP being developed by other developers are now taking place:
Part of it involves Nintendo occasionally publishing independent games, but it also looks for firms to potentially collaborate on some of its intellectual property. Nintendo collaborates with outside groups on a regular basis, such as Grezzo, Bandai Namco, Team Ninja, Platinum Games, MercurySteam, and WayForward. However, the corporation is eager to expand, and I am aware of three companies that are in serious discussions about developing video games based on Nintendo properties.
Will Nintendo surprise fans?
This may come as a surprise to fans because Nintendo is known for being sparing with its first-party titles and IP, but it also adds gasoline to the fire when discussing speculations regarding the Big N’s next console generation. If this proves to be accurate, Nintendo could be aiming to increase the scope of games it can produce, whether they are for the upcoming console generation or the still wildly popular Switch. It has been said that the seasoned Nintendo employees are already overworked, and they are unable to work on other projects when working on major projects like Super Mario Bros. Wonder or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Possibly in an attempt to maintain a steady stream of games using our beloved Nintendo properties, this might be the company’s response. Though the outcome of this is yet unknown, if Nintendo forges new alliances this year, we could see more extensive announcements and releases on Nintendo hardware in the years to come.
Nintendo’s next-generation system is generally anticipated to arrive this year, despite the company’s lack of public comments. This is because VGC revealed that developers are receiving development kits while the platform holder makes preparations. The CEO of Tokyo-based game industry consultant Kantan Games, Dr. Serkan Toto, claims that this year will see the release of Nintendo’s replacement, the Switch, which is probably going to be a hardware iteration rather than a revolutionary one.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has not commented on the company’s plans for the future platform. Though Nintendo has been quiet about its plans, industry rumors say that developers may already have access to development kits for the future platform, indicating that the company is actively preparing for launch.
