Nintendo started 2022 off with a bang, releasing Pokemon Legends Arceus on January 28. The game has been a massive success and has become the fastest-selling Pokemon game of all time. To top that off, they hosted a Nintendo Direct on February 9 to showcase what they have coming out for the first half of this year. And, if those announcements (coupled with previous announcements) are any indication, Nintendo is going to have an incredible year. The Switch has a plethora of high-quality software coming to its library this year. While Sony and Microsoft are out there buying up companies, Nintendo is making games. High-quality games at that.
According to Nintendo’s financial report, there were seven games that were slated for release in 2022 before Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct. Those are Pokemon Legends Arceus, Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, Splatoon 3, Breath of the Wild 2, and Bayonetta 3. Metroid Prime 4 is listed, but without any release date in sight. Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp got a firm release date and will come out on April 8. Kirby already had an established release date of March 25, and Triangle Strategy will be released on March 4. Splatoon 3’s launch window was updated and will now launch this summer, though no definitive date was given. There were no updates on the Direct for Bayonetta 3 or Breath of the Wild 2, but according to Nintendo’s latest financial report released last week, they are still slated to be released in 2022.
This was an already solid lineup, but Nintendo pulled the rug from underneath us to deliver one of their best Directs ever. Nintendo Switch Sports will sell like crazy and is releasing on April 29. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a perfect companion to the main game and will take place in the world of Three Houses. That will come out on June 24. Mario Strikers: Battle League is yet another intriguing Mario sports entry and looks like a lot of fun, releasing on June 10. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass looks incredible and is a great value at $24.99 for 48 new tracks. Yes, they are remastered from previous games, but that’s what many Mario Kart fans, myself included, have wanted for a long time. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 43 million copies; there’s no way they were going to start from scratch. Mario Kart 8 is fine as it is; this will give the game even more longevity. Tracks will begin to release on March 18 and will release in waves until 2023. As was stated earlier, we got a new Splatoon 3 trailer and received a summer 2022 release window. And finally, Nintendo’s big announcement, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, will have a September 2022 release date.
Nintendo has something for everyone here; children, adults, casual gamers, hardcore gamers; you name it. My parents would love to play some of these games. And it must be stated, while they weren’t a part of the Nintendo Direct, Bayonetta 3 and Breath of the Wild 2 are still slated for a 2022 release. This direct was specifically for games that were coming out during the first half of the year. Bayonetta and Zelda could very well be Nintendo’s holiday titles.
No other company, not Microsoft, not Sony, has a software lineup that can compete with this. Nintendo continues to destroy Sony in Japan, and Microsoft is too busy with acquisitions and building up Game Pass to care. Their business model is different, yes, but software sales and exclusives still matter. Nintendo is decimating their competition on these fronts. At this point, all Nintendo has to do is show up and 2022 is theirs.
If Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Breath of the Wild 2 both release this year, as they are slated to, it doesn’t matter what Microsoft and Sony put out. Nintendo will win; game over.
Software lineups matter, especially exclusives. Nintendo has them and their competition is lacking.