So it’s that time of year again. E3 2018 is upon us and with that comes some heavily anticipated E3 predictions. I have compiled a list of predictions for Nintendo’s showing at E3 this year and I’m hoping we see a few surprises beyond what’s listed here. There’s a lot of speculation around Nintendo’s E3 showcase. They have been very quiet about what’s coming later this year. I think Switch owners will have a ton to look forward to so let’s get into my predictions for this years E3.
Nintendo Online and UI Updates
Nintendo has announced that the Virtual Console is not going to exist on the Switch. I was Initially disappointed by this announcement, but I have read more into everything that was said in their statement.
“There are currently no plans to bring classic games together under the Virtual Console banner as has been done on other Nintendo systems,”
a Nintendo spokesperson told Kotaku. Nintendo intends to rebrand the way in which they provide their library of classic titles. I think that details of the online service that Nintendo’s launching will pave the way for Nintendo’s classic games library. More details will be provided at E3 and I think we will get the announcement that games outside of the NES library will be available. The announcement of SNES and N64 games could possibly come at E3, and while I think we will probably not get an announcement of specific titles or when they will land, just knowing that SNES and N64 games are coming is enough to get people excited.
Since the launch of the Switch the online functionality and the UI have been quite bare in terms of features and customization. I do believe that these two go hand in hand in a sense. Nintendo could announce exclusive customization options like themes for the Switch’s UI for subscribers to Nintendo’s online service. I find it hard to believe that Nintendo will use their online functionality alone to sell this service. $19.99 per year is a very small investment compared to the likes of Sony and Microsoft and rightfully so. Seeing as to how the offerings from Sony and Microsoft in terms of reliability has far exceeded what Nintendo has offered in previous generations. I expect a lot of new quality of life changes to the Switch to be announced around E3. These may not all come in the Direct, but I do think we will get some reveals throughout the week of E3.
Fire Emblem Switch Coming Fall 2018
Fire Emblem and the Nintendo Switch were officially revealed at the same event, yet we haven’t really heard any details on the game since. With the confirmed release window of 2018 still in place, I would expect this to be a major focus of Nintendo’s E3 Direct. Fire Emblem is a huge franchise for Nintendo, therefore I think it would be a great addition to the Switch’s library of games slated for this fall. The Nintendo Switch could potentially have a great fall lineup and I fully expect Fire Emblem to be a big part of it.
I fully anticipate that Fire Emblem for Switch will reinvent the wheel this time around similar to the way the series did on the 3DS with Fire Emblem Awakening. Hopefully with the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch, we could see some new features like larger maps, more robust battles, and a fleshed out story. I expect that we will get a release date for sometime in the fall, maybe November. I also expect to see gameplay revealed. Maybe Nintendo hasn’t shown much of this game yet to give players a bit of a break from the series but I think it’s time to dive right in to this one in 2018.
Pokémon for Switch Launching in Fall 2018
I have been a strong advocator that Pokemon for Switch is coming in Fall of 2018. Pokemon is not only one of Nintendo’s biggest exclusives but it sells systems. There are rumors swirling around that the new Pokemon game is a remake of Red and Blue or Gold and Silver. Personally, I hope this will be an all-new entry. I think that it’s important for Pokemon to come out as a vastly different game from the previous titles we’ve seen before. The Pokemon franchise has always been on handheld devices so an expectation has been set for the franchise in terms of design and portability. The Switch is far more powerful than any console that the series has ever appeared on before. Hopefully, the developers at Game Freak are building something unique and innovative for fans to dive into soon. An announcement was great last year, but I’m hoping to see a trailer and gameplay footage for Pokemon Switch because I’m a huge fan of the series. A Pokemon game that we can play at home and on the go is what we’ve all been waiting for. The addition of Pokemon to their fall lineup currently consisting of games like Fire Emblem and Super Smash Bros. will hopefully build hype for another huge year for Nintendo.
Mario Party 11 Announcement
Ok, so the Nintendo Switch is known for its ability to create amazing local multiplayer experiences. What better way to showcase the Switch’s ability to take advantage of this than Mario Party 11. 1,2 Switch launched with the system and had some interesting, all be it strange mini-games that players could play in party scenarios with other people. The game as a whole felt dry and a lack of content failed to keep me interested. I think Mario Party can elaborate on this formula making for a much better experience for fans of the series. I will be honest, I haven’t enjoyed a Mario Party game since the N64 days but I’m ready to give it a shot if it comes to Switch.
Metroid prime 4 Trailer
Metroid Prime 4 was announced at E3 in 2017 and we have heard literally nothing about it since then. All we have is a logo at this point, but I think it’s time for at least a trailer. Maybe we don’t get gameplay, maybe it’s a short cinematic trailer but I think carrying this hype on through this year is key for Metroid fans. This was widely considered one of the biggest reveals of E3 last year so I think that it would be a mistake not to show something showcasing the ideas and concept around Metroid Prime 4. We haven’t seen a new Metroid Prime in a very long time so just a small reveal should keep people really excited.
