Nintendo announces there are over 80 games currently in development for the upcoming Nintendo Switch. While many games are developed by Nintendo, it has also been confirmed that over 50 developers are currently supporting the system.
The company tweeted the announcement, highlighting the games that were showcased during the Nintendo Switch presentation. Some of the main third-party games highlighted include a new "FIFA" game, "NBA 2K18," "Sonic Mania" and "Minecraft."
One of the key reasons why the Nintendo Wii U failed was the lack of third-party developers supporting the console, Nintendo Life reported. AAA game developers began abandoning the Wii U and the system ended its run with very few games that were not made by Nintendo.
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime addressed this issue in an interview with a YouTube interview, which can be viewed below. In the interview, he confirmed that they would not repeat their mistake with the Switch.
"We've announced Unity Engine and Unreal Engine," Fils-Aime said. "Obviously, the long list of developers highlights that people are excited to develop for the platform. With our launch, with our own first party games, we'll sustain momentum and create that opportunity for third parties."
The Switch only has five games launching with the console. In comparison, the Wii U had 20 launch games. Unfortunately, none of the Wii U's launch games were critically acclaimed and the large rush of games gave no time for newer titles to get noticed.
Nintendo appears to be avoiding this mistake with the Switch. The company is now launching a few games with the console, spacing releases throughout the year. This enables each new game to have some time in the spotlight.
The Switch is also launching much earlier, coming out this March. This guarantees that it would not have to compete with the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One during the holidays, Attack of the Fanboy reported. In doing so, the Switch will have already built a strong fan base and will have a profitable holiday season.
The Nintendo Switch will launch on March 3. The interview with Fils-Aime can be viewed below: