tldr: Nintendo should bring NSO and maybe older Switch games and HD remakes to Xbox/PC.
It appears Microsoft are porting their older games to the Nintendo Switch. There are other rumored games on the way too. And, theoretically, the XCloud version of Gamepass may turn up on the platform too. My presumption is that if Microsoft are to do such a thing, it's for that platform agnostic MAU subscription money.
Would Nintendo reciprocate and port their games or services to Xbox platforms and/or PC, like the Windows Store? The Nvidia Shield in China has GC/Wii era games, but Nvidia provide the Switch's hardware, so it's not that different to something like the Panasonic Q existing. It seems Nintendo's whole idea of bringing their properties to mobile or... theme parks is marketing their hardware and games on that hardware. So functionally, a port of anything on a different system would basically be advertising the Switch.
Anyway, let's speculate on things because it's fun...
Nintendo Switch Online is a thing that exists to squeeze money out of people who want to play online on the Switch. As bonuses, they get a slowly updating list of NES games and Tetris 99. Maybe, Nintendo will add SNES games. I think there is a chance that NSO make it onto PC or Xbox as kind of a Virtual Console thing with its own exclusive games like Tetris 99. It would just be Nintendo's retro gaming Netflix thing. Of course, Nintendo would have to justify the value of NSO outside of the online service to people with Xbox Live Gold and Gamepass.
I would see this as a way for Nintendo to enhance the NSO experience for Switch owners, or to get people without a Switch to look at getting one via playing with their nostalgia.
It could be a way to get people who are on the single user account to upgrade to the more expensive family account, if Nintendo go that way. Or they could add another pay tier for cross-device support. But it'd be an excuse for Nintendo to get more subscription income, which is the fashion today.
Also, port NSO to phones. Add Bluetooth support for Joycons and Switch Pro Controllers.
Ports of Nintendo games already on Switch could be a possibly, but it'd depend on what Nintendo want to port. Microsoft appear to be porting games to Switch that have been on Xbox for a while and/or mesh well with the Switch as a hybrid portable with a big indie/retro pull. I think the Wii U to Switch ports would have better chances to appear on Xbox/PC as they're already a few years old and there would be less 'anxiety' compared to Nintendo porting over their Switch exclusive library. I don't think Nintendo would port something like Splatoon 2, Fire Emblem: Three Houses or Zelda BOTW. For an example, I was thinking that Nintendo could port Mario Kart 8 Deluxe because, while it's the biggest Switch game around, the core game is 5 years old and it's a good multiplayer game. It runs at 60fps and it'd probably would look great in 4K. The game still sells well on Switch, but if Mario Kart 9 happens then it's possible that MK8D's legs are gone. New Mario Kart games don't tend to make their predecessor obsolete, but we've never had two 'new' Mario Karts on one system before. So porting MK8D to another system like PC and Xbox could give it some new longevity. It's already sold 25 million copies, what's another 10 million?
Here's a thought - Bayonetta 2. The first game was almost a 360 exclusive because the PS3 version shat the bed so hard. The game is already 5 years old. Why not bring it to Xbox/PC after Bayonetta 3 comes out on Switch? Let Sega publish it.
Nvidia are or were (I don't know if they've done any more) porting GC and Wii era games like Mario Galaxy, Punch-Out and Twilight Princess. I don't know if they'll appear on the Switch, but they should. I don't know what Nintendo's strategy is for remakes of their older games. But ideally, I think they should be on Switch and then ported to Xbox/PC at later date. I don't even know what's happening with Metroid Prime Trilogy.
So this is what I've been thinking of for the past 3 days while waiting for the next GT Sport update. Please discuss.
It appears Microsoft are porting their older games to the Nintendo Switch. There are other rumored games on the way too. And, theoretically, the XCloud version of Gamepass may turn up on the platform too. My presumption is that if Microsoft are to do such a thing, it's for that platform agnostic MAU subscription money.
Would Nintendo reciprocate and port their games or services to Xbox platforms and/or PC, like the Windows Store? The Nvidia Shield in China has GC/Wii era games, but Nvidia provide the Switch's hardware, so it's not that different to something like the Panasonic Q existing. It seems Nintendo's whole idea of bringing their properties to mobile or... theme parks is marketing their hardware and games on that hardware. So functionally, a port of anything on a different system would basically be advertising the Switch.
Anyway, let's speculate on things because it's fun...
Nintendo Switch Online is a thing that exists to squeeze money out of people who want to play online on the Switch. As bonuses, they get a slowly updating list of NES games and Tetris 99. Maybe, Nintendo will add SNES games. I think there is a chance that NSO make it onto PC or Xbox as kind of a Virtual Console thing with its own exclusive games like Tetris 99. It would just be Nintendo's retro gaming Netflix thing. Of course, Nintendo would have to justify the value of NSO outside of the online service to people with Xbox Live Gold and Gamepass.
I would see this as a way for Nintendo to enhance the NSO experience for Switch owners, or to get people without a Switch to look at getting one via playing with their nostalgia.
It could be a way to get people who are on the single user account to upgrade to the more expensive family account, if Nintendo go that way. Or they could add another pay tier for cross-device support. But it'd be an excuse for Nintendo to get more subscription income, which is the fashion today.
Also, port NSO to phones. Add Bluetooth support for Joycons and Switch Pro Controllers.
Ports of Nintendo games already on Switch could be a possibly, but it'd depend on what Nintendo want to port. Microsoft appear to be porting games to Switch that have been on Xbox for a while and/or mesh well with the Switch as a hybrid portable with a big indie/retro pull. I think the Wii U to Switch ports would have better chances to appear on Xbox/PC as they're already a few years old and there would be less 'anxiety' compared to Nintendo porting over their Switch exclusive library. I don't think Nintendo would port something like Splatoon 2, Fire Emblem: Three Houses or Zelda BOTW. For an example, I was thinking that Nintendo could port Mario Kart 8 Deluxe because, while it's the biggest Switch game around, the core game is 5 years old and it's a good multiplayer game. It runs at 60fps and it'd probably would look great in 4K. The game still sells well on Switch, but if Mario Kart 9 happens then it's possible that MK8D's legs are gone. New Mario Kart games don't tend to make their predecessor obsolete, but we've never had two 'new' Mario Karts on one system before. So porting MK8D to another system like PC and Xbox could give it some new longevity. It's already sold 25 million copies, what's another 10 million?
Here's a thought - Bayonetta 2. The first game was almost a 360 exclusive because the PS3 version shat the bed so hard. The game is already 5 years old. Why not bring it to Xbox/PC after Bayonetta 3 comes out on Switch? Let Sega publish it.
Nvidia are or were (I don't know if they've done any more) porting GC and Wii era games like Mario Galaxy, Punch-Out and Twilight Princess. I don't know if they'll appear on the Switch, but they should. I don't know what Nintendo's strategy is for remakes of their older games. But ideally, I think they should be on Switch and then ported to Xbox/PC at later date. I don't even know what's happening with Metroid Prime Trilogy.
So this is what I've been thinking of for the past 3 days while waiting for the next GT Sport update. Please discuss.
