PlatformsNintendoNintendo SwitchWhat to expect from Nintendo in 2024When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
PlatformsNintendoNintendo SwitchWhat to expect from Nintendo in 2024When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Of the three mainstays in the console market, Nintendo is often the hardest to pin down. WhileSony’s PlayStation andMicrosoft’s Xbox tend to have definitive, regularly drip-fed marketing beats and messaging that heralds the coming of whatever’s coming in the near future, Nintendo often feels like it’s doing its own thing. The short answer to what to expect from Nintendo in 2024 is: who knows. But the long answer is certainly an interesting one.
The future’s bright
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Big in 2024(Image credit: Future)GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
Big in 2024
(Image credit: Future)GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
(Image credit: Future)
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
The Wii U launched roughly six years after the Wii, and the Switch launched just five years after the Wii U. This year marks seven since the launch of the Switch, and while there’s certainly an argument to be made that console generations are only going to last longer and longer, that’s still quite a bit of time considering the PS5 and Xbox Series X are roughly half that age.
And let’s be clear here: Nintendo is still putting out bangers, despite the Switch’s age and perceived limitations. While there’s plenty to be said about the performance woes of the latest Pokemon games, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are both incredible pieces of work. And while the release calendar for Nintendo is relatively barren after March of this year, there’s still Mario vs. Donkey Kong in February and Princess Peach: Showtime! in March. (Not to mention Another Code: Recollection this month!)
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door are also both set to release for the Switch at some point this year, and there’s every indication that Nintendo will announce aNintendo Directat some point in the coming months that will at the very least lay out a goodly chunk of what else to expect in 2024.
But if I’m being entirely honest, Nintendo doesn’t actually need to do much of anything this year to continue being my platform of choice, and I suspect I’m not the only one. Especially when you take into account the OLED model, I regularly find myself skewing toward the Switch when it comes to anything multiplatform. Sure, I’m still going to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS5, but anything that isn’t entirely locked down typically ends up being installed on my Switch over anything else.
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For me, the Switch is right in the sweet spot of beingjustgood enough for the vast majority of what I want to play that it doesn’t matter that I’m not getting the most impressive, realistic graphics in the world. All that matters is I can boot it up and immediately jump into Vampire Survivors or Dave the Diver or any number of first- and third-party titles that work and look perfectly fine.
So while a small, technically-driven coat of paint would be nice, there’s really little that Nintendo absolutely must do to make the Switch 2 a smashing success. In fact, for my money, there are essentially only two major shifts that would really make it a worthwhile upgrade: a fix for Joy-Con drift and something resembling actual online functionality.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Big Year(Image credit: Nintendo)Five Nintendo Switch exclusives that should be on your radar in 2024
Big Year
(Image credit: Nintendo)Five Nintendo Switch exclusives that should be on your radar in 2024
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Five Nintendo Switch exclusives that should be on your radar in 2024
There are plenty of other little quality-of-life changes that Nintendo could make, and the company is known for zigging when others are zagging so there’s no guarantee that some wild new method of control or play isn’t bolted on. But the two most prominent issues with the Nintendo Switch being resolved with its successor would go a long way.
So, what can you expect from Nintendo in 2024? Definitively, there will be a handful of first-party titles – some of which, I’m sure, are yet to be unveiled – and a bevy of third-party games that will inevitably end up on the Switch as a preferred platform for many.
While the rumor mill has constantly reiterated each year that this time there really might be a new version of the Switch on the horizon, 2024 does actually feel finally poised to prove it accurate. There’s no denying that Nintendo has to be working on something, after all, and I for one am looking forward to seeing behind the elusive curtain.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
GamesRadar+ is exploring the most anticipated video games of the year withBig in 2024, with new articles dropping every day throughout January.
See more Nintendo Switch Features
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”