The Game Awards is an annual celebration of gaming achievements, recognizing the best titles and studios. Typically, industry giants like PlayStation, Xbox, Square Enix, and FromSoftware dominate the nominations. This year, however, one major player had a quieter presence: Nintendo. While they secured six nominations, this was a significant drop from their impressive 15 nominations in 2023. This begs the question: what does this mean for Nintendo, and could it be a strategic prelude to the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2?
the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom.pngThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, released in September 2024.
Nintendo’s 2024: A Year of Remakes and Refined Formulas
Nintendo’s 2024 wasn’t devoid of releases, but it leaned heavily on familiar franchises. Remakes and remasters like Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD offered polished versions of beloved classics. Original titles like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom garnered positive reviews, and Mario and Luigi: Brothership, while not scoring exceptionally high, delivered engaging combat and witty dialogue.
Stiff Competition in a Year of Gaming Giants
The 2024 gaming landscape was particularly competitive. Echoes of Wisdom, for instance, boasted a delightful soundtrack, yet faced formidable competition from composers like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki, alongside Nobuo Uematsu, Silent Hill 2 Remake‘s Akira Yamaoka, and Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s Shoji Meguro. Similarly, its art direction, while impressive, was overshadowed by visually stunning titles such as Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Neva.
A Historical Parallel: 2016 and the Dawn of the Switch
Interestingly, Nintendo’s 2024 performance echoes their showing at the 2016 Game Awards. That year, their nominations primarily recognized externally developed games. The following year, 2017, witnessed an explosion of Nintendo titles with the launch of the Nintendo Switch, resulting in a staggering 23 nominations. This included landmark releases like Super Mario Odyssey, ARMS, Metroid Prime: Samus Returns, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The Switch 2: A Potential Catalyst for a Resurgence
Anticipation builds for the Nintendo Switch 2.
While it’s too early to definitively link Nintendo’s 2024 performance to the Switch 2, it’s plausible that their development focus has shifted towards the new console. The Nintendo Switch, nearing the end of its lifecycle, saw its last major push in 2023. The outsourcing of projects like Princess Peach Showtime!, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom further suggests a strategic reallocation of internal resources.
Promising Prospects for the Switch 2 and Beyond
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, nominated for Most Anticipated Game, is poised to be a major launch title for the Switch 2. Its potential to replicate the cross-generational success of Breath of the Wild could propel the new console to immediate prominence. Rumors of a new 3D Mario game, a consistent award contender, also fuel excitement. Remakes of Wind Waker or Twilight Princess could further bolster the Switch 2’s launch lineup. Finally, Pokemon Legends Z-A, while not directly developed by Nintendo, holds the potential to capture both critical acclaim and commercial success.
Conclusion: A Strategic Retreat Paving the Way for a Triumphant Return
While 2024 may not have been Nintendo’s most decorated year at The Game Awards, it could represent a strategic pause, allowing them to concentrate their efforts on the Nintendo Switch 2. The parallels to 2016 suggest that Nintendo might be preparing for a similar resurgence in 2025 and beyond, with the Switch 2 serving as the launchpad for a new wave of award-winning titles.
