Nintendo Switch will have 'steady pacing of content'

The Nintendo Switch's launch lineup is rather sparse: when the system releases on March 3, 2017, it'll launch with 12 games, and half of those are Japanese games. Nintendo has officially defended the lineup by promising that the Switch will have a "steady march of content" throughout 2017.

Nintendo America President Reggie Fils-Aime echoes the points I made in my recent video about the Switch launch games. The launch is just the beginning--not the final destination--and Nintendo will have an arsenal of unique and innovative games rolling out on the handheld-console hybrid throughout 2017 and beyond. Fils-Aime's words echo the promises of Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima, who promised that the Switch would have a "full software lineup" within its life cycle.

"Launch day is not the be-all and the end-all," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said in a recent interview with CNET. "It really is the steady pacing of content that continually reinforces for the people who bought into the platform why they made a smart choice, as well as what compels people who might be sitting on the sidelines to jump in."

"We feel we have this great ongoing march of content to motivate you to jump into the platform," the Nintendo President affirmed.

2

The Nintendo Switch will launch with these 12 games on March 3, 2017:

• Zelda: Breath of the Wild (NA, JP and EU)
• 1, 2 Switch!
• Skylanders: Imaginators
• Snipper Clips: Cut it Out Together!
• Just Dance 2017
• Super Bomberman R

Japanese Switch launch games:

• Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2
• Disgaea 5: Complete
• Nobunaga's Ambition - Sphere of Influence
• Puyo Puyo Tetris
• Romance of the 13 Kingdoms
• Spelunker

Despite the launch lineup, Nintendo is in a very unique position to bolster these games with its massive array of Virtual Console games. These titles are curated lists from classic retro systems such as the NES and SNES, and would be an immeasurably valuable asset for Nintendo to tap.

Alas, Nintendo hasn't said a single word about its Virtual Console plans for the Switch. We do know that VC will be coming to the Switch, along with a paid online service that's required for online multiplayer, but the company has been mum on specific details.

In any case, the Nintendo Switch's launch games could be better, but 2017 looks pretty solid for the system as a whole. Nintendo has promised that over 50 developers are working on over 80 games for the Switch, so the console should have a vast array of first-party exclusives, third-party ports, indies and Virtual Console games to fill in its content offerings.

The Nintendo Switch launches March 3, 2017 for $299. Check below for a catalog of everything we know about the system so far.

2

Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch:

• Putting Nintendo Switch launch games into perspective
• Stock Nintendo Switch JoyConGrip won't recharge JoyCons
• The new Zelda game takes up nearly half Switch's storage
• Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs at 900p 30FPS docked, 720p 30FPS undocked
• Nintendo Switch supports 2TB Micro SDXC cards
• Nintendo Switch online chat requires smartphone app
• Here's why Nintendo Switch doesn't come with any games
• Nintendo will soon charging gamers to play online multiplayer via subscription service
• Nintendo Switch UI revealed, let's take a closer look
• Nintendo Switch touchscreen has haptic feedback tech
• Nintendo stock drops after Switch unveil event
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch runs at 1080p when docked
• Nintendo Switch hardware specs revealed
• Nintendo Switch costs $299, coming March 3
• Nintendo Switch battery life is 2.5 hours to 6 hours
• New Mario: Odyssey game won't be Nintendo Switch launch title
• Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Switch launch game