How Nintendo Could Accidentally Kill the Switch

After this latest E3, I think that we are all starting to realize that the Switch isn't getting broad "Triple A" third party support like we were all hoping for.  It seems to be getting individualized ports of games that are made specifically for the system or not getting "multi-plats" at all.  Huge system sellers like Call of Duty or Battlefront aren't getting Switch ports at all and even some smaller games like "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" aren't making an appearance on the system.  Nintendo can say that they can't anticipate what third party developers are going to do, but when they are given a system with a tablet SoC (system on a chip) to run home console quality games, they are going to be very constrained.  After all, they are trying to turn a profit and if they have to burn a ton of man hours to make a special port for the system, they will probably not take the risk. 

So the system isn't getting broad Triple A support, how does that affect you?  I like to tell people all the time that even if you don't like a game, someone out there does and it might just be the reason they pick up the system.  Maybe Fifa isn't for you, but I bet you there are a ton of Fifa fans out there that will pick up a Switch as soon as they can take Fifa with them on the go for practice and travel.  Simply put, big budget Triple A games with mass market appeal sell systems, and there is only so much Mario a person can play.  

If the Switch stays on its current path, we are going to be right back where we were with the Wii U.  Nintendo making great first party titles and indies populating the eShop.  I loved the Wii U, but Nintendo can't afford to have another one of those, they need to have another SNES or Wii.  Something with mass market appeal.  All hope is not yet lost.  

All of my complaints have hinged around one singular fact.  The Switch is significantly underpowered as a home console.  It has a trick up its sleeve though, the ability to be a stand alone handheld as well.  That changes things in Nintendo's favor if they use it right.  How? 

Nintendo's handheld market is ON FIRE right now.  They might have taken a back seat in the home console market, but they are the absolute champion in the handheld scene.  Mobile has killed all the competition but Nintendo was able to stay around in the handheld market because of their great IP (intellectual property).  This same IP that kept the handheld market going strong can lift the Switch to tremendous heights.  In all the ways that the Switch disappointed the developers of big budget home console games, it THRILLED the handheld developers that were used to working on the archaic 3DS.  This would open up a whole new world of possibility for them.  For example, look at the Pokemon Company and how they are bringing the next mainline RPG style Pokemon game to the Switch.  This is where the staying power for the Switch will come from.  

All of this goes away however if Nintendo releases a successor to the 3DS.  If they do that, now you have 2 portable Nintendo systems to choose from.  Both with different games and different peripherals.  With a fractured market like this, they are sure to cannibalize themselves into a point of no return.  

In closing, I have a note for "The Big N". Don't cripple your home console to make it portable if you plan on making a standalone portable console.  That would make the Switch a second rate home console and a second rate portable.  Let's hope that isn't where the future leads.