While the Nintendo Switch preview trailer gave fans plenty to be excited about, it was also missing a lot of important information about the new console. Luckily, fans don’t have to wait too much longer to learn all there is to know about Nintendo’s next console, as the Big N is set to host a presentation on Thursday, January 12th, where it is expected to reveal the system’s release date, price, and show off some of its games.
The most important part of any gaming console is its library of games, and potential Nintendo Switch consumers will be tuning in to see if Nintendo is going to deliver on that front. As it stands, the Nintendo Switch has potential to have a rather impressive library of third and first-party games from a variety of genres, if rumors and pre-release speculation are any indication.
For this list, we decided to stick to games that have been teased for a Switch release or titles that are rumored for the console. All of the games listed here could realistically be announced for Nintendo Switch come January 12th, and if even a handful of them are, the console should be off to a strong start.
2016 was the first year since 2009 that a main series Assassin’s Creed game didn’t release for consoles. However, 2017 is looking to get the franchise back on track with a new Assassin’s Creed game rumored to be set in Egypt. The game is also rumored for a simultaneous release on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and considering Ubisoft’s enthusiasm for the console and past support for Nintendo systems, the new Assassin’s Creed should be a lock. Ubisoft may wait for E3 to show gameplay footage of the next game in the Assassin’s Creed series, but it wouldn’t hurt to get the hype train rolling for it on January 12th.
Like the 2017 Assassin’s Creed, Beyond Good & Evil 2 is another Ubisoft game that has been previously rumored for Nintendo Switch. The game was confirmed to be back in active development shortly after rumors appeared of it being a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and while we don’t know if that’s true or not, Nintendo has a history of stepping forward with the funds necessary to complete games that otherwise wouldn’t have been finished. If rumors of Nintendo offering financial support for Beyond Good & Evil 2‘s development are true, then one has to imagine the game will have some sort of presence at the January 12th event.
One of the most popular new IP of the last few years is Dark Souls, the extremely difficult action RPG series created by From Software. So far, not a single Dark Souls game has been available on a Nintendo system, but that could change with Nintendo Switch. With reports indicating that From Software is considering ports of all three games, it’s possible that the Dark Souls III Switch port is already in active development.
Even though it was shown in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer, Bethesda later clarified that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is not technically confirmed for Nintendo’s new system. It would look bad for Nintendo if it used Skyrim to promote the Switch but didn’t deliver the game, so fans should be able to expect to receive an official confirmation on January 12th.
It appears as though the Mario Kart footage seen in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer came from a tweaked version of Mario Kart 8, and while Wii U ports are a definite possibility for the Switch, Nintendo is likely developing a new entry in the series as well. January 12th may only give gamers a glimpse at the rumored Mario Kart 8 Switch port, but if fans are lucky, Nintendo may also tease the next installment in the long-running Mario Kart franchise.