Nintendo’s list of games with confirmed release dates for their popular console, the Nintendo Switch, is a short one.
Out of the six games the Japanese video game giant has officially announced, only two have definitive release dates: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is slated for a May 29 release, and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics drops on June 5.
The other Nintendo title with any sort of release date information is Bravely Default II, and the only details the company has provided so far is it will be released sometime this year.
But, according to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, we need not worry.
Furukawa recently stated during an investor Q&A call that the company has other games scheduled for release within the current period; they just haven’t been announced yet.
He cautioned, however, that with so many of its people working from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, following that schedule might be difficult.
“For our forecast, we have games that are scheduled to release during this period other than what’s been announced,” Furukawa said. “However, many workers at Nintendo and our partners are working from home during this time. Considering the working environments between home and office are quite different, it could become increasingly difficult to release our games in line with our current schedule if the situation is prolonged. As things currently stand, we’re forecasting as if we’ll be able to release our games according to schedule.”
The other three confirmed Nintendo Switch titles are Metroid Prime 4, Bayonetta 3, and the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It’s not clear, however, if Furukawa was referring to any of those games being released during the current period. Some reports state that none of these titles were even mentioned by name during a recent earnings call at the company.
Despite the short list and the uncertainty in Nintendo’s plans, Switch owners have plenty to look forward to, especially considering some of the upcoming third-party releases and Nintendo’s DLC plans for titles like Pokemon Sword and Shield.
We shouldn’t expect Nintendo to rely on third-party titles for them to get by, however. The company’s fiscal year 2020 was a strong one. And, Furukawa understands the importance of Nintendo titles. “Nintendo is Nintendo because of our games, characters and IP,” he told Time last year.
Indeed, it is, which makes his comments about unannounced games all the more intriguing.
