Nintendo fans are eagerly anticipating the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12th, but what comes next for the house of Mario is still a mystery. However, there are some clues about what could be in store for the rest of the year.
Nintendo will be returning to Gamescom in August for the first time since 2019, and it’s possible they may illuminate us about the Switch’s holiday lineup and beyond. By that point, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4 will already be available, leaving a large gap for what the company may exhibit on the convention floor.
While it’s possible that already-released Switch titles could be showcased at Gamescom, it’s also likely that Nintendo will focus on promoting other major franchises. For example, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will receive their first DLC expansions later this year, and with Pokemon being one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, it makes sense for them to make a huge push at Gamescom.
One possibility for a major press push is Metroid Prime 4. It’s been a long time since the game was announced, but Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze developer Retro Studios took over production in 2019, and there are rumors that it could be close to completion. Another rumored possibility is that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wind Waker will come to Switch, but the timing seems a bit weird given the imminent release of Tears of the Kingdom.
It’s also possible that Nintendo could dip into some of their other big franchises, such as Donkey Kong, Star Fox, and F-Zero. However, it almost feels like it’s time for Nintendo to move on from the Switch to a successor or shed light on what’s next for the platform.
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser said in March that the company has nothing to announce regarding a Switch 2, but a report from February suggests that a next-gen Nintendo console could come out in 2024. It’s worth noting that the company has never let more than seven years pass between new home console hardware, and the Switch will hit that milestone in March 2024.
In the meantime, Gamescom in August should pull back the curtain on Nintendo’s future, and fans are eagerly anticipating what surprises the company has in store.
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