Nintendo Switch Reportedly Shuffles Major Launch Titles

There's been a good amount of conversation about launch titles for the Nintendo Switch, with Mario and Zelda being the front-runners. We've known that a Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been in the works for quite some time, but a new report says that localization of the game is taking longer than expected. As a result, Breath of the Wild may not be a launch title for Switch.

The report comes from Emily Rogers, who has spoken with number tipsters over the past few months. These insiders say that the localization process is proving to be difficult for Nintendo, brought on the by the fact that Breath of the Wild is a massive undertaking. As a result, localization may not be complete until the end of December, and with a testing period of four to six months, that pushes Breath of the Wild past Switch's March launch.

Based on these reports, it sounds like Nintendo planned to have Breath of the Wild on the Switch at launch, but now that may not be the case. Nintendo knows it needs a big game to launch alongside the new console, which brings us to Mario. A separate Eurogamer report says that a new Mario game will be ready to go at launch, putting some star power behind the Switch.

Whether or not it's the Mario game we briefly saw in Switch's announcement trailer remains to be determined. Nintendo has been tight-lipped on launch details – including titles – and will remain silent until January. Once we're into 2017, Nintendo says it will detail launch titles and availability for the Switch.

Nintendo apparently recognizes the need to have its big franchises on the Switch early. So, while it's best to take these rumors with a healthy dose of skepticism, don't be shocked to see at least one of those big franchises get a launch title on the Switch. Nintendo will be unleashing these new Switch details on January 12, so we'll see what it's plotting then. Stay tuned.

SOURCE: Emily Rogers

MORE: Eurogamer