The Nintendo Switch has been worming its way into the current video market, a market saturated with other consoles like Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. It is not an easy market to get into, but if there is a will, there is a way. 

Nintendo has announced some upcoming titles that will be on the Switch soon enough, such as “Pokémon: Sword and Shield,” “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” and “Yoshi’s Crafted World.” These are franchises that have been expected to make an appearance on the Switch for some time. However, Nintendo has been doing work behind the scenes. There are more exclusives coming to Nintendo only, such as “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order,” “Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes” and “Daemon X Machina.” These anticipated games are a surprise to Nintendo’s 2019 lineup for this year, as they do not fit into the description of a Nintendo exclusive. The question some may be asking is what is Nintendo’s plan here? Nintendo is simply following an ongoing trend: exclusive games for its titles only. 

Exclusives are not entirely new but also not as old as gaming itself. Some of the more well-known examples are the “God of War” series and the “Uncharted” series for PlayStation consoles, while the “Halo” series and the “Gears of War” series, as well as many arcade games from the Microsoft store, are exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. Computer gaming has an entirely new market when it comes to exclusive titles between all the major AAA studios and many smaller developers. Nintendo is following and applying a trend from the early 2000s to its games but has also earned the rights to other well-known games as well. This is a draw-in method for Nintendo, hoping these titles are strong enough to bring in consumers and have them buy a Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo has a strong lineup of games so far. The Switch is only in its second year of existence, and Nintendo is trying to keep its cash flow going. In a market so divided on which console or computer is better, Nintendo is trying to get its foot in the door. It is taking long-anticipated titles and sequels and getting exclusive rights to them. This may cause some consumers to buy a Switch simply because their favorite title is on the Switch only. This brings in a lot of draw power for Nintendo. In a market full of many consoles and exclusives, the Switch is only starting its career as what may be a field-changing device. 

Image from GameSpot via YouTube