Hi redditors, I have just joined reddit and I come from GameFAQs (please don’t hate me). Previous years I have looked at Nintendo’s studios and second and third party associations to try and see what we will come in the year. A lot of predictions have come true, while others have been a year off and meanwhile others were completely off base.
It is interesting to speculate what will come in the year by looking at what they have released in the past. I hope you enjoy my post as much as I enjoy making it and speculating what is to come. Keep in mind this is PURE SPECULATION based on facts, rumors and past development.
***Known release Dates***
* Puzzle & Dragons Gold (Jan 15)
* Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (Jan 17)
* Rune Factory 4 Special (Jan 21)
* Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath (Jan 2020)
* The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (Feb 4)
* Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate (Feb 14)
* Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (Feb 20)
* Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (Feb 25)
* Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Mar 20)
* Doom 64 (Mar 20)
* Trials of Mana (Apr 24)
* SuperMash (May 2020)
***Unknown releases for early 2020***
* Doom Eternal
* Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers
* Streets of Rage 4
* Sports Story
* Murder by Numbers
* The Survivalists
* Xenoblade Chronicles Remake
* Axiom Verge 2
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***2019 Redux***
While 2019 was a solid year for the Nintendo Switch, there was no huge franchise drop, with the exception of Pokémon Sword/Shield that has fans divided. The other biggest title scheduled was postponed into this year (Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Mar 20). The biggest thing is that there will be a longer life on many of their titles going into 2020 with DLC.
**Super Smash Bros. Ultimate** – The final fighter of the first fighters pass is promised to be released before the end of February 2020. Also announced was the production of another 5 fighter pass to be developed. While the first fighters pass is likely to end on another third-party note, nothing is known about the new fighters pass. ([https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/](https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/))
**Fire Emblem: Three Houses** – There was an expansion pass released for US$25 which is to expand the already large game even larger. While multiple waves of releases, we have received extra cosmetics, recruits and a quest. The biggest part of the expansion is promised to be released before April 30, which includes extra story elements. ([https://fireemblem.nintendo.com/three-houses/downloadable-content/](https://fireemblem.nintendo.com/three-houses/downloadable-content/))
**Luigi’s Mansion 3** – Coming with 2 expansion passes, each for US10. Both are multiplayer packs with the first one coming by April 30 and the second one coming by July 31. Purchasing the passes also gives you a new Polterpup for use in the main game. ([https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/2019/team-up-with-friends-for-more-ghost-hunting-fun-dlc-for-luigis-mansion-3-arrives-in-2020/](https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/2019/team-up-with-friends-for-more-ghost-hunting-fun-dlc-for-luigis-mansion-3-arrives-in-2020/))
**Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order** – There were 3 packs included in the US$20 expansion pass and the first one has been released adding Marvel Knights. The 2nd pack is ready to release just before Christmas and includes the Danger Room and 4 X-Men added to the roster. The final pack is called the Shadow of Doom and said to include Fantastic Four characters by Spring 2020. ([https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/marvel-ultimate-alliance-3-the-black-order-switch/#add-on-content](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/marvel-ultimate-alliance-3-the-black-order-switch/#add-on-content))
**Super Mario Maker 2** – while nothing is announced they just dropped a free DLC pack #2 in December. They have added multiplayer with friends, doubled your upload amounts and now have a Link power up for the SMB style. I would not doubt if Nintendo added at least one more free pack (or even a paid pack) in 2020, unfortunately they are overly silent on this matter.
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***A First Place Finish (1st Party)***
This is a little hard to break down as when Nintendo restructured in 2015 to make the teams more fluid. The teams are typically headed by a producer and a developer.
**Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development Tokyo**
**Yoshiaki Koizumi -** Previously worked on Super Mario Odyssey, he is now the deputy General Manager of EPD Tokyo. I don’t know who will replace his role as producer with this team so I am leaving the team under him. With the release in 2018 of some free DLC for Super Mario Odyssey in the form of Luigi’s Balloon World, I believe they started developing new world for a direct sequel. The same thing happened with Super Mario Galaxy and it was just under 3 years development for its sequel. Especially because the closest thing to a 3D Mario game in 2019 was Luigi’s Mansion 3 and that game only has multiplayer DLC coming. Expect a full fledge sequel to be revealed close to e3 to go head to head with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
**Koichi Hayashida -** The other team that helped with Super Mario Odyssey also did the port of Captain Toad: Treasure Trackers. They ported the game to Switch and added some new content for Switch in 2018, likely just to add a title to the systems portfolio in that lackluster year. Most likely helping Koizumi with Super Mario Odyssey 2 to ensure they get the title out this year.
**Takao Shimizu -** This producer helped create the NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic Edition. I am certain he and his team are responsible for the NES and SNES Online games. His team is smaller and they also assisted with Super Mario Odyssey to ensure they hit the holiday 2017. I am sure besides getting more games with the online service, that he is also assisting with the sequel to Super Mario Odyssey.
**Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development Kyoto**
**Eiji Aonuma -** Known as the “Zelda team”, there are two core teams. I believe both are working under Hidemaro Fujibayashi to help develop the sequel to Breath of the Wild. Since the other director, Hiromasa Shikata’s last credits were A Link Between Worlds (2013 with his own team) and Tri Force Heroes (2015 work with Grezzo). I believe he is working with Fujibayashi as a co-producer or under him. Nintendo knows that Zelda sells consoles and what they have shown at e3 while stating in full development, I believe they want to have this game out this year to also go head to head with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series X.
**Hideki Konno -** This team is the team behind the Mario Kart series. With the last game was their mobile undertaking with Mario Kart Tour. A little lackluster but Nintendo’s overall mobile plans is to have some games in play on mobile and eventually transfer the gamers to full fledge games. With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe selling extremely well and being part of the Black Friday pack in again, it is likely we will at least hear what this team has been up to since their 2017 port of a 2015 game. With Mario Kart also having some competition in the form of Crash Team Racing and Team Sonic Racing they may be ready to reveal Mario Kart 9 or a spin off such as Donkey Kong Racing. Possible but unlikely to have this team work on either F-Zero or Wave Race. It would keep them up to date with racing engines while releasing a title that would not directly compete with the evergreen title Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
**Hiroyuki Kimura -** Super Mario Maker 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe were developed under Kimura with the help of Takashi Tezuka. I foresee them making more DLC for Super Mario Maker 2 and possibly a new title in the New Super Mario series since a full 2D Mario game plays quite different from Mario Maker. Other possibilities would be the development of a new Wario Ware or Wario Land game to differentiate itself more from Mario Maker. A small group under Kimura has developed the Pikmin franchise. Things have been silent with this franchise since Hey! Pikmin on 3DS. Fans clamoured for Pikmin 4 and Pikmin 3 as a launch title on the failed Wii U system was actually quite successful breaking over 1 million sold. I think that we will see a Pikmin 4 this year and either the game will come out this year or next.
**Kosuke Yubuki -** Previously worked on ARMS in 2017 and its DLC. This producer also worked with Konno so it is likely this team was folded back into the Mario Kart team to prepare something for this year or next. It is possible they are working on an ARMS follow up, but with the success of Smash, it is unlikely.
**Hisashi Nogami -** This is the young producer in charge of both Animal Crossing and Splatoon series. He worked with another young producer Aya Kyogoku on Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. With the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons due March 20 and their pennant for long lasting supporting DLC and solid online code, expect a big reveal on the game early this year with support coming constantly throughout the year, also expect big online details. I don’t see this team working on anything else while focusing on Animal Crossing.
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***These teams are a second to none (2nd Party Studios)***
**AlphaDream -** This team created the Mario & Luigi series on Nintendo’s portables. Due to recent ports underperforming on the now defunct 3DS system, AlphaDream had incurred insurmountable debt and filed for bankruptcy in October, so it is unlikely we will see anything from them.
**Camelot Software Planning -** Their last title was Mario Tennis Aces (2018) and its respective DLC. Being a smaller studio, it takes some time for development. While half a team was working on the DLC, they other half was probably pre-planning the next Mario Golf title. With all the DLC on MTA completed at the top of the year, they have likely been busy in full development on Mario Golf. Most likely will see Mario Golf sometime in 2020.
**Game Freak -** They just released Pokemon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch this year to mixed review. They typically have something Pokemon related out each year and they also developed their own title Little Town Hero. They likely have something new on development and will at least show something this year, however; I think with the blowback from Sword/Shield that Pokemon may take a year off and actually finetune itself for a 2021 release
**Grezzo -** This team just release the port of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. This was their first foray into HD development besides assisting with BotW during crunch time. Most known for their 3DS ports of Zelda titles, they also developed their own title on the 3DS: Ever Oasis. They have also been rumored to be developing a port of Skyward Sword, but considering their issues with Link’s Awakening I think they will likely be developing another title using a similar engine. It is unlikely that anything from them is in development from them for 2020 so I think we will get an original title using Link’s Awakening engine for 2021.
**Good Feel -** They released Yoshi’s Crafted World just earlier this year to mixed reviews. It is most likely they have started on the next Yoshi game as it tends to sell well and it is what they know. It is also possible that Nintendo has given them another 2D IP to work with such as Wario Land. Regardless of the case we probably will not see their development until 2021 and it will probably have a 2022 release.
**HAL Laboratory -** Developer of all things Kirby, we have seen some smaller Kirby titles lately so expect to have a larger Kirby title ready for the first half of the year 2020.
**Intelligent Systems -** Creators of the Fire Emblem and Paper Mario franchises. Their most recent release was Fire Emblem: Three Houses which was an incredibly large game and they have DLC for it coming by April 30 of this year. They are also constantly working on Fire Emblem Heroes mobile game. Considering they also required help by Koei Tecmo to finish Three Houses, chances are they are not far along their new title and may still be in the first stages. I think from them we will see a Paper Mario game that will return to form – especially with the Mario & Luigi studio now defunct – in 2021 or later.
**Next Level Games -** Responsible for the critically acclaimed Luigi’s Mansion 3, they have some multiplayer DLC that they are developing that will be out by July 31, 2020. I think in the meantime they will start on a new title but that will be a while before we see anything. They have worked on everything from Luigi, to sports titles, from Metroid, to Punch Out! I think it is up to them and Nintendo which Nintendo IP they tackle next though it won’t be until 2021/2022 that we will see it or see release.
**NDCube -** Responsible for Super Mario Party. Considering the lack of DLC for the 2018, chances are they are working on a sequel to the game that sold well. Given they have already developed the engine, questions are more likely if they will focus on the unique features of the joycon or go a more traditional minigame route as to not alienate gamers that purchased the Switch Lite console. Expect their game to come in 2020.
**Monolith Soft** – Responsible for help with Breath of the Wild and the Xenoblade franchise. We did not hear much from them in 2019, but we do know they are releasing a remake of the original Xenoblade Chronicles in the first half of the year. in 2017 they advertised jobs for a new fantasy action-RPG which likely was transferred to their help with the Zelda franchise. Because they were hiring for work in their team for a Zelda project, I think it is safe to say that will be released in 2020 to combat PS5 and XSX.
**Retro Studios -** This team had silence for over 5 years and is now given the reigns for Metroid Prime 4 after Nintendo was not happy with its initial development. Under strict supervision of Kensuke Tanabe and Yoshi Sakamoto, I believe whatever troubled development they previously had was shuttered to focus on Metroid Prime 4. I think they have also created a port of the Metroid Prime Trilogy which fed the rumors of the game being in development and Nintendo is sitting on the title to be closer to release on the new title. I think we will see the port of Metroid Prime Trilogy in 2020 and Metroid Prime 4 will be a 2021 title.
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***Third Time is a charm (3rd Party)***
**Bethesda** – they are still promising to support Switch with titles they can, however; they are starting development for the next generation which will likely end up leaving the Switch SOL. We are only expecting Doom Eternal in 2020 but we could have a surprise or two from them yet.
**Square Enix** – They have fully gotten back into the Nintendo camp and have focused not only on ports but even subverted some development resources for titles exclusive to the system. After the success of Octopath Traveler, we are receiving Bravely Default II which is officially in development. Also pushed into this year is the online title Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles HD. I am sure some surprises will come throughout the year.
**Ubisoft** – They partnered with Nintendo in 2017 to release Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. Then in 2018 they had extra DLC for that game and special Star Fox DLC for one of their games, StarLink: Battle for Atlas. I think more collaboration is in the works and would not be surprised to see a full Star Fox title from them in 2020. They have also brought some of their older Assassin Creed titles to the Switch and have Assassin’s Creed Odyssey available through streaming in Japan. Expect a surprise or two from them in the year.
**Bandai Namco** – They are assisting with Smash and are now helping develop more unique fighters for another fighters pass. Their “Tales of” game that was promised for Switch was shuttered for Tales of Arise for PS4/XB1 and Soul Calibur VI also picked up another fighters pass. Sitting dormant is Tekken and Ridge Racer. Either of those games may have a Switch port in the works but outside Smash, Bandai seems to not interested in the Switch console. Additionally, it was believed they had a Singapore studio that was developing Metroid Prime 4 before the project was taken away and given back to Retro Studios
**Koei Tecmo** – Responsible for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Hyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, and helped Intelligent Systems with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. This third-party studio has become very close with Nintendo and their games have been successful on their platform. Nintendo co-owns the Fatal Frame franchise with this studio, I expect a game in that series to come to fruition either 2020 or 2021. Additionally, it has been a while since Ninja Gaiden has seen a release, expect to see something in that series this year while helping finishing up the TMS#FE port and MUA3 DLC.
**Platinum Games** – Announced at the Game Awards in 2017, Bayonetta 3 has been in deep development for 2 full years. They have also worked with Nintendo on the new IP Astral Chain which was released to great critical and financial acclaim. I expect to see Bayonetta 3 this year for either 2020 or a 2021 release. They may also have an extra surprise or two to showcase but that may be a 2021 title at the earliest.
**Sega** – They will likely have a Sonic game to tie in with the movie and because they sell best on Nintendo’s platforms, expect a Switch copy of the game. Also they own Atlus, which has said it was developing Shin Megami Tensei V and we have seen nothing on that game since 2017 but said in Feb 2018 that is in full development. Additional they have Persona 5 Shuffle (co-developed by Koei Tecmo) to release in 2020. Atlus also developed Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE which has a remake/port coming out this January.