Nintendo Switch and Wii U Third Party Partners Compared

Will the Nintendo Switch become the next Wii U? Let's take a look at the third-party partners and specs and make some predictions

[Imp0ssibl3]

No, the Switch already has more partners

[cleft5]

Whats really telling is how many more of those partners are Japanese developers. Which I am all for as I love the content they make on the 3DS.

[Gaming_Cousin]

Let's hope they bring it to the states

[DrierofLeaves]

This story is misinformed, because the image it uses for the Wii U's 'third party support' is actually the list of 3DS partners.
FFS people, at least actually do your research...

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

https://i.redditmedia.com/R...

There; a more accurate pic.

[DrierofLeaves]

Thank you

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Here's a better list:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ni...

Here's a pic for comparison;
https://i.redditmedia.com/R...

Nintendo Wii U third party list:

Square-Enix
Konami
Capcom
Bandai-Namco
EA
Ubisoft
Tetris
Sega

(There were others like Platinum, WB, etc, that the pic doesn't include, but overall it wasn't much more than that.)

Nintendo Switch Third party list: 

 505 Games • LEVEL-5 Inc.
 Activision Publishing, Inc.
 Marvelous Inc.
 ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co., Ltd.
 Maximum Games, LLC
 ATLUS CO., LTD.
 Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
 Audiokinetic Inc.
 Parity Bit Inc.
 Autodesk, Inc.
 PlatinumGames Inc.
 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
 RAD Game Tools, Inc.
 Bethesda
 RecoChoku Co., Ltd.
 CAPCOM CO., LTD.
 SEGA Games Co., Ltd.
 Codemasters®
 Silicon Studio Corporation
 CRI Middleware Co., Ltd.
 Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
 DeNA Co., Ltd.
 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
 Electronic Arts
 Starbreeze Studios
 Epic Games Inc.
 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
 Firelight Technologies
 Telltale Games
 FromSoftware, Inc.
 THQ Nordic
 Frozenbyte
 Tokyo RPG Factory Co., Ltd.
 GameTrust
 TT Games
 GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
 UBISOFT
 Gungho Online Entertainment, Inc.
 Ubitus Inc.
 HAMSTER Corporation
 Unity Technologies, Inc.
 Havok
 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
 INTI CREATES CO., LTD.
 Web Technology Corp
 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
 Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

(That's 47 total.)

So right off the bat, we can already tell that Nintendo has convinced WAY MORE devs than the Wii U got, to come and make games for the Switch.

And that's just the SAMPLING, meaning THERE MAY BE MORE WE HAVEN'T YET SEEN.

Having a bigger list is a better sign than having a smaller one.
If it were comparable to the Wii U's list, we'd have worries, because that would mean they convinced fewer third parties to at least put their names forward on the support list.
1 name may not = 1 game in every instance, sure, but more names means higher odds going forward.
This is a good thing no matter how one spins it.

Also, since I haven't yet said it: everyone please welcome my second downvote stalker!
He just recently joined the little hate train that's slowly forming behind many of my posts, alongside the first guy who started the trend of downvoting everything I say no matter how inoffensive it is, so please do forgive him if he misses a few of my posts at first.

I'm sure he'll make up for it, and even convince some of his saltiest of buddies to join in, in very short order.
Keep those jimmies rustled, kids, and I'll see you next post.^_^

[mcstorm]

I think it will get the support but the hard bit will be getting the big 3 cod, bf and FIFA on the switch. 2 of them were on the wiiu but we're short lived and also slagged off by av and ea. They also expected more sales for half assed ports. This is what 3rd party's need to do this time is not half ass the ports and put daft prices on them to.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Agreed, in part.
If ports come late and don't have all the features for any reason, full price is a stupid move.
Hopefully third parties will realise that this time, instead of shooting themselves in the foot then complaining about sales later.

Edit: SD11 does make a good point, though; CoD and other games like that won't be enough to move Switch units on their own, because the majority of the fanbases for those games are not formed by people that play on Nintendo home consoles, and they've never really tried hard to increase those numbers on Nintendo's consoles.
The fanbases that buy those YOY entry games don't really exist in large enough numbers, on Nintendo home consoles, to tip Nintendo's scales, and they never would unless the makers of said games did something unexpected or crazy to draw their support over to the Switch, like offering really compelling Switch-only content or just making one entry from each a Switch exclusive.

[conanlifts]

Cod appeared on the wii u in the first year. Made no difference to the wii u's popularity.

[conanlifts]

I guess the thing is that if each switch partner releases just 1 game in the first 18 months then i guess they would have at least triple the number that appeared on the wii u in the same period.

You missed a few off the wii u list though. Activision released a cod early on. Atlus, thq, warner bros and platinum were also wii u supporters.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Thanks.

[BizarroUltraman]

Whoa, great support indeed, even if some dont pan out in the end.

[RAM0N]

Most of them will drop

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed I don't really have much High Hopes in regards to this getting lots of support

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Your magic 8 ball is a Negative Nancy.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

The western yeah but the Japanese no.
Ubisoft will stay because this time they seem to be serious this time.
Bethseda may stay depending on how much work they put. EA and Activision nope.

Japanese publishers will have Switch as their main platform for games development going forward alongside PS4.

[jaymacx]

support might increase and be the opposite of what you guys think. it all depends on how Switch is received by the public. Just because things didn't work out last system for Nintendo isn't a guarantee that it will repeat a failure.

[Segata]

Show me a Nintendo handheld with bad 3rd party support and I will show proof Vita is outselling 3DS.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I don't think the switch will become the next wii u simply because of how popular Portables are in Japan and around the world

I also agree however that I do not see the switch getting lots of mainstream third-party support from the same companies that are creating console games.

The switch will most likely get lots of support from the same Japanese companies that were making their portable games, ie Your Dragon Quest, monster hunter, Professor Layton ,Ace Attorney, Bravely Default etc

[The 10th Rider]

Yeah, anyone who says the Switch will be a total flop doesn't understand the Japanese market. The Switch is about the best thing anyone could do for a 'home console' for Japan.

[yomfweeee]

Japan is just a tiny part of the world. Great success there doesn't prove anything worldwide.

[The 10th Rider]

I'm not saying the Switch is going to be a runaway success because of Japan, but it will likely be a success within Japan. Even it flops in the West and third party support drops off, Japan will still support it.

[BizarroUltraman]

I agree. Look at the game landscape in Japan. More handhelds sold than consoles. So I dont see the trend stopping.

[sk8ofmnd]

But what if the games play really shitty on the go? Its rumored to be less powerful than a wiiu on the go.

[rjason12]

Actually it was rumored to be slightly better/faster than the Wii U on the go.

[Chrisgamerguy]

It says take two was a Wii U partner... ummm what game did they make for the Wii U?

[jaymacx]

NBA2k13 i think

[Gamist2dot0]

They can list 100+ more support than the WiiU, but if the sales don't meet the numbers, that list of support won't mean much. The Switch reveal and Nintendo's marketing team will make or break the Switch.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Agreed, but to borrow a portion from another poster elsewhere on the net:

" Judging by the trailer, they seem to be doing a lot of things right this time to attract wider demographics:
-No kids in the commercial (showing footage of mario, mario kart and splatoon is enough to attract that demographic and the older demographic who still enjoy these games).
-a unique and interesting name for the console that doesn't sound silly.
-having a sleek design of the console that also looks sophisticated without looking too much like a toy.
-showing an RPG like skyrim and the pro controller for core gamers.
-showing NBA 2K for sports gamers."

Amongst other things.

[nwo4life4ever]

In October last year I decided to buy a new console. I had a Wii bought day one plus i have 92 games for it and a WiiU also bought day one with 10 retail and 12 digital games. I never regretted either purchase. I decided not to wait for and purchase the Switch as I felt let down by the 3rd party developers who initially supported the Wii U and then quickly abandoned it. I was very disappointed that there was only 1 FIFA and no WWE games on the Wii U.

In my opinion, they abandoned it because of the low sales even though the WiiU sold 3 million first month of release. I think that this will again happen with the Switch if it does not sell enough units (I would like to know what number developers think is enough, for them to continue to release games for any console) but that is the age old problem, companies won’t develop for a console with low sales but a console needs good games for it to sell in the long term.

In my opinion game play is more import than graphics (both would be nice) and I know this as I have been playing consoles games since 1975 and computer games since 1985 so the reported specs of the Switch don't bother me. It’s whether developers will support it in the long run.

Having a big list of developers before the Switch is released in my opinion means nothing. I think with most developers it will come down to sales of the switch, just like the WiiU. Btw, I bought a PS4 slim over Xbox for 2 reasons. I can only afford one console at a time. 1st was the PS4 exclusives and second was the TAC Pro 4 (Keyboard and Mouse) which i bought since i really like FPS and I am useless using a controller in those types of games. Motion control on the Wii & WiiU was great for FPS IMO.

Sorry to ramble on a bit but this is the very first post I have made on any site about anything and I chose this site as I agree with a lot of posters here including wonderfulmonkeyman who I wouldn't know from a bar of soap (Aussie expression). One thing I will never do is abuse anyone for liking a console or game that I don't own or play. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I consider myself a gamer with no loyalty to any one company. I just enjoy playing games. Once again, sorry to ramble on a bit.

[zugdar]

Its all for nothing if the third parties don't bring quality games. And I'm not talking crappy outdated, overpriced or unoptimized ports like Deux Ex, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs and plenty other games had WiiU had.

[Gemmol]

this system a handheld even though it can dock.......and if you look at the list, its more of 3ds developers added to the list, so if you ever like the 3ds catalog of games, like I do, than no one will have problems playing 3ds games with way better graphics on the go or on their big screen TV for the first time........so even if it didnt have those games you listed.......I am pretty okay with what the 3ds offer but now I will experience these games in HD graphics on the Switch, and bigger worlds

[showtimefolks]

Yes let's look at lists let me know when there is actual support and not just talk of support. Most publishers will take the wait and see approach to see how well switch is doing before investing heavily into anything

Publishers already have their hands full with ps4,Xbox one,pro and Scorpio along with pc

I just don't see switch being that successful and that's because Nintendo doesn't know how to make a core home console

[Gemmol]

i disagree, with the wait and see approach, this system a handheld even though it can dock.......and if you look at the list, its more of 3ds developers added to the list, so if you ever like the 3ds catalog of games, like I do, than no one will have problems playing 3ds games with way better graphics on the go or on their big screen TV for the first time

[showtimefolks]

SNES is the last Nintendo console to get proper 3rd party support

[Gemmol]

Switch a handheld first before it turn into a console, and with rumors stating they will sell it without the dock later on, then it means it is a handheld, and since when have a nintendo handheld have 3rd party issues......you keep bringing up console, but you keep forgetting if someone never want to dock they can just use it handheld only and still I repeat what Nintendo handheld have 3rd party issues......look at 3ds it get games from everyone, Square enix made new ip for it

[sk8ofmnd]

Doesnt mean much if switch gamers dont support the third partys. Esp if most wiiu owners got a ps4 or xb1 when they couldnt play third partys on a wiiu. So here you have a prior nintendo fan with a ps4... Do you guys think they are going to pay full price for an inferior cartridge switch version? Doubtful. Esp when its rumored to be sub par of a wiiu on the go.

It isnt a question of IF the switch will get third partys, im sure it will. Its a question of IF third partys are bought in such a high quantity to warrant more games. Theres a reason wiiu sold like shit and those gamers didnt just stop gaming because their nintendo platform underperformed.

Lets use reason and statistics with you guys even tho the most hardened nintendo fan dont like facts and stats.... Statistically nintendo fans dont buy third partys... Thats not suddenly going to change with the switch and especially not if... IF THE SWITCH IS THE INFERIOR VERSION OF SAID GAME. Now if they had the best running third party games at 1080 60 i still think it would have a tough time as most ppl have moved on from nintendo. Only time will tell.

Why do you guys think the ps4 sells boatloads more of third partys than the xb1? Because 3rd partys run better on the ps4. And its not even much better... Its SLIGHTLY better. If this is the case with the switch it will end up selling even less than they do on xb1 simply because nintendo switches fanbase is getting a hard reset back to zero. Where you have over 25 mil xb1 consumers and over 53 mil ps4 consumers.

[Gemmol]

look at the list, its more of the 3ds developers switching to the Switch, so if you or anyone like 3ds catalog, there would be no problems.....

[Ninte]

These developers must liked something about the switch if there are more backing it then the wii u. It's not long until the presentation and I can not wait.

[Gemmol]

well look at the list, most of them is 3ds developers, they are just moving on to the next handheld

[superchiller]

Which is not a good sign for Western support, or games themselves, outside of a few genres.

[King_Lothric]

I see the Switch as a Vita 2. I may survive in the handheld market but it will not on the console market.

[FallenAngel1984]

Are third party publishers going to have tiered pricing for this device so that more handheld orientated titles will be cheaper than console orientated titles? Or will most things cost the usual $60

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Probably the latter, since the games on it are home console games like Skyrim Special Edition and Dark Souls 3.
We've seen no hint outside of a rumor of Pokèmon Star that there will even BE any handheld-tier games on the Switch, though I'll be the first to admit that having a fourth Golden Sun game on the Switch would make me absolutely giddy.

[DarXyde]

Atlus, Square, ARC SW, and Platinum pledging support is more than enough to have me excited. I'll definitely be picking one up, hopefully at launch. We'll see how the finances look.

[Amorist89]

It's significantly a better start for Switch.

[leoms]

Yep. Looks like I'll be missing out on some Atlus games again.

[Miacosa]

The Switch will have its own issues and these lists are all possible support not 100% guarantees. It's safe to say if WiiU hit like the original Wii did it would have had more support regardless of what the launch poster had listed. The same can be said for the Switch the support list looks to be larger but if the reception long term goes limp 3rd parties will drop off just as fast and we'll be left with a 1st party only supported console. I don't think any gamer is looking to the Switch as the one and only gaming system to have so as long as you can get good Nintendo games on it that is what matters. There are other platforms to play the rest of the games produced and if we are honest with ourselves those experiences will probably be better there than on the Switch's under powered system.