Nintendo’s 2025 Forecast: What Lies Ahead?

Another year has rolled around, and with it, our annual round of Nintendo predictions! So, grab your thinking hats, and let’s speculate on what surprises Nintendo has up its sleeve!

Take a peek at last year’s predictions right HERE and see how we fared!

Justin’s Predictions for 2024:

1. Metroid Prime 4 is expected to grace our screens again, serving as a flagship showcase for the Switch successor’s graphical prowess.

   • We did get a new trailer, which earns us 0.5 points! However, it’s yet to be confirmed as a major title for the Switch successor. Fingers crossed for a 2025 reveal!

2. Anticipate a Pokémon Black/White remake announcement, likely unveiled during Pokémon Presents on Pokémon Day.

   • Sadly, no dice on this one!

3. The successor to the Switch could be announced and released this year. I doubt it’ll be dubbed ‘New Nintendo Switch’; something snazzier like ‘Switch Nitro’ that hints at its enhanced power might be in the cards.

   • Nope, didn’t happen.

4. We’re overdue for a new 3D Mario game, maybe even a launch title with the new system.

   • Again, nada.

5. Expect a remaster of Metroid Prime 2, and perhaps Prime 3 at a later date.

   • Didn’t happen.

6. F-Zero will get some attention in 2024.

   • Yes! Though not a new game or remaster of F-Zero GX, we got loads of updates for F-Zero 99 and some NSO attention. Maybe this love will lead to something big in 2025!

7. Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD should make it to the Switch.

   • Alas, not this year.

8. The original Switch will continue to be sold alongside its successor.

   • We can’t confirm this yet.

9. A key selling point for the new console will be backward compatibility, with all Switch games playable from day one. It will mark Nintendo’s first fully transferable digital account setup.

   • Confirmed! Nintendo made this official in 2024!
10. Nintendo has improved its third-party support with the Switch, and we anticipate a big franchise announcement for the successor that the Switch missed out on—like Madden or Call of Duty.
    • We’re still in the dark on this one.

Wild Cards (2 points each):

• Announcing a new Donkey Kong game would be fantastic, especially with Super Nintendo World Japan’s new DK section launching.

  • Unfortunately, just an HD port so far.
• A fresh Mario Kart game announcement.
  • Didn’t happen.

Justin scores 2.5 points.

Trev’s Predictions for 2024:

1. A new mobile app or game will come from Nintendo in 2024.

   • Indeed, Pokémon TCG Pocket was launched!

2. Dr. Mario will get a new entry—not just a mobile port—offering a full-fledged release.

   • Missed the mark here.

3. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, we might see Tomodachi Life on the Switch.

   • Still waiting…

4. The Oracle games might see a remake, capitalizing on the Link’s Awakening HD engine.

   • Got it partially right; the engine was used for a new game (Echoes of Wisdom), not Oracle. 0.5 points!

5. Nintendo will deliver substantial enticements for Switch Online subscribers, beyond occasional trials or old-game releases.

   • Didn’t pan out this year.

6. At long last, a Switch successor announcement is anticipated, though not necessarily released this year.

   • Indeed, Nintendo confirmed but did not release.

7. Footage of the Switch successor’s launch games, like Metroid Prime 4, might appear.

   • Although MP4 was shown, its launch title status remains unclear.

8. If a new system is delayed until 2025, expect Nintendo to sustain current Switch sales with budget deals and a Nintendo Select line.

   • No sign of this happening.

9. The Switch boasts over 80 million-seller games—will the list expand to 100? Probably not in 2024, but a few will join.

   • Yes! While not 100, the list grew to 97 (per Wikipedia).
10. Amiibo will introduce characters from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on its Switch revisit.
    • No new amiibo for us.

Wild Cards (2 points each):

• Could Skylanders return, with Nintendo fans driving its success?

  • Not yet.
• More folks leaving Twitter may find Pure Nintendo on Bluesky.
  • And indeed, we’re there!

Trev tallies up to 5.5 points.

Trev claims victory this year as Nintendo holds off on the Switch 2. Perhaps 2025 will be the year!

Looking ahead, here’s what we predict for 2025:

Justin’s Forecasts:

• GameCube games may join Nintendo Switch Online.
• New Mario Kart and Pokémon Legends ZA are on the horizon.
• A brand new Switch successor is due, likely to be called Nintendo Switch 2.
• Another thrilling 3D Mario and new Kirby game expected.
• Backward compatibility will be central, with all current Switch games playable on day one. A strengthened third-party collaboration might bring big franchises to the successor.

Predicting a launch price for the Switch 2 at $399.

With intriguing wild card guesses like Zelda game announcements and a new Wave Race, there’s plenty to look forward to.

Trev’s Speculations:

• Could the Switch surpass 160 million sales, outdoing both DS and PS2?
• Exciting crossovers with the next Super Mario Bros. or Zelda film might surface.
• The original Switch might get discontinued, but expect Nintendo Switch Online to undergo significant changes.
• Anticipate a unique launch pack-in game with the new system, possibly with motion controls.
• While new hardware emerges, core Switch updates and game ports will keep coming, along with fresh amiibo releases.

As a wild card, will Nintendo deliver a traditional sports sim to the fans this year? Also, it might be time for some multiplayer Zelda magic, given anniversaries for Tri Force Heroes and Four Swords Adventures.

We’d love to hear your thoughts for 2025! Share your predictions in the comments!