I really feel good about this thread, because I presented this theory long before Switch became a huge hit. My feelings on this haven't changed much, and
I really feel like Nintendo needs to embrace their situation, and understand that they need to build real alliances to succeed going forward. On the same token, many third party developers need to make the same decision. There is a certain amount of animosity for Nintendo when it comes to many third party developers. Regardless what the reasons for that may be, they need to acknowledge it, and take the altercation on head on.
How many times have we heard EA's developers slam Nintendo? Just recently the developer of Titanfall bashes Switch. Dice had blasted the Wii U. Needless to say, EA is not your friend Nintendo. They aint your buddy, partner, or friend. Of course the PR from the suites will always come out and apologize for these comments, but in truth, this is the sentiment of the company. EA would prefer Nintendo disappear as a hardware company. They do just enough to leave the door open in case the Nintendo console takes off, but in reality they would like to see Nintendo die off as a hardware manufacture.
Nintendo hardware is inevitably different from the competition, and a copy and paste method of software development doesn't work. By supporting this more obscure platform, it only appeases a niche group of consumers on the platform that are interested in buying such games, and thus has limited sales potential. I believe that the mind set is this, if we stop supporting Nintendo hardware, we can persuade the majority of those gamers to buy hardware that they do support. In a way, by supporting Nintendo, they are supporting a platform that is really competition to the platforms that they are truly vested in. Good sales for AAA Western games on Nintendo hardware isn't likely to eclipse a million units sold. Its in their best interest to convert those games to PS or Xbox.
This is where Nintendo has to realize that these companies do not wish you success, but root for your demise in private (sometimes publically). Publishers like EA want to dictate what the videogame industry looks like. What kind of games we play. This is where developers have to realize that just like Nintendo, they themselves may not fit inside the mold that they have created. There is no room in this world for modest selling JRPG's, 3D Platformers, and really anything that competes with the trending AAA releases.
Its time for Nintendo to realize they need to build an army. Where does a developer like Platinum have the best chance for success? Atlus? Sega? Konami? Tecmo? Namco? Sorry, but the truth is EA and Activision want to rid themselves of these nuisances as well. Nintendo needs to make real allies, and come to the mutal agreement that their future is brighter together.
Nintendo Switch can be the outlet to really let the more obscure software have the spot light. Its time for some of these publishers to realize that the currently business model is bringing upon a slow death for many publishers. Konami goes from AAA releases on PS4/X1 to focusing on mobile? How about Castlevania for Switch? Nintendo needs to develop allies who realize there is no room for them in a world of COD and Assassins Creed on the Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
Nintendo needs to work with potential allies, and communicate that developers like them are all short for this world unless they help build a platform where those experiences can thrive a do well.
I may be the most proud of this post, because it was written prior to the release of the Switch, and well before anyone knew just how successful the platform would ultimately be. Its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that Switch broke free, and proved all the critics wrong. If it sells well enough, third party games will make the transition. Games like Doom, Wolfenstein 2, Hellbalde, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein YoungBlood and the worst kept secret ever in the Witcher 3, but its just not reality. Switch is very very far from parity with the Playstation and Xbox when it comes to third party software support. EA, as expected, has almost entirely neglected the platform. Activision has yet to release a COD game on Switch, despite green lighting more difficult ports to Wii years ago, and Ubisoft has been reluctant to bring over any of its current gen AAA games.
I talked about Nintendo needing to look for real partners willing to make the investment, and Nintendo found an unlikely partner with Bethesda. Bethesda bringing over Doom, Skyrim, Wolfenstein 2 was unexpected, and the continued support with Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein Young Blood is unprecedented support from a studio that completely ignored Nintendo platforms in the past. Bethesda has made a far more significant effort than pretty much any other third party publisher, and hopefully it has paid off.
This is all important because I believe this is a sign of things to come for not only the remainder of Switch's life, but will also continue with its successor. Nintendo can bank on publishers like Capcom releasing ports of old games on their new hardware, and maybe that is more beneficial that previously anticipated. With the Switch also being portable, older ports that may have been poorly received are instead rejuvenated as a portable experience. Basically, because Switch is also a portable, late ports do not seem to pay the same penalty that they would on a traditional console. Switch's successor may be flooded with plenty of PS4/X1 ports, and that will be the third pillar of support for the platform.
At the end of the day, its still up to Nintendo to drive their platforms success with exclusive content. Third party and first party, it doesn't matter, but they have to embrace the concept that they are in the drivers seat, and they must drive system sales without commitment from EA, Activision and even Ubisoft. The blueprint has been created for at least one more generation. Portability and exclusive content must drive the systems success, and third parties will fatten up the library of games once the platforms success is more established.
Third party publishers will likely be a little less reluctant to jump in earlier with Switch's successor, but expecting third party software parity on Nintendo's platform is a pipe dream. Mobille hardware will always lag far enough behind that ports from the more powerful hardware are problematic, and despite the true reasoning behind it, most AAA games will not make the transition.