Nintendo has outlined its showcase for Gamescom 2019, with the beloved company behind the Nintendo Switch confirming fresh looks at several upcoming titles for the handheld console. The announcement comes just a few weeks out from the conference, which is the biggest gaming-centric expo on Europe’s annual calendar. Nintendo plans to highlight six games, all of which will have dedicated gameplay videos planned to release between August 20th and August 22nd.
Alongside the deluge of new details, Nintendo promises hands-on time with hotly-anticipated games for those who will make the trek to Germany. The company is also using the event to promote some of its competitive scenes. Nintendo has already confirmed the games it will highlight.
These titles include Luigi’s Mansion 3, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Astral Chain, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition. Plus, while Nintendo didn’t mention the possibility of getting new Pokémon Sword and Shield information, those attending the show will be among the first to befriend the inhabitants of the new Galar region. Daemon X Machina will also be among the aforementioned titles.
Elsewhere, Nintendo is hosting competitions for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 on the Nintendo Live broadcast throughout Gamescom. Onlookers will see the first regional qualifiers for the games’ championship tournaments, while a Smash Bros. invitational brings together players from the last season of the Smash Ball Team Cup to compete for a trip to Kyoto, Japan for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Challenge Cup October 14.
It’s shaping up to be a meaty 2019 for Nintendo, who has suffered through countless jokes and memes about the Switch’s influx of remasters and ports in lieu of brand new titles. The company eroded those feelings at E3 2019 by announcing a full course of first-party exclusives and several high-profile launches. Beyond the games mentioned above, notable 2019 additions include Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition, Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Edition, and Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The momentum will continue into 2020 with Animal Crossing: New Horizons dropping in March.
Although the Switch’s buzz has slowed since its debut, it remains one of the best complementary systems in any gamer’s arsenal. The ability to play your favorite games on the go, such as Fortnite, is enough incentive for prospective buyers, but Nintendo has done great work to keep a steady flow of new content from both first- and third-party studios rolling in. Furthermore, it continues to nurture relationships with high-profile developers, an area the company had struggled with coming off the bonafide failure that was the Wii U. Nintendo will look to prompt its next big growth phase with the launch of a more affordable Switch model, so expect things to get even better when the calendar turns. Nintendo's productivity level may expand even more as times goes on.