My friends 2021 is coming to its end. With 2022 on the horizon, it will hopefully bring great joy and hope. The same goes with Nintendo. With great titles like Kirby and the forgotten land, Splatoon 3, Bayonetta 3, and Pokemon legends arceus coming next year, 2022 is shaping up to be one of the greatest years in Nintendo’s history. Yet what else does the house that Mario built have in store? Nintendo has not revealed everything they have plan in 2022. What could it be? A brand new ip? An old classic ip making a comeback? An all new ip? Maybe brand-new hardware? Well, I’m about to dust off my crystal ball and make my 2022 predictions.
Metroid prime 4 will not be shown
Ever since Nintendo decided to restarted development from the beginning and give the series back to retro studio back in 2019, we haven’t heard a peep about it. I believe 2022 will be no different. In fact, I don’t believe the game will not come to the switch at all. I’m guessing it will be a launch title for the next system.
Metroid prime trilogy or prime one will appear
Having to prime 4 is sad but dread being a major hit, Nintendo would be wise to keep the gravy train going. In order to the Metroid momentum going forward I believe that the long rumor prime trilogy or prime one will come out in 2022. They might release the game in the summer.
One major game will be delay in 2023
The new Kirby, Spaltoon 3, Bayonetta 3, Mario + Rabbids: sparks of hope all supposed to come out next year, 2022 will be great for Nintendo. Yet I believe one of these games will delay 2023. I guess is Bayonetta 3. The was announced back in 2017 and we saw nothing about till this past fall direct. I have a feeling that the game is not ready to be ship in 2022. They just had to show something to keep the fans happy.
An Ip will return
Nintendo have a lot of great characters and franchises in their library but most times Nintendo will bring them back. I understand that they need to stick with what sells yet with the recent success of Metroid dread, people will but games base on an old Ip. Which one will return? The rumor new Donkey Kong or Xenoblade chronicles 3 game. Star fox? Fire emblem or Astral chain had a game on switch, and both sold well. Maybe one or both of them will have a sequel. Maybe a Xenoblade chronicles X remake. I what Xenoblade chronicles X and Astral chain 2 to arrive in 2022. Yet the most logical choice will be a brand-new Donkey Kong.
Mario kart 9 is not coming next year
This one is easy. Mario kart 9 is never coming to the switch.
A new Mario is coming in holiday 2022
As you know the new Mario movie starting Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Charlie Day is coming next holiday. Nintendo would be smart to launch a new game around the same time. Will it be the rumor Super Mario Odyssey 2, a new type of a Mario game, or a remake or an old game? My guess is odyssey 2. Maybe it will be an open world like Bowser’s fury and massive like breath of the wild.
The online service expansion pack will improve (slightly)
I was originally thinking predicting that the online expansion pack will have big improvements coming next year but after watching spawn wave’s Nintendo prediction video, I mostly change my mind. He is right Nintendo is set in their ways for the service and they won’t make massive changes until the new system arrives. Yet I do see them making some improvements next year. Hopefully they will fix the emulations that is plaguing some games. Also I believe that they will add another console to the expansion pack. It will be the game boy or game boy advance.
No switch pro or switch 2 in 2022
This is another easy predicting. They will be no switch pro or 2 coming in 2022. The main reason is of course the chip shortage. I believe that if we didn’t have this shortage the pro would be out already. I think it’s too late in the switch cycle to release a pro model anyway. It’s a long shot that but we could get a 4K model next year, but I am doubtful it will happen. I believe the switch 2 will come in mid to late 2023.
Breath of the wild 2 will be delay into 2023
Finally, my last and most important prediction. I really hope I am wrong about this, but I believe the breath of the wild 2 will be delay. Back in the last E3 and in a recent IGN game podcast saying that the game is coming in November 2022. I just got a feeling that the game will be release in 2023. With the game being so important, how massive the scale, and the virus delaying pretty much everything, breath of the wild 2 won’t launch in 2022. I believe that history will repeat itself and the game will be the main launch of the switch 2