GameCentral's latest letters page has sparked a lively debate, with readers expressing concern over Nintendo's upcoming release schedule for the Switch 2 and speculating on future announcements like a potential Total War: Star Wars title.
A Sparse Switch 2 Horizon?
One reader, Connor, voiced apprehension about Nintendo's confirmed pipeline beyond early 2026. After the disappointment surrounding Metroid Prime 4, they looked to the future but found the outlook "not very encouraging." The known schedule includes a Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons early next year, followed by Mario Tennis Fever in February and Pokémon Pokopia in March.
Further out, titles like a new Yoshi game and a Switch 2 port of Super Mario Bros. Wonder are anticipated, but 2026 offerings become "really sketchy" with only The Duskbloods and a new Fire Emblem tentatively scheduled. The reader hopes Nintendo will announce more titles soon to avoid a situation akin to the PlayStation 5's sparse early years.
Total War Teasers and Gaming Opinions
Another hot topic is the imminent Total War livestream scheduled for Thursday at 4pm. Reader Torsman notes it will unveil new 'historical and fantasy' games, casting doubt on rampant rumours of a Total War: Star Wars title, though the description could be a playful misdirection. The stream seemingly also rules out a Warhammer 40,000 entry. Torsman praises the PC-exclusive series, particularly its fantasy outings, and hopes for a fresh setting.
Elsewhere in the inbox, sentiment is mixed. Janson expresses fatigue with Square Enix's HD-2D style, calling it "pretty ugly" and overly dark, hoping any potential Chrono Trigger remake would adopt a more unique visual approach like voxels. Meanwhile, Cranston applauds the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, arguing that the industry needs more games that "aren't for everyone" rather than bland, lowest-common-denominator titles.
Metroid Missteps and Mario Kart Mayhem
The perceived shortcomings of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond continue to be a point of discussion. Reader Chaser suggests Nintendo's lack of promotional effort indicated low internal confidence, compounded by key staff departures from developer Retro Studios. They criticise the addition of new characters like Myles MacKenzie as missing what core fans want.
On a brighter note, Onibee shares a positive experience with the latest Mario Kart World update, having finally unlocked all the villain characters by manipulating the Kamek power-up in Vs Race mode. They report that the chaotic races, filled with giant obstacles, run smoothly on the Switch 2 without slowdown.
The inbox closes with miscellaneous snippets, including excitement for the announced but unseen Alien Isolation 2, and a note on Fortnite's "ugly" solution for shorter character hitboxes. As always, readers are invited to email gamecentral@metro.co.uk to join the debate.
