List of cancelled Nintendo Switch games

Last updated

The following games were initially announced as Nintendo Switch titles, but were subsequently cancelled or postponed indefinitely by developers or publishers.

Games

Cancelled games
Title(s)NotesDeveloperPublisher
BallisticNGA Wipeout -inspired racing game originally released on PC platforms in 2018, a Switch version was in development for multiple years. However, the game ran on the Unity game engine, and was cancelled in 2023 in response to its controversial run-time fee announced that year. [1] NeognosisNeognosis
Deliver Us the Moon Originally released for Windows in 2018, versions for the Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One were announced shortly thereafter. While PS4 and Xbox versions released in April 2020, the Switch version was later cancelled the following June. The developers cited a variety of reasons, including financial stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] KeokeN InteractiveWired Productions
Donkey Kong Freedom While never publicly announced by any of the companies involved, Nintendo, reportedly impressed by Vicarious Visions and Activision's handling of Donkey Kong and Bowser in the Wii U version of Skylanders: SuperChargers (2015), greenlit Vicarious Visions to develop a new Donkey Kong game the following year for the Switch. Plans included it being a 3D platformer, with an emphasis on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater -like grinding across tree vines. The game was in development for around six months, but cancelled upon Activision's to focus more of its development teams on the Call of Duty franchise. [3] [4] Vicarious Visions Activision
Evil Dead: The Game Originally released for Windows, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms in 2022, a Switch version was set to follow, but was cancelled in September 2023, alongside future content updates. The restructuring program of Embracer Group was named a possible reason by the press. [5] [6] Saber Interactive Boss Team Games
Final Fantasy XV Director Hajime Tabata stated that Square Enix attempted to get the game up and running on the Switch hardware in 2017, but were unable to get it performing well enough to warrant releasing it. A port of Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition was released for the Switch in 2018 instead. [7] Square Enix Square Enix
Hyper Sports R First announced at E3 2018, the game was in development for two years before being cancelled in June 2020. Konami only said that it was cancelled due to "various circumstances". [8] Konami Konami
Marvel's Midnight Suns Announced in 2021, versions for PlayStation and Xbox platforms released across 2022 and 2023, while the Switch version was announced as "no longer planned" in May 2023. While no official reason was given, poor sales on other platforms and difficulties porting the game to the Switch's hardware were noted as likely reasons by publications. [9] [10] Firaxis Games 2K
Occultic;Nine: New World A video game adaptation of the light novel Occultic;Nine was released in Japan for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One in 2017 to poor reception. A revised version titled New World was announced in 2018, planned as free DLC that would address issues and add new content, with New World also set to release as a standalone Switch title. It was quietly cancelled in August 2022. [11] Mages Mages
Pathfinder: Kingmaker Released on PC platforms in 2018, console versions were announced for 2020. While PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released, the Switch version was cancelled. [12] [13] Owlcat Games Deep Silver
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Released for PC platforms in 2018, with console versions to follow, a Switch version did not launch alongside PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions in 2020. In 2022, the Switch version was officially cancelled, with developers citing difficulties in getting the game running on the system. [14] Obsidian Entertainment Versus Evil
RoboCop: Rogue City A video game based on the Robocop franchise was announced for the Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms in 2022, though the Switch version was cancelled one month prior to the game's release. While no official reason was given, IGN felt that the game was too ambitious for the Switch's hardware. [15] [16] Teyon Nacon
Rubber Hose RampageA version for the Nintendo Switch was also announced along with PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox versions, but only the Switch version was later canceled. [17] [ better source needed ]Revie StudiosRevie Studios
Sengoku Night Blood A Switch version of the 2017 mobile game was announced, but was later cancelled in October 2019 due to "various circumstances". The mobile version terminated service two months later. [18] Idea Factory Marvelous
Steep One of the first third party games announced for the Switch prior to launch, it was later cancelled in August 2018 in favor of providing live service content to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions instead. [19] [20] Ubisoft Annecy Ubisoft

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Nacon is a French video game company based in Lesquin. It designs and distributes gaming accessories, and publishes and distributes video games for various platforms. In 2020, Bigben Group was consolidated to form Nacon.

<i>Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy</i> 2017 video game

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a 2017 platform game compilation developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It includes remasters of the first three games in the Crash Bandicoot series: Crash Bandicoot (1996), Cortex Strikes Back (1997), and Warped (1998); which were originally developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation. Initially released for the PlayStation 4, it was later ported to Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Xbox One in 2018.

In the video game industry during 2019, both Sony and Microsoft announced their intent to reveal their next-generation consoles in 2020, while Nintendo introduced a smaller Nintendo Switch Lite, and Google announced its streaming game platform Stadia. The controversy over loot boxes as a potential gambling route continued into 2019, with some governments like Belgium and the Netherlands banning games with them under their gambling laws, while the United Kingdom acknowledging their current laws prevent enforcing these as if they were games of chance. The first video cards to support real-time ray tracing were put onto the consumer market, including the first set of games that would take advantage of the new technology. The Epic Games Store continued its growth in challenging the largest digital PC game distribution service Steam, leading to concern and debate about Epic Games' methods to seek games for its service. Dota Auto Chess, a community-created mod for Dota 2, introduced a new subgenre of strategy games called auto battlers, which saw several games in the genre released throughout the year. Blizzard Entertainment faced criticism due to their involvement in the Blitzchung controversy, which began after they had banned a Hearthstone player for making comments during a tournament regarding the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.

In the video game industry, 2020 saw the launch of the next generation of video game consoles, with both Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment having released the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles, respectively, in November 2020. The industry was heavily affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had begun in March and was characterized by COVID-19 lockdowns and remote work. While this caused numerous delays in software and hardware releases and the cancellation of live conferences and events in favor of virtual shows, it also created a boom for the industry as people turned to gaming as a means to pass the time. The industry also reacted to various political/cultural events.

<i>Samurai Shodown</i> (2019 video game) 2019 video game

Samurai Shodown is a 2019 fighting game developed and published by SNK for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, Xbox Series X and Series S, Android and iOS via Netflix Games, and Windows as an entry in the Samurai Shodown series, as well as a reboot to the series. An arcade version was released by Taito.

<i>The Settlers: New Allies</i> 2023 video game

The Settlers: New Allies is a real-time strategy city-building game developed by Ubisoft Düsseldorf and published by Ubisoft. It is a reboot of The Settlers series. It was released on 17 February 2023 for Windows and on 4 July 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.

In the video game industry, 2022 saw the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, slowing hardware sales for most of the year as well as development delays for major titles. The industry continued its trend of acquisitions and mergers, highlighted by Microsoft announcing its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion. The industry as a whole continued to deal with issues such as workplace harassment and discrimination, alongside crunch periods, leading to at least the quality assurance staff at three separate studios to vote to unionize.

In the video game industry, 2023 saw significant changes within larger publishers and developers. Microsoft, after having satisfied worldwide regulatory bodies, completed its US$69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, making them the third largest game publisher in the world. Embracer Group, which had been in an acquisition spree over the previous few years, had an estimated $2 billion deal fall through, causing many of the studios under Embracer to either lay off staff or close entirely. Similar layoffs were seen at Unity, Amazon, ByteDance, Epic Games, Bungie, and Ubisoft, leading to over 9,000 jobs lost in the industry in 2023 and part of a larger trend of layoffs at technology companies in 2023.

<i>RoboCop: Rogue City</i> 2023 video game

RoboCop: Rogue City is a 2023 first-person shooter game developed by Teyon and published by Nacon. The game features an original storyline based on the RoboCop films, with Peter Weller reprising his role as the titular character. It was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 2 November 2023, and received generally positive reviews from critics.

In the video game industry, 2024 saw many events including job losses extending from 2023, including large cuts from Microsoft Gaming, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, and with over 10,000 jobs lost through May.

References

  1. ↑ Scullion, Chris (September 25, 2023). "Switch game cancelled over controversial Unity changes". Video Games Chronicle . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  2. ↑ Romano, Sal (June 12, 2020). "Deliver Us The Moon for Switch cancelled". Gematsu. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  3. ↑ Blake, Vikki (May 5, 2024). "Activision's Vicarious Visions worked on a cancelled 3D Donkey Kong game". Eurogamer . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ Middler, Jordan (May 5, 2024). "Activision studio Vicarious Visions was working on a Donkey Kong game, it's claimed". Video Games Chronicle . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ Peppiatt, Dom (May 19, 2022). "Evil Dead: The Game sells 500,000 units in under a week – perfect timing for Embracer Group". VG247 . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sirani, Jordan (September 20, 2023). "Evil Dead: The Game Not Making New Updates, Switch Version Canceled". IGN . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  7. ↑ Skrebels, Joe (September 4, 2017). "Square Enix Tried Running Final Fantasy XV's Engine on Switch". IGN . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  8. ↑ Singh, Surej (June 11, 2020). "Konami cancels its Nintendo Switch exclusive, 'Hyper Sports R'". NME . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ Leston, Ryan (May 2, 2023). "Marvel's Midnight Suns Switch Version Officially Canceled". IGN . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (May 2, 2023). "Marvel's Midnight Suns Switch version scrapped". Polygon . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ Joshua, Orpheus (August 1, 2022). "Occultic;Nine: New World Officially Canceled". Noisy Pixel. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "THQ Nordic Interim Report • 1 January – 30 September 2018" (PDF). Embracer Group . November 17, 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  13. ↑ "Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition". Metacritic .
  14. ↑ Doolan, Liam (March 6, 2022). "Obsidian's RPG Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire Appears To Have Been Cancelled For Switch". Nintendo Life . Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  15. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 20, 2023). "RoboCop: Rogue City for Switch cancelled". Gematsu. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  16. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 20, 2023). "RoboCop: Rogue City Nintendo Switch Version Cancelled". IGN . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Revie Studios [@revie_studios] (March 27, 2024). "FYI: Rubber Hose Rampage will not be on Switch. It was approved for release on PlayStation today and should release around April 4th" (Tweet). Retrieved May 10, 2024– via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 25, 2019). "Sengoku Night Blood Game's Switch Release Cancelled". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  19. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (9 August 2018). "Ubisoft Has Halted Development Of Steep On Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  20. ↑ Stevens, Colin (August 9, 2018). "Ubisoft Confirms Steep Is No Longer Coming to the Nintendo Switch". IGN . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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