The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally unveiled by Nintendo after years of speculation and leaks. It feels good to finally give the Switch successor a face and name, even if it was only through a brief teaser trailer that compared the system to the original Nintendo Switch and gave a quick glimpse of a new Mario Kart game.
Fans now have a timeline, though there is still more to come. On April 2, there will be a Nintendo Direct devoted to the upcoming 2025 release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Over the past few months, there have been increasing rumors that third-party games will be released on the Switch 2. Despite having no confirmed list of third-party titles, Electronic Arts CEO is quite hopeful about his two games on the upcoming console.
It’s now EA’s turn after several game companies have expressed support for the Nintendo Switch 2 since its reveal. Despite a former PlayStation exec not finding the reveal much interesting, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson is finding the arrival of the handheld console beneficial for his company’s two popular titles: EA Sports FC and Madden.
Wilson stated during EA’s recent earning call that the Switch successor would be an additional means for EA to locate and reach new players. The next-generation hybrid hardware may give IPs like FC, Madden, and “others” a significant boost, at least that is the hope. Here’s what the CEO said:
“Any time a new console comes into the marketplace, that’s of a benefit to us. It gives us the ability to access and acquire new players. Typically, we’ve had franchises perform very well on Nintendo platforms. Certainly, our expectation is that products like FC and Madden and others might find real energy on the platform as they have done in the past.”
Wilson followed up his remark that franchises usually do well on Nintendo platforms by pointing out the recent success of The Sims and MySims Cozy Bundle, which was released on the Switch last November and has done “well ahead” of EA’s expectations. He also stated that “50% of all players were new to EA.”
EA eventually brought a lot of games to the Switch during its existence, including the ports of Apex Legend, EA Sports FC, and It Takes Two, after a slow start. A Madden game for the platform has not yet been released, though. As of now, there is nothing in EA’s models at this juncture. But any time a “great new console” comes into the market that gives EA access to new players and communities, that same console benefits the company’s IPs, as per Wilson.
Given the popularity of life simulation games this year, the re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 couldn’t come at a better moment. Given that the Switch 2 is also scheduled for release this year, The Sims 1 and 2 will have the ideal platform for mobile gamers, so the timing may also favor the re-release.
Although The Sims 1 and 2 are now PC-only, one console seems like the ideal second home for the game. The Nintendo Switch 2’s joy-cons make it the perfect platform for a port of the original Sims games.
The re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 might also be an attempt by the Switch 2 to compete with the PC market. The Sims 1 and 2 are the ideal fit for Nintendo consoles, although few PC games are ported to them due to their lack of power. However, these older games shouldn’t have any trouble transferring PC content to a modern console.
It seems reasonable to assume that the re-release of The Sims 1 and 2 on the upcoming console shouldn’t have any graphical problems given that some Xbox games are rumored to be coming to the Switch 2. The performance and sales of life simulation games on the original Switch were excellent, and it appears that this trend will continue on the Switch 2. Therefore, The Sims 1 and 2 re-release deserves to find an unexpected but welcoming home on the Switch 2, as it is a piece of gaming history that gave rise to so many beloved titles.
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