Nintendo is building on its successful multiplayer trend from the original Switch era, and it looks like this momentum will carry over to the new Switch 2. Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata envisioned a device that would bring people together through gaming, and his ideas are starting to materialize.
Iwata’s legacy can be seen in games like Tetris 99, F-Zero 99, and Super Mario Bros. 35, which borrowed from popular last-player-standing games to create massive multiplayer experiences. The company has also been experimenting with higher player counts in party games like Super Mario Party Jamboree and Everybody 1-2-Switch!.
The new Mario Kart game for Switch 2 is expected to double the number of simultaneous online competitors compared to previous entries, reaching up to 24 players. This trend suggests that Nintendo is getting serious about its massively multiplayer ambitions.
Last year, the company launched the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program, a beta test designed to explore the boundaries of mass multiplayer functionality and gameplay on servers. While the future of MMO-like ideas remains uncertain, strong Nintendo franchises like Super Mario Bros. and Animal Crossing could benefit from higher player counts.
By bringing people together through gaming, Nintendo is making good on Iwata’s vision, which emphasizes networking and communication with others. With the new Switch 2, it seems that this trend will continue, potentially leading to even bigger audiences experiencing the joy of play through Nintendo IP.
Source: https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2/544241/nintendo-switch-2-multiplayer-mmo