Everyone is curious about the launch games for Switch 2, with Mario Kart and Yooka-Replaylee being likely candidates. Another potential title has thrown its hat at launch, as Marvel Rivals could be coming to the console successor. Since Rivals is currently the hot online game right now, we hope Nintendo has plans for better online games with this system.
Fans of the first Switch generation will remember how they were screwed when playing cross-play in games like Overwatch and Apex Legends. The Nintendo ports played well but were stuck at 30 FPS, a death sentence when competing against PlayStation and Xbox players. While playing against other Switch players was fine, the fact that they were immediately screwed during cross-play was a huge problem.
There’s no doubt that Switch 2 will deliver quality single-player games and local multiplayer titles, which are Nintendo’s bread and butter. The company improved online play during the Switch, with the Splatoon games doing pretty well. However, it can’t just be the Nintendo online games that succeed, especially if Marvel Rivals comes to the system.
Rivals is currently the hottest online game out right now, giving fans the same thrills as their favorite shooters but with a Marvel Comics twist. Because the game is a third-person shooter, players can see their skins, which is hugely appealing to fans of these characters. No one wants to use Psylocke just to see her hands, so going third-person was a very good move.
It’s not just Marvel Rivals either, as Activision Blizzard has promised to bring Call of Duty games to the Switch 2. Considering how large this franchise’s player base is, we doubt they will want to limit themselves to only playing with other Switch 2 players. Granted, there’s always a chance that the Switch 2 audience will be big enough to make cross-play irrelevant, but that’s not what Nintendo should aim for.
We’re also secretly hoping that improved online will come to fighting games because that’s also been an issue on Switch. The fact that games like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and Samurai Shodown have rollback netcode on other systems but not Switch is sad. This is unacceptable for online fighting games, given how wild and crazy they can get.
As much as we like Nintendo to be in its own bubble, it needs to be as good as its competitors in online multiplayer. They can say whatever they want about the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but they usually have good online support. If they want more of these online games, Nintendo must keep up with them to bring players to their new system.
Simply put, Nintendo cannot afford to stick Switch 2 players in a 30 FPS hole while other console players will be going over 60 FPS. Playing with gamers from other systems is a major selling point these days, and if Switch 2 players have to turn off cross-play, that will be a big disappointment. Fans deserve to play Marvel Rivals with gamers from other systems, and we hope this new system delivers on that front.