[Feature] Behind the Rumours: The Facts & Fiction Behind Nintendo’s “Leaked” 2018 E3 Line-up

Joint Article by: Jack Longman (Miketendo64) & Morgan Lewis (VG Culture HQ)

Yesterday, Nintendo’s Switch first-party line-up of games was apparently leaked by Ghost !UH9bl/x392, the very same Ghost !UH9bl/x392 who correctly leaked the January 2017 Nintendo Switch Presentation. Only, it wasn’t Ghost !UH9bl/x392 who leaked the line-up, but Ghost UH9bl/x392, who is seemingly attempting to impersonate Ghost !UH9bl/x392, in a bid to have a believable leak.

Having covered the apparent leak, for Miketendo64, I feel it is only fitting I be the one who tries to amend some of the grief and false hope, we gave our delightful readers and the way I am going to do this, is by enlisting the help of Morgan Lewis of VG Culture HQ and dedicate an article to the Fact & Fiction behind yesterday’s leak, by properly examining every game that was “leaked.”

Confirmed= Something that has been officially revealed, disclosed & stated (FACT)

Unconfirmed = Something that has been leaked, rumoured & speculated (FICTION)

 

Metroid Prime 4:

• Confirmed:
  • Metroid Prime 4 was confirmed by Nintendo, at E3 2017, to be in development for Nintendo Switch.
  • Development is being handled by a new team. (New in this context, meaning a team that hasn’t worked on Metroid before.)
• Unconfirmed:
  • Metroid Prime 4 will be one of many Switch games at E3 and is “being developed” by Bandai Namco.
• Conclusion: Metroid Prime 4 is bound to be one of the biggest titles Nintendo will certainly have to bring to E3, so it’s more than likely it will be present.
• Verdict: Believable

Pokémon RPG for Switch:

• Confirmed:
  • Pokémon RPG was confirmed by The Pokémon Company, at E3 2017, to be in development for Nintendo Switch.
  • Game will be a core RPG.
  • Pokémon games often appear and are talked about at E3.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Release will be late 2018/Early 2019. Will have a region inspired by Spain or Italy.
  • Gen 8 on Switch will consist of 2 games.
• Conclusion: Pokémon for Switch is bound to be at E3, but 2 games might be a stretch, as the game is said to change certain Pokémon RPG conventions.
• Verdict: Believable

Bayonetta 3:

• Confirmed:
  • Bayonetta 3 was revealed by Nintendo, at The Game Awards, to be in development for Nintendo Switch.
  • PlatinumGames are behind it.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Bayonetta 3 will release this later this year.
• Conclusion: Given the fact Bayonetta 3 is a long awaited title and a Nintendo Switch exclusive, like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon RPG, it is bound to be at E3 as there’s no better time in the year to show it off.
• Verdict: Believable

Pikmin 4:

• Confirmed:
  • In 2015, Miyamoto stated Pikmin 4 as being “very near completion.”
  • In 2016, Miyamoto said Pikmin 4 was not a high priority within Nintendo.
  • At E3 2017, Miyamoto stated Pikmin 4 is progressing.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Pikmin 4 will be at E3 2018.
  • Pikmin 4 will be the 4^th true instalment in the Pikmin series.
• Conclusion: There’s definitely a Pikmin 4 game in the works, but with Nintendo being so busy with many other games, Pikmin 4’s chances of being at E3 are half and half.
• Verdict: Possible

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD:

• Confirmed:
  • In 2017, Grezzo put out an ad “Make a Legend 2,” in an effort to expand their current team. A similar ad was made in 2014, before The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D was released in February 2015.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the only 3D game in the series not to be rereleased on another platform and remastered.
  • Series Producer Eiji Aonuma, in 2016 at E3, said it is certainly possible a The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD release could happen, but with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being an evolved version, of Skyward Sword, “Putting out an HD version of Skyward Sword and tossing that into the mix might be a little weird.”
• Unconfirmed:
  • The listing doesn’t necessarily related to Zelda, as it could also relate to an The Legend of Legacy sequel. The Legend of Legacy released for Nintendo 3DS in January 2015. Although a sequel is wanted, it never happened. (Although the detail regarding The Legend of Legacy are factual, what makes this fact fiction, is that it is only speculated the ad could refer to something else.)
  • HD remake of the Wii game will be at E3.
• Conclusion: While there could very well be a Skyward Sword HD release, sometime in the future, giving the number of games Nintendo have going on for this year and 2019 that are publically known already, it is doubtful a remaster will be revealed and release this year.
• Verdict: Unlikely (for now)

Super Mario Maker 2:

• Confirmed:
  • Upon its release, Super Mario Maker was met with instant success and went on from being a game on just the Nintendo Wii U, to a game on Nintendo Wii U and 3DS.
  • Super Mario Maker (for Nintendo Wii U,) initially released on the 10^th of September, 2015, after officially being revealed on the 10^th of June, at E3 as part of Nintendo’s E3 Presentation.
  • In May 2016, Nintendo had announced that more than 7.2 million courses had been created worldwide, and that they had been played more than million times.
  • Super Mario Maker for Nintendo Wii U sold more than 3 million copies.
• Unconfirmed:
  • A port of Super Mario Maker for Nintendo Switch was reported, but Nintendo were struggling with porting the Nintendo Wii U game to the Nintendo Switch. It’s worth pointing out, various persons said this, including Emily Rogers and from the same mouth the news of the Super Mario Maker port came from, a Splatoon port was also stated to be in the works.
  • Due to certain limitations Super Mario Maker has, players ended up being disappointed and wanting even more content and graphics in which to create their hopes with, so news of a port with more content was something that was warmly received.
• Conclusion: Super Mario Maker is a game players want, it is something Nintendo could make within 2 years, having gone through the learning curve with the Nintendo Wii U game and would work wonders on Switch. It’s also as a game that was revealed at E3, so it only stands to reason that a port or a sequel (which is more likely, due to how successful the game was, with a sequel guaranteed to sell more copies than a port would,) could actually show up at E3, this year.
• Verdict: Believable

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Version for Nintendo Switch (Port):

• Confirmed:
  • Super Smash Bros. 4 is revered as being the best Smash game ever, with its many fans often saying a Switch port would be more than enough.
• Unconfirmed:
  • A Switch port of the Nintendo Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. was reported multiple times, with Emily Rogers backing up the reports in January, 2018 with speculation.
  • An Ultimate Version of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch will be at E3. Game is the expanded version of the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U titles and will consist of all previous DLC and feature new content.
• Conclusion: A Smash release on Switch, is one of a few games that aren’t confirmed yet, but we all know is going to happen already, with most believing it will be a port, instead of a Smash 5. Whatever the case, Smash is going to happen at some point, and an E3 announcement is the perfect time to reveal the next instalment, in whatever form Nintendo wishes to present it.
• Verdict: Possible

WarioWare for Switch: 

• Confirmed:
  • Intelligent Software, the developers behind Fire Emblem, Paper Mario and the WarioWare series, are developing 1 publically announced game for Nintendo Switch.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Nintendo President, Tatsumi Kimishima, has said himself 2018 will see games of every genre to release on Switch with some that will show of the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities in a new light. A new WarioWare would be a game that certainly fits the bill. (Although the Kimishima statement is fact, the bit about WarioWare is speculation.)
  • A new WarioWare game will be at E3 to showcase Nintendo Switch tech and “there will have stands with categories of mini-games with Wario, Mona, Jimmy-T and 9 Volt.”
• Conclusion: WarioWare for Switch is a game that is bound to happen eventually, so it is believable that we could see a new WarioWare game announced sometime soon, just not necessarily at E3 2017.
• Verdict: Possible

 

Luigi’s Mansion 3:

• Confirmed:
  • Luigi’s Mansion 1 is the 5^th best-selling game on the Nintendo GameCube in North America and sold more than 2.5 million copies.
  • Luigi Mansion is a series of games, with the first instalment having released on GameCube initially, in 2001, with a sequel (Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon) that first released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013.
  • First Luigi’s Mansion game was developed by Nintendo EAD with Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, being the creation of Next Level Games and Nintendo SPD.
  • As of September 2017, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon had sold 5.45 million units worldwide.
• Unconfirmed:
  • From one of the many who was reporting NX rumours in 2016, 10K, who said about Super Mario Maker, Smash and Splatoon 2 ports for Nintendo Switch, also said that a Luigi’s Mansion 3 was coming to the NX (name of the Nintendo Switch at the time the report was made.)
  • 10K went on to say his source claimed that the game is being developed by Next Level Games and was intended for the Nintendo Wii U, only to be moved to the NX instead, due to how late the game would release in the console’s cycle and the poor performance of the Wii U.
  • Luigi’s Mansion 3 will release this year to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of Luigi, and is once again stated to being developed by Next Level Games.
• Conclusion: Luigi’s Mansion 3 is one of those games, like Animal Crossing that fans really want, but as a series that has been a huge hit twice, a third instalment would have a lot to live up to, so it would make sense as to why it has taken so learn to hear anything official about the game and although this is one of those games for Switch that are less likely than others, I am actually hopeful that it does turn up to be true as Luigi does deserve his time in the sun again, or in a mansion filled with Boos.
• Verdict: Possible

 

Animal Crossing Switch:

• Confirmed:
  • A new trademark for Animal Crossing was filed this year.
  • Most recent instalments in the Animal Crossing series include:
    • Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer – Initially launched on Nintendo 3DS on the 30^th of July, 2015.
    • Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival – Initially launched on Nintendo Wii U on the 13^th of November, 2015.
    • Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo – Initially launched on Nintendo 3DS as a new title/update to 2012’s/2013’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf, on the 23^rd of November, 2016.
    • Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp – Initially launched on mobile devices in Australia, on the 25^th of October, 2017.
  • Unconfirmed:
    • Similar to Fire Emblem for Switch, an Animal Crossing game for Switch has been heavily rumoured by non-credible sources, with most rumours saying a Q2/Q3 release.
  • Conclusion: Given the popularity of the Animal Crossing series and the fact there hasn’t been a true instalment since New Leaf, a true instalment is bound to happen eventually, with sooner being more likely since at least of half of everyone with a Switch is baying out for one, so a reveal this year is more than likely.
  • Verdict: Believable

 

Fire Emblem for Switch:

• Confirmed:
  • A new Fire Emblem game for Nintendo Switch, was first revealed as part of a Fire Emblem focused Nintendo Direct, which showcased on the 18^th of January, 2017. It was stated the new instalment would release in 2018.
  • Since the initial reveal, there has been no official news concerning the new instalment only that it is still in the works.
• Unconfirmed:
  • There have been a fair few rumours with regards to what the theme of the game is going to be, but nothing from credible sources and worth repeating.
• Conclusion: Fire Emblem is coming and it is going to be a big deal, so with regards to E3, with Fire Emblem Warriors showcasing at E3 last year, if the new game is not revealed and released between February 2018 and June 2018, than it will most certainly be at E3 this year.
• Verdict: Believable

Yoshi for Nintendo Switch:

• Confirmed:
  • A new Yoshi game was confirmed by Nintendo, at E3 2017, to be in development for Nintendo Switch.
  • New Yoshi game is being developed by Good-Feel and made with Unreal Engine.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Yoshi for Switch will release on the 29^th of June, 2018, according to Amazon listings. (Fiction because of the rumoured release date, as Amazon Italy has listed Yoshi as launching on said date.)
  • Full title for the Yoshi game and release date will be present at E3 2018.
• Conclusion: Given the fact that Yoshi did cut its teeth at E3 2017 and is not supposed to release until the end of June, it only stands to reason that Yoshi will be at E3 this year.
• Verdict: Believable

 

Mario Party 11:

• Confirmed:
  • Most recent instalments in the Mario Party series include:
    • Mario Party 9 – Initially launched on Nintendo Wii on the 2^nd of March, 2012.
    • Mario Party: Island Tour – Initially launched on Nintendo 3DS on the 22^nd of November, 2013.
    • Mario Party 10 – Initially launched on Nintendo Wii U on the 12^th of March, 2015.
    • Mario Party: Star Rush – Initially launched on Nintendo 3DS on the 7^th of October, 2016.
    • Mario Party: The Top 100 – Initially launched on Nintendo 3DS on the 10^th of November, 2017.
  • Known developers behind Mario Party games consist of Hudson Soft (1999-2007,) Capcom (arcade release) and Nd Cube (2012-Present.)
• Unconfirmed:
  • Mario Party 11 will showcase Nintendo Switch tech and is developed Nd Cube.
  • Should this year be a repeat of 2015, 2016 and 2017, a Mario Party could very well likely release on the Nintendo Switch this year.
  • Previous home console Mario Party games have released in 2012 and 2015, so a 2018 release could be possible, since it does seem to take around 3 years to make a home console worthy Mario Party game.
• Conclusion: Being a Mario title and how much Nintendo like to release multiple Mario titles in a single year, and a “new instalment” in one of Nintendo’s popular series’, a new Mario Party game is one title on Switch that is bound to happen before 2020, but it is doubtful Nintendo would have both Mario Party and WarioWare present at the same event, because although both games have their various differences, they would act as competition to one another.
• Verdict: Possible, just not at the same time as a WarioWare game.

Retro Studio’s New IP Horror Game for Nintendo Switch:

• Confirmed:
  • Retro Studios are working on a game for the Nintendo Switch but other than that, nothing official has been said, or revealed about the game. In 2016, Miyamoto said Pikmin 4 was not a high priority within Nintendo.
  • At E3 2017, Miyamoto stated Pikmin 4 is progressing.
• Unconfirmed:
  • Retro Studios are working on a new IP, it’s a horror game and will be shown off at E3 this year.
• Conclusion: Out of all the games we’ve covered above, this one is the wild card as only the fact that Retro is making a Switch game, is what we officially have to go on. So, while this is one we could easily write off as being unlikely, having worked on the Metroid Prime games with the horrific Metroids, Retro do have it in them to make a good Horror game, but as sweet as it would be for this rumoured titled to be true, for now we are just going to chalk it up as doubtful until proven otherwise.
• Verdict: Unlikely

 

Personal Thoughts:

Jack Longman: Although I do not believe the leak myself, as it does seem like someone is trying to pull a fast one, a lot of the content which was said though, does in fact, ring very true in most accounts, as a number of the games listed, are more than likely to be real. So although the leak is false, there is no smoke without fire and I think the fire in these case, is a lot of truthful leaks, disguised as a rumour meant to mislead us, thanks to an impersonating poster.

Morgan Lewis: While the leak itself seems plausible, there are simply too many games that are allegedly going to be shown to believe this “leak” in its entirety. Nintendo wouldn’t have displays for this amount of games. This sheer amount of games wouldn’t be playable either, but they could have displays, as there are times when Nintendo will simply set up a small display with a video looping with game footage, but not having the title be hands-on. This happened at E3 2015 with Xenoblade Chronicles X, and that game released six months later. Despite everything said, I don’t believe Pokémon will be playable at E3. GameFreak’s Pokémon games never are.

WarioWare would be a perfect party game and could be everything 1-2 Switch should have been. Luigi’s Mansion is very unlikely. There have been rumblings of Animal Crossing for Switch and I firmly believe this will happen. Yoshi and Fire Emblem are already announced games. Mario Party, maybe, but it will be WarioWare or Mario Party, not both. WarioWare lends itself better to the Switch’s hardware. I doubt Retro is working on an unknown franchise; it’s not only a financial risk with a new IP, but Retro is simply too good not to be working on a major franchise for Nintendo. And then there’s Skyward Sword HD. Personally, I think this game is in development by Grezzo.

Some may say that it won’t be made because of the huge backlash against Skyward Sword, but there was a similar backlash against The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess as well at certain points after their releases, and those two got HD remasters. If Skyward Sword HD is in development though, I’m not sure it’s going to be shown at E3. I do think that in the near future a Zelda HD pack will be announced with Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD packaged in together, and possibly even an upscaled version of Grezzo’s Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask 3DS titles.

The leak itself is definitely not legitimate. But, it does have some shades of truth to it and I do believe we’ll see a game like the Super Smash Bros. 4 Deluxe version and an Animal Crossing game. The thing is Nintendo always has a surprise. This list is too predictable to be a legitimate leak but may have some truth sprinkled throughout.

From the both of us, we thank you for reading and hope these facts, fiction, conclusions and verdicts, bring you the peace of mind you deserve after yesterday’s events.