Welcome to the SwitchArcade Roundup for June 20th! Lots of news today, Minecraft releases on the Switch…sometime today…and it’s the last full day to take advantage of some crazy sales on the eShop. Because, seriously, writing this column on a daily basis, I see just how many interesting games release each week, and titles from the past 15 months or so that pop up on sale that look cool. I’m shocked I haven’t filled up my 128 GB microSD yet, but I’m sure its end date is coming soon. The Switch is one of the most exciting platforms I’ve played yet because there’s just so much to do on the system, and you can take it anywhere! It’s amazing and we should be awe-struck all the time at how lucky we are that this rad system exists. Enjoy it!
News
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker demo out now on European eShop, though Super Mario 3D World levels removed
If you have a European eShop account, then good news: you can check out a demo of the upcoming Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and it only takes up 204 MB of space. The game originally released on Wii U, but you probably missed it unless you owned a Wii U, and not a lot of you did. However, this was quite the well-regarded game when it released on Wii U, so definitely consider checking it out now…or at least when the demo hits the NA eShop if you don’t have an EU account. The bad news is that while the game now contains Super Mario Odyssey levels, reports indicate that the Super Mario 3D World levels were removed.
Shadowgun Legends coming to Switch
Madfinger’s take on MMO shooters like Destiny will see release on the Switch this year. This will fill an interesting gap, with no real Destiny-like games on the Switch. Also, the game took two days to get it working on Switch thanks to Unity. That’s crazy fast, well done Madfinger. We’ll see how long it takes to get the game out on Switch, and how players will like the free-to-play business model if they stick with it. Also, the game will get cooperative play in many of its singleplayer levels, so fans of the game have a lot to look forward to. My tip, Madfinger: enable cross-platform play!
Playdead releasing Inside and Limbo on Switch next week
The artsy puzzle-platformers from Playdead are coming to Switch! Limbo put the indie studio on the map, with its sihouetted gameplay and dark atmosphere inspiiring countless games after it. And hey, you won’t have to worry about touch controls if that’s an issue for you. Inside features similar themes, but lets you control bodies to help solve puzzles, along with your typical platformer abilities. Both games are incredibly dark but well-regarded as top entries in the puzzle-platformer genre, so definitely get excited. The Switch is gonna have all the games, folks.
Unravel Two possibly coming to Switch?
The EA-published charming platformer Unravel Two was revealed at E3, and released the day it was announced. The developer, Coldwood Interactive, says that they want to release a port to Switch, but don’t have the resources. With only two programmers, they would need a lot more time to make a Switch port, especially since the game is built on a Sony engine. It would take likely another half year or so. Hey, we’re patient. It’s time to come home, Yarny. They can’t love you like we Switch owners will love you.
Rocket League will add Rocket Pass, like the Fortnite Battle Pass
After PUBG revealed its own Royale Pass system, Psyonix is getting in on the “pass that awards cosmetics that you can buy for 10 bucks every few months" business with the Rocket Pass. It will cost 10 Keys (or about $10) for the premium upgrade, with a free tier available. This business model is doing gangbusters for Epic, so no wonder that everyone else is trying to get in on the business. Just funny how similar they are to the Fortnite inspiration, eh?
Hyper Sports R Coming to Switch, platform exclusive
Konami is bringing a spiritual successor to its Track and Field series to the Switch, replacing the incessant button-mashing with Joy-Con shaking and other simple actions. Konami talked to Polygon about the importance of highly-sensitive motions because of the accuracy of the Joy-Con sensors. This might be fun, though I guess we’re still waiting on Nintendo to release a Switch Sports game, eh?
Pokemon Quest Hits 2.5 Million Downloads on Switch
The Switch owners enjoy their free Pokemon games, it turns out. Pokemon Quest, the action-RPG clearly adapted from touch controls for the Switch with tacked-on controller support (it sounds brash but it’s true) has hit 2.5 million downloads in a couple weeks. That’s a decent chunk of the Switch userbase, but games like Super Mario Odyssey have sold more. Still, this is a B-tier Pokemon game, at best, and if it’s racking up this many downloads from the Switch userbase today, that’s a good sign. It should hit mobile soon as well. This might be a sign to other developers: the Switch can add a valuable audience for your mobile games, potentially?
Nintendo Switch版で世界250万ダウンロード達成！ わちゃわちゃ探検RPG『ポケモンクエスト』のスマホ版（iOS／Android対応）が、本日より事前登録開始！ ※iOS版の事前登録は、iOS11.2以降より対応 https://t.co/789KRNeRvx #ポケモン #ポケモンクエスト pic.twitter.com/NBCRzDojdq
— ポケモン公式ツイッター (@Pokemon_cojp) June 20, 2018
New Releases
Minecraft ($29.99)
This one’s oddly enough not out yet when the eShop normally updates. However, this should be out soon enough by the time you read this. Update: Now the eShop shows the game as releasing tomorrow!
If you’re confused as to why this is releasing, well, this is the Bedrock Update version of Minecraft, which brings cross-platform syncing and play with other Bedrock versions of the game. The previous version was separate from other versions, and would receive content and updates at different intervals. Bedrock brings the game together with other versions of the game, including the mobile and Windows 10 edition, and other console versions that got the Bedrock update. Also, this new version is free for anyone that owned Minecraft for Switch previously, but is a new listing on the store, and a retail version will also be available. Though, that seems like merely a formality, no? What with all the updates Minecraft sees, a physical version seems like a hindrance, but I guess it’s not aimed for me. It’s aimed for parents whose kids are asking for the game, and will be ideal to give out as birthday or Christmas gifts.
Grab the Bottle ($4.99)
Sometimes You plucks another indie game out of obscurity and releases it on the Switch. you have a really long arm, it turns out, and you have to solve puzzles by stretching and moving your Mr. Incredible-style arm to grab a bottle in the level without harming your arm. I mean, if I had super-stretchy arms, or even just one Stretch Armstrong limb, I’d use it for good.
Just kidding, I’d totally use it for dumb stuff and lay low.
Nintendo’s E3 Sales End Tomorrow
A ton of big discounts end sometime on Thursday, possibly mid-day, but sales are such an unsure thing as to when they end. So, BUY, CONSUME, ABSORB these games sooner than later. Here’s the complete list of which sales end tomorrow:
- Aegis Defenders ($13.39 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Atelier Lydie & Suelle "The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings" ($41.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Axiom Verge ($17.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Bleed 2 ($5.09 from $14.99 until June 21)
- Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King ($10.99 from $14.99 until June 21)
- Bulb Boy ($4.49 from $8.99 until June 21)
- Darkest Dungeon ($18.74 from $24.99 until June 21)
- Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition ($26.24 from $34.99 until June 21)
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 ($24.99 from $49.99 until June 21)
- Farming Simulator Nintendo Switch Edition ($29.99 from $49.99 until June 21)
- Fe ($9.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Fire Emblem Warriors ($44.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Gem Smashers ($9.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Golf Story ($9.89 from $14.99 until June 21)
- Gorogoa ($10.49 from $14.99 until June 21)
- Green Game: TimeSwapper ($1.49 from $2.99 until June 21)
- Has-Been Heroes ($9.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Human Resource Machine ($7.99 from $9.99 until June 21)
- Just Dance 2018 ($29.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($29.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Little Inferno ($7.99 from $9.99 until June 21)
- Maria The Witch ($2.49 from $4.99 until June 21)
- Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($29.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle Gold Edition ($43.99 from $79.99 until June 21)
- Millie ($1.24 from $4.99 until June 21)
- MXGP3 – The Official Motocross Videogame ($19.99 from $39.99 until June 21)
- Night in the Woods ($13.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon ($41.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Overcooked! Special Edition ($11.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus ($9.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder ($4.99 from $9.99 until June 21)
- Pic-A-Pix Deluxe ($6.39 from $7.99 until June 21)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris ($23.99 from $29.99 until June 21)
- Red Game Without a Great Name ($1.49 from $2.99 until June 21)
- Rocket League ($14.99 from $19.99 until June 21)
- South Park: The Fractured but Whole ($44.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Sparkle 2 EVO ($0.99 from $4.99 until June 21)
- Sparkle 2 EVO ($6.39 from $7.99 until June 21)
- Splatoon 2 ($39.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- The Jackbox Party Pack 3 ($17.49 from $24.99 until June 21)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ($44.99 from $59.99 until June 21)
- Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition ($5.39 from $8.99 until June 21)
- Ultra Street Fighter II ($19.99 from $39.99 until June 21)
- Violett ($1.99 from $9.99 until June 21)
- World of Goo ($7.99 from $9.99 until June 21)
- Zombillie ($2.49 from $4.99 until June 21)
Keep an eye out every weekday for more SwitchArcade Roundups! We want to hear your feedback on Nintendo Switch coverage on TouchArcade. Comment below or tweet us with your thoughts!
