Former Nintendo Exec Was Surprised By Switch 2 Launch Lineup

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Even Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former president of Nintendo of America, was surprised by how few games were available when the Nintendo Switch 2 launched.

Reggie Fils-Aime, former president and COO of Nintendo of America (2006-2019), admitted he was initially puzzled by the company’s lineup when he first saw it, as he shared in an interview with The Game Business. However, he believes he underestimated the improved performance and content available on the enhanced Nintendo Switch. He also noted that the free games included with the Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the success of the Bananza title significantly contributed to the system’s momentum.

The original Nintendo Switch came out in 2017 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Odyssey followed later that year. The Switch 2 launched in June 2025 with Mario Kart World, and Donkey Kong Bananza arrived the next month. Although some people didn’t think these games would be huge draws for the system, both were very popular with both players and reviewers.

According to Fils-Aimé, the strong launch of the Switch 2 was thanks to the dedication of Nintendo’s teams worldwide. He explained that it’s difficult to follow up a hugely successful console with a new one, pointing out that Nintendo’s own history proves this – the Wii was a massive hit, but the Wii U didn’t perform as well.

Earlier this year, Reggie Fils-Aime publicly questioned Nintendo’s choice to sell the Switch 2 Welcome Pack for $10. He pointed out that when he was at Nintendo, they included Wii Sports with the original Wii consoles in North America. Back in 2022, Fils-Aime predicted that the many studio purchases by Sony and Microsoft would encourage talented game designers to start their own independent studios and create new games. While some prominent designers have left big companies, Fils-Aime recently observed that truly innovative games haven’t emerged as a result.

Fils-Aime expressed concern that the gaming industry might slow down. He’s noticed a lack of truly innovative games lately, and worries that groundbreaking new content isn’t appearing as often as it should. He hopes this isn’t a sign of things to come.

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2025-11-13 02:09