Why Aren’t Old Pokemon Games On Switch?
It’s hard to fathom why the classic Pokemon games aren’t currently available for the Nintendo Switch. The Switch has become one of the most popular gaming consoles in recent years and it would seem natural that some of the classic Pokemon titles would make the switch. But alas, it has yet become a reality.
Factors Involving the Absence of Pokemon from the Switch
The following factors likely contribute to the absence of Pokemon from the Switch:
- Rights Issues: While Nintendo owns the rights to the main Pokemon series, other companies own the rights to the remakes of the original titles. This could make it difficult to port these games over.
- Limitations of Switch: The Switch isn’t powerful enough to properly emulate some of the older Pokemon titles, meaning they would need to be completely remade for the Switch, adding a level of complexity that may not be worth the effort.
- Time and Money: Even if the rights issues and limitations of the Switch are overlooked, it still takes a lot of time and money to port an old game to a new system. The high cost and complexity involved, as well as the potential lower sales volume, likely makes this cost-prohibitive for Nintendo.
Is There Hope for the Future?
Although it doesn’t seem likely that we will get our classic Pokemon titles on the Switch any time soon, the hope for the future still remains. Nintendo has done an incredible job of modernizing the games that have already made it to the Switch, such as Pokken and Pokemon Sword and Shield, as well as some of their Virtual Console titles like Pokemon Snap.
It’s also possible that Nintendo could eventually port some of the classic Pokemon games to the Switch in the future. If the company is able to overcome the legal hurdles and other obstacles aforementioned, fans will be able to truly enjoy the classic games on the cutting-edge Switch console.
There is still much to be done before that can become a reality, so for now, fans will have to remain content with the modernized versions of the beloved franchise that are already on the Switch.
