This week: The first new Metroid game in years and a controversy over its credits. But first: New hardware from Nintendo.
A bigger Switch
The first thing you notice about the awkwardly named “Nintendo Switch — OLED Model” is how large the screen is. This new Switch model is about the same size as its predecessor but the bezel surrounding the display is mostly gone, bumping the screen up from 6.2 inches to 7 inches.
That might not seem like a big difference on paper, but it’s noticeable — sort of like the upgrade from the iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 back in the day. And, combined with the fancy new screen upgrade from LCD to OLED, it makes Switch games look better and brighter in handheld mode than they ever have.
I’ve spent the last week testing the new Switch model, which was released last Friday, on a unit provided by Nintendo Co. It’s hard to imagine going back. The OLED screen is sleek and impressive. Games both new (Metroid Dread) and old (Dragon Quest XI) pop on the screen in a way that’s difficult to really comprehend until you’ve seen it in action.
There are a couple of other neat features, too, like the addition of a robust new kickstand on the back of the system, replacing the original console’s flimsy flap. The speakers are slightly better and the dock now comes with an ethernet port. The new Switch is a little heavier and arrives with a bit more storage (64gb instead of 32gb, so most players will still need to buy a microSD card).
Other than those perks, this is the same old Switch. Don’t expect performance boosts or 4K resolutions. If you use the console mostly in docked mode, outputting to a television, there’s no point in getting the OLED model. You won’t even see what’s changed.
But if you’re like me and prefer to play games in handheld mode so your toddler can’t sit and stare at the TV the whole time, this new OLED Switch is worth a look. Is it worth spending $350 if you already have a Switch? Hard to say. And if you didn’t already pre-order one, you probably won’t be able to get it now anyway thanks to high demand and that global supply shortage of everything that everyone’s talking about. But I have to say, it sure feels good to hunt for Metroids on this thing.
The elephant in the room is the much-rumored Switch Pro, said to be a more powerful version of the console with more capabilities and a better graphics card. My colleagues at Bloomberg have reported that game developers have Switch development kits capable of running games at 4K resolution, suggesting that the machine will receive a more significant upgrade in the next year or two. Should anyone really get a new Switch model now when something much better could be on the horizon?
Nintendo has denied that it is working on a Switch with 4K support. Yet hardware tear-downs of the Switch OLED have suggested that both the HDMI cable and dock that come with the new system are capable of 4K output and display. It’s almost as if they’d originally planned to make this thing 4K capable but had to pivot because of a global supply shortage. Hmm. Mysteries abound.
What to play this weekend
I’m blown away by Metroid Dread, and not just because I’m playing it on a brighter screen. The new action-adventure game is impeccably designed and feels fantastic to play. The developers at the Spanish studio MercurySteam have outdone themselves following 2017’s Metroid: Samus Returns, a 3DS remake of the Game Boy game Metroid II. They’ve mastered the feeling of shooting wild aliens and counter-attacking vicious robots.
The game is mysterious and challenging in the most delightful ways. Some of my favorite moments have come from struggling over and over against a boss and then finally defeating it. Or wandering around the meticulously crafted map, not knowing where to go next, using Samus’s ever-increasing stable of weapons and upgrades to smash down blocks and barriers along the way. There’s nothing quite like that endorphin rush when you solve the puzzle and figure out exactly where you’re meant to be.
This week in gaming news
But not all is well at MercurySteam. Several developers of Metroid Dread have complained about not being credited for their work, to which the company responded that staff must have worked on the game for at least 25% of development time to make the credits. Inconsistent crediting has long been a problem in the video game industry, which has no uniform standards.
More video game companies are embracing remote work. My latest Bloomberg feature examines the trend and how it may have significant positive impacts on an industry known for volatility.
Madden NFL is booting Jon Gruden too. The disgraced former Raiders head coach, who resigned this week after a leak of emails in which he made racist, sexist and homophobic comments, will be removed from Electronic Arts Inc.’s football game.
Speaking of EA Sports, the popular FIFA series may soon get a name change. The New York Times reports that negotiations between EA and the soccer organization are at an impasse, with FIFA asking for more than double what EA pays it now.
You can reach me at jschreier10@bloomberg.net or confidentially at jasonschreier@protonmail.com.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJsb29tYmVyZy5jb20vbmV3cy9uZXdzbGV0dGVycy8yMDIxLTEwLTE1L25pbnRlbmRvLXMtbmV3LXN3aXRjaC1vbGVkLW1vZGVsLWlzLWEtYmlnLXVwZ3JhZGXSAQA?oc=5
2021-10-15 19:00:42Z
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