Alright everybody, get ready for
Raccoon's big ol' 2020 predictions post
January:
DIRECT: New Year's Direct, January 15
This will detail several spring games, including the reveal of Pikmin 3+ and Super Mario Odyssey 2, and include the shadow drop of the following Nintendo Switch Online game.
F-ZERO 99
Starting off with a crazy one, here we have my most unreasonable belief for the year. I think that the F-ZERO series has all of the existing elements to make for the perfect ambitious 99 player racing game; this is the "fresh idea" that Miyamoto was waiting for! I think it would take a lot from the SNES original and utilize a stylized low-poly look to maintain a high framerate while using clever lighting and art direction to make the game pop visually. The high speed and lap-based elimination system would make for a great "99" game. As for a developer, I imagine this would come from a third-party collaboration. I think it would be neat if this turned out to come frm one of the Retro projects from the dead years.
Shin Megami Tensei #FE Encore
(Of course)
February:
Brain Age (NA)
NES and SNES Online Update
Stealing this from Mondo, I think EarthBound, EarthBound Beginnings, and Murasume Castle are coming and would be sick.
DIRECT: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct
There will be a trailer for Animal Crossing in the January Direct, and I think that's when preorders will start. But, there's a sore need for a dedicated Direct for the game. It may not be clear to those unfamiliar to the series, but there's a TON we don't know about the game. I'm hoping for some indication of improvements to the character dialogue and personalities, but I don't really expect much.
March:
DIRECT: March 10 (MAR10 Day!)
I'm expecting another general direct. More on Super Mario Odyssey 2, set for release in July, and, yes, my stupid Mario Kart 8 Deluxe expansion, which I'll explain more in a bit.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
April:
Pikmin 3+
God, I really, really, REALLY want to put Pikmin 1+2+3 here, my idea for a remastered trilogy of the first three games. But, Emily says Pikmin 3, and as much as I want to interpret the delays she's alluded to as being due to the decision to remaster the first two games, this would be pretty crazy. So, Pikmin 3+ it is. I'll be there day 1!
May:
Xenoblade Chronicles HD
Maybe I'll actually play it this time.
June:
DIRECT: E3 2020
This will show a bunch of stuff, like Metroid 5 for September (fuck a Super Metroid remake btw, that shit is so stupid after we just got it on SNES Online), a new IP from the Mario Kart/ARMS team for later in the summer, and BOTW2 which, YES, is coming out in 2020. I'll eat my copy of the first one if the second doesn't come out in 2020. I'm really betting on the name "Phoenix of Hyrule" but man, Arlo's "Breath of the Void" would make more sense and is a cool name. The show will also shadowdrop the Mario Kart expansion, which will have been featured at the inevitable Nintendo World Championships 2020 the Sunday night before. Oh, and also? A "Paper Mario" of some sort, for 2020.
DLC: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Double Dash Redux
Time to really make an ass of myself. I think there's going to be a big, expensive (like $40) add-on to MK8D with 15 new characters including all of the missing characters from Double Dash as well as KK Slider and Zelda that will even out the roster into 28 "ideal" pairs and the Miis. I think there will be a Double Dash mode (obviously) and a bunch of new Double Dash mode compatible karts added, as well as (get this) 32 new tracks divided into the classic 4 new, 4 retro cups. I think the justification here is that the team has embraced the inevitability of Nintendo Kart for what would be MK9 (or 10 technically) to keep the series fresh, but wants to send off the old style of gameplay and tracks with a big expansion to capitalize on the massive install base and sales of Deluxe, additionally using leftover ideas and those conceptualized in the preproduction of sequels. There will be some sort of marketing move in retail to make the expansion's existence clear. Think of Deluxe + DD Redux as being Mario Kart Ultimate before the series moves on to greener pastures (with Kirby and Arwings).
July:
Super Mario Odyssey 2
Guys, it's so fucking happening. We got no DLC worlds for the original, and there's a good bit of potential in the format. It'll be the Galaxy 2 to Odyssey's Galaxy. Since 2007 we've gotten 3D Mario games in the pattern of an original game that innovates and just a few years later a sequel that refines. It's time to refine.
August:
QUIRKY LOCAL SPLITSCREEN AND ONLINE MULTIPLAYER FIRST PERSON SHOOTER FROM YABUKI'S TEAM
Okay, so how am I predicting that Yabuki's production team is going to put out two big projects within months of each other? Well, I think that ARMS's development and marketing suggested a growing production team and I think that it's possible MK8D:DDR content development could have assistance (recall that new asset development for Deluxe was done largely by Namco which I recognize kind of detracts from the notion of an expansion but whatever). Anyway, I think a local semi-serious but suitably wacky FPS that could in some ways serve as a modern interpretation of Goldeneye and its local gameplay could be fun and serve and underserved market. I think having a set of unique characters like Overwatch or TF2 before it could really play into the strengths of Yabuki's creative team.
September:
DIRECT: Fall Direct, September 2
It'll show some trailers for fall games and maybe some future stuff I'll discuss at the end of the post.
Metroid 5
We're getting a new 2D Metroid game from Mercury Steam. Period. Not a stupid ass remake of a game already both A) on the Switch and B) widely regarded to be perfect, we're getting a new 2D game and Kevin360 can finally be happy.
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS'S MARIO RPG PROJECT
Okay, so the development timelines suggest that Paper Mario is coming in 2020. I think that may be the case. But, what if IS makes a new kind of story-based Mario RPG that plays like the classic Paper Mario games, but sidesteps both the recent baggage and the insurmountable expectations of the classic games? I'd love a 2D RPG that imitates the style of the classic Kotabe illustrations of the characters from early box art.
October:
The Legend of Zelda: Phoenix of Hyrule (or Breath of the Void, or whatever)
It's gonna come out on 10/30/20. It's too cool of a date not to use. It's going to be good and cool and probably reintigrate a lot of the things that hardcore Zelda fans bemoaned the absence of. It'll be good.
November:
Pokémon: Double Platinum
Surprise! I don't think it'll be pushed because of Sword and Shield, no way in hell. First of all, as Joe from Serebii points out, Pokémon is a multimedia and merchandising juggernaut that cannot be stopped. And besides, Sword and Shield sold like crazy and honestly? Weren't any worse than any Pokémon game in like the last decade. Imo. As a non-fan.
December:
Bayonetta 3
Finally.
Alright, some potential FAQS:
Where's Metroid Prime Trilogy?
I think it'll be announced in the fall Direct, for January. And, therefore...
Where's Metroid Prime 4?
Metroid Prime 4: Isolation will be released holiday 2021.
Isn't this list a bit Mario-heavy?
Yeah, it is. It would be more Mario heavy if I maintained my belief that Super Mario Party 2 is coming in 2020, but I figure that in a year with a new Paper Mario or other Mario RPG, a big Mario Kart expansion, and fucking Super Mario Odyssey 2, Nintendo will save it for spring 2021. I think all of the Mario games would be cool to feature in a MAR10 Direct, and this iconic-series-heavy lineup would market well in the year of the Tokyo Olympics.
When are we gonna get new hardware?
I think a Switch Plus might come. Maybe in 2020, but probably not. Maybe in 2021. I think we're gonna get the Switch 2 (or what I think will be called the Switch 24) in holiday 2023 or early spring 2024.
Gee Raccoon, I don't see very many new IPs on this list. Not very believable, hm?
I used to try to predict new IPs. But then I realized they are impossible to predict, because they're YOUR IDEAS at that point! If you're gonna conceptualize a new game, just make a new damn game (easier said than done, of course). That being said, I think a first person shooter from Yabuki's team would be a great fit and is coming at some point.
You acknowledged earlier that the Tokyo Olympics are next year. Why no Switch Sports? Furthermore, Splatoon is crazy popular in Japan, wouldn't a spin-off be a good fit?
I didn't add Switch Sports even though I both desperately want it to happen and expect something like it to happen at some point because I don't have any idea what it would look like or when it would come out. Although summer would be great, huh?
Where the hell is Mario Maker DLC?
2020, probably. I don't know what it would be or when, so I didn't include it. Maybe it would come in February to help fill out what I expect will be a pretty dull month. Maybe I should've put that. Maybe I should've asked myself these FAQs first!
WarioWare?
Bruh, I don't fucking know. 2021, huh? Not everything has to come out next year. IS makes those games anyway, right? They're probably doing the Mario RPG, and WarioWare: Joy-Con-Man will come 2021 or later.
Pikmin 4?
2021. I think. I hope. Of course, if it comes earlier, I'll be chuffed.
Hey idiot, you forgot something obvious.
Oh. Whoops.
How serious are you about this stuff?
It varies. I feel most strongly that BOTW2 is coming next year. Then less so about Super Mario Odyssey 2 existing at all, then Paper Mario or derivative coming next year, then Odyssey 2 coming next year, and from there it slowly dwindles down to the bottom of the barrel in terms of my faith: MK8D DLC and an FPS from Yabuki's team. Some shit I want more that I believe, although I think MK8D DLC would be a GREAT idea after Deluxe has sold so well and Tour is moderately popular (it seems). But at the end of the day, we can't predict shit. It's all meant to be in good fun!