Gamescom 2024 has revealed its award categories, and for the first time since its inception, the Nintendo Switch will not have a dedicated category. This unexpected omission is due to a lack of submissions, signaling a shift in focus for Nintendo as the Switch approaches the end of its lifecycle.
With few major titles remaining for 2024, the gaming giant is looking ahead to a stronger lineup in 2025, including highly anticipated releases like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Metroid Prime 4.
Highlights
- Nintendo Switch absent from Gamescom 2024 awards due to lack of submissions, ending its yearly category trend.
- Few major releases left for 2024, but 2025 will see big titles like Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Metroid Prime 4.
Gamescom has revealed its award categories for the year, and the Nintendo Switch is notably absent. Since the hybrid console”s release, the Nintendo Switch has had an award category dedicated to its games at the yearly trade fair. However, 2024 will break the trend.
Gamescom is an annual gaming trade fair event held in Germany. It”s part of the summer circuit of gaming events that includes things like Summer Game Fest, Tokyo Game Show, and the now-defunt Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). While these shows are typically a great opportunity for game companies to show off their upcoming releases and tease their fans with enticing details, Gamescom holds its own award show based on what”s presented at the event.
1:45
Related
Highly Anticipated PS5 Exclusive Teased for Gamescom
Although PlayStation is skipping Gamescom 2024, one of the biggest and most highly-anticipated PS5 exclusives is being teased for the live event.
1
Gamescom has revealed its award categories for 2024, but the Nintendo Switch was missing from the Gamescom list. TheGamer reached out to the organizers, who responded that the Nintendo Switch had too few submissions for it to be considered for its own unique award. As a result, the category was canceled for the year. Nintendo has had its own category since Gamescom began offering awards based on specific platform brands rather than just consoles and PC back in 2011. All the other major gaming platforms will still have their own categories, including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile.
Nintendo”s Notable Absence from Gamescom Awards
It may be concerning for some fans to see Nintendo left out like this, but it is in keeping with the planned schedule for releases. According to Nintendo, the Switch will only receive a handful of major releases in the remainder of 2024, including Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership.Close
The Nintendo Switch is clearly beginning to slow down its release cycle, with the end of the system”s lifecycle beginning its approach. While the company still hasn”t revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 to the public, official releases and leaks alike have indicated that it”s in development and will likely be revealed in the near future. As a result, it makes sense for Nintendo to begin shifting its focus away from the current Switch.
Although there aren”t that many huge games remaining for 2024, 2025 will be another matter. Nintendo will kick off the start of the year with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A arriving sometime later in the year. Rumors have indicated that the Switch 2 may be backward compatible, so there could still be a slower but steady release of games prior to it hitting store shelves.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
