Nintendo has confirmed that “after cautious consideration” the corporate will not be attending this 12 months’s Gamescom occasion in Cologne, Germany.
Reviews initially got here from German outlet Video games Wirtschaft, through which a Nintendo consultant advised the location that the Japanese writer will probably be skipping Gamescom 2024.
Now, a Nintendo spokesperson has additionally confirmed to Eurogamer that the corporate will not be in attendance, stating: “Gamescom is a good occasion, and annually we consider whether or not Nintendo ought to take part or not. After cautious consideration from all views, we’ve made the choice to not be current at Gamescom 2024. Gamers could have alternatives to check out Nintendo Change video games at different occasions all year long.”
Whereas Nintendo has nearly all the time had a presence at Europe’s largest gaming occasion, its absence from Gamescom this 12 months makes a level of sense. For one, first celebration help on the Nintendo Change seems to be drying up, with few notable 2024 releases past the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-12 months Door remake and Limitless Ocean Luminous.
Moreover, rumors up to now largely point out that the corporate’s subsequent {hardware} – tentatively being known as Nintendo Change 2 – is more likely to arrive subsequent 12 months. In all probability, this implies we most likely will not be getting an official announcement on the console earlier than or throughout Gamescom 2024. This seemingly additionally guidelines out Summer season Recreation Fest.
Nintendo not attending Gamescom 2024 does characterize one thing of a sea change, then. With few upcoming video games left for the Change’s first-party catalog, it is seemingly the Kyoto-based firm is as an alternative shifting focus to its subsequent large piece of {hardware} and – on the very least – its personal future launch line-up.