Former Nintendo Exec Was Surprised By Switch 2 Launch Lineup

GAMING NEWS

Even former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé admits he was surprised by how light the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch lineup appeared.

Speaking with The Game Business, Fils-Aimé said that when he first saw Nintendo’s planned slate of games, he “scratched his head a little” from a business perspective. However, he added that he underestimated how much enhanced performance and upgrades to existing Switch titles would appeal to players—along with bonuses included with Nintendo Switch Online and the success of Donkey Kong Bananza.

When the original Switch launched in 2017, it quickly found momentum thanks to massive hits like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. Switch 2, by contrast, led with Mario Kart World in June 2025, followed by Donkey Kong Bananza. While early reactions questioned whether these would be system sellers, both games ended up being strong performers with fans and critics.

Fils-Aimé credited Nintendo’s global teams for managing to launch a successor console after such a historic run with the original Switch. He noted how difficult that transition can be, citing Nintendo’s own shift from the hugely popular Wii to the much less successful Wii U.

Earlier this year, Fils-Aimé was openly skeptical about Nintendo charging $10 for the Switch 2 Welcome Pack, comparing it to his decision to bundle Wii Sports for free with Wii consoles. He has also previously predicted that major studio acquisitions by Sony and Microsoft would push top designers to break out and create fresh, innovative games—something he feels has been slower to materialize than expected.

“I do hope that this industry doesn’t stagnate,” he said. “At times, the breakthrough ideas seem fewer and farther between. That concerns me.”

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