More and more attention is being paid to the next step too Nintendo Switchwith a next-gen version of the console reportedly targeting an early 2025 launch window. This will be a momentous occasion for Nintendo, with fans having waited almost a decade for more powerful Switch hardware.
To fuel the hype surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo thankfully has a long and storied list of franchises to pick up to celebrate the console's launch. It's hard to say if any essentially abandoned Nintendo IPs might be revived for the Switch 2 launch, but a classic racing IP has dominated a suspiciously large portion of Nintendo's spotlight in recent months. Many positive changes have recently been made to the iconic F-zero franchise, potentially setting the IP up for a triumphant modern return alongside the launch of Nintendo Switch 2.
F-Zero could easily make a nostalgic return for the Nintendo Switch 2
The F-zero franchise launched way back in 1990, with the high-octane futuristic racing game from the IP quickly proving a hit with fans. F-zero considered one of the most influential racing series of all time thanks to its speed and difficulty, and serves as the blueprint for many other beloved IPs such as Wipeout. There are a total of eight more rounds F-zero franchise, which has been released on a variety of Nintendo consoles over the years, but the series has essentially been dormant for two decades at this point.
One of the last major releases for F-zero came in 2004 with F-Zero Climax for the Game Boy Advance, starting a long hiatus for a franchise that had dominated the racing scene for more than a decade. Almost two decades after the release of ClimaxNintendo slowly but surely began to put F-zero franchise back on the map, with F-Zero 99 will be released for Switch in September 2023. Although this game is simply a Battle Royale remake of the original F-zeroits release set off a series of events that could indicate big plans for the IP's future.
For example, fans of the franchise were pleased with the latest news that two classic F-zero titles will soon be available through the Nintendo Switch Online service. Both F-Zero Climax and F-Zero GP Legend will arrive on the service on October 11, marking a major step in the preservation of two iconic GBA racing titles. This can not only be seen as a nostalgic callback for older Nintendo fans, but it can even be a way to introduce F-zero to a new generation of players, potentially in time for a big announcement.
Everything points to some big moves for F-Zero in the future
There have also been a number of surprising updates F-Zero 99 recently, with a new update bringing a new league, courses and more customization options to the 2023 title. These positive advances for the IP have brought a lot of attention to the wider franchise, and it would be a shame if Nintendo didn't follow this up in a satisfactory way.
F-zero is already such a recognizable name, and its fast-paced gameplay is perfect for the cooperative fun that Switch is associated with, and a brand new modern entry could be in the works for Switch 2's launch. Although it is not confirmed, the huge amount of news that is currently circulating around F-zero is surely more than a coincidence, and a new version seems a logical conclusion of the recent progress IP has made.