2 Attachment(s)
Disney & Nintendo Are Making A Game Show For the Switch
The Nintendo Switch experienced a flood of E3 developments, and now word has come in of a partnership with Disney for a televised game show focusing on the platform. Nintendo Switch Family Showdown will pit four families against each other on the Switch console to win prizes, and will be debuting on the Disney Channel and Disney XD, with streaming options on the DisneyNow app.
Nintendo’s E3 2018 showcase was full of surprises and fulfilled expectations, including a new entry in the Smash Bros. series, the debut of Super Mario Party on the Switch, and even the surprise release of Fortnite for the handheld. Still, it now seems like they may have been saving a significant bit of news for the post-show period.
As reported by Business Insider, this newly announced team-up between Nintendo and Disney might be the perfect way to promote the platform and get it into even more homes, as well as highlight its propensity for multiplayer family gaming. Not only will Nintendo Switch Family Showdown inspire more attention toward the Switch’s game library, but their tendency for building a library of family-friendly games pairs perfectly with Disney’s age-targeted vertical.
For now, three games have been announced for inclusion in the show: Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Tennis Aces, and Just Dance 2018. In addition to the most obvious forms of competition - like a Mario Tennis Aces doubles match - Nintendo Switch Family Showdown will task players with racing to search for collectibles and presumably other forms of goal-hunting within existent games.
Modern competitive gaming has largely been centered on internet-broadcasted matches on sites like Twitch, or through streamed invitational conferences. It’s been a while since cable television has courted the concept, although the growing reach of eSports-themed play evoked through games like Overwatch, League of Legends, and Fortnite has established an increased comprehension of competitive gaming within the public understanding.
When it comes to eSports, though, there remains a distinct barrier for entry, and it’s this precise quandary that gives a show like Nintendo Switch Family Showdown its strong hook. Offering an accessible look into playing games competitively on the micro-scale, yet broadcasting this competition on cable television to be watched by young people and their parents, Nintendo and Disney will be able to showcase their products while also engaging families on the basics of competitive play.
While limited information is currently available about the game show, Nintendo has long nurtured a committed fanbase for their Smash Bros. line of games. With the newest entry on the horizon, it's hard not to speculate that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate might see a cable television debut.
Nintendo Switch Family Showdown is scheduled to release this summer.
