Nintendo Switch will finally get SNES games — 20 of them — starting tomorrow, Ars Technica

        

The latestNintendo Direct video presentationsaw the game maker deliver on a huge slew of holiday-timed announcements for first- and third-party fare. Arguably its biggest news came in the form ofOverwatch, the mega-popular team-shooter game from Blizzard Entertainment. Nintendo confirmed that we can expect a Switch version ofOverwatchon October 15.

Though the game’s reveal footage was marked with a “not real gameplay” disclaimer, it at least included confirmation that Blizzard will lean into the Nintendo Switch’s unique gyroscope options. Aiming some of the game’s combat superpowers, including Junkrat’s RIP-Tire attack, can be assigned to rotating the Nintendo Switch or its Joy-Con controllers (though we don’t have firm confirmation that this can be disabled, if you prefer to restrict controls to joysticks). The announcement included no information about the potential for cross-play between other platforms.

As has become standard in game-announcement surprises, todayOverwatchnews was spoiled by a leak. This one came from a goof-up at Amazon. As spied by the deal-hunting Twitter account Wario 64 last week, the siteaccidentally revealed a new Switch carrying case smothered inOverwatchlogos(along with a detailed zipper pull shaped like a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller). The accessory listing was almost immediately deleted.

      

  

In what might be the most hoped-for update to the Nintendo Switch’s retro-minded side, the system’s paid online subscription service will finally get support for another library of classic video games: the Super Nintendo. A full suite of 20 SNES games will land for all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers starting tomorrow, September 5. And while Nintendo was mum on how many other SNES games to expect in the future, this opening slate is pretty killer, with a surprising launch ofStunt Race FX– a “Super FX” -powered classic that has never seen a re-release on other platforms until now.

Nintendo took the opportunity to announce a “coming soon” piece of hardware: a wireless SNES controller for the Switch, priced $ 29. 99 and exclusively available for NSO subscribers. Nintendo placed the same restriction onits Switch-compatible NES controllers last year, but unlike those, the Switch SNES pads will have near- complete control parity with the Switch. (It lacks a joystick, but itdoesinclude tiny ZL / ZR buttons.)

In addition to details about Nintendo’s three biggest first-party games of the season – (Luigi’s Mansion 3,Link’s Awakening, andPokemon Sword / Shield — the) presentation included a mix of confirmations and surprises. On the first-party front, we learned that the(Super Smash Bros.) ************** (Ultimate) ‘s onslaught of new characters will last longer than originally anticipated. The game’s existing Character Pack DLC will conclude with five characters in all (including, as revealed today, Terry from SNK’sFatal Fury.) But now we know there will also be an open-ended slew of additional, paid characters once that five-character pack is fully released.

(If you’ve been keeping track ofSmash Bros. Ultimate, you know a release tied to the N 64 classicBanjo-Kazooieis coming, and Nintendo confirmed its launch date . You can purchase and download the beloved Rare characters to yourSmash Bros.sessions starting today.)

      

  

The announcement slate included two surprises for classic-gaming aficionados: the first-ever port of(Doom)on a system other than its original N 64 home, coming to Switch on November 22, and a Switch port of 2002 ‘sJedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, coming September 24. In terms of out-of-nowhere announcements, arguably nothing topped the revival of the cult classic seriesDeadly Premonition, which now has a modern-looking sequel slated to launch in “2020. ” (Or you can dive into the 2010 original today on Switch by way of a brand-new port.)

And for those keeping an eye on Switch’s future, Nintendo used today opportunity to teaseXenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, coming in “2020, “and a longer look at the multiplayer features coming toAnimal Crossing: New Horizons(formerly set to launch in 2019, but now delayed until “March 2020 “).

For more on other newly announced games and ports coming to Switch, including Ars favoritesReturn of the Obra Dinnand(Divinity: Original Sin 2), watch Nintendo’s 40 – minute video presentation below.