Resident Evil 7 is Not in Development for Switch
By Dalton Cooper 23 January 2017
Capcom’s Masachika Kawata, the producer of Resident Evil 7, reveals that there are currently no plans to bring the game to the Nintendo Switch console.
Over the years, Capcom has had a strong, prosperous relationship with Nintendo, at one time signing a timed-exclusivity deal to create original games for the GameCube, which included three Resident Evil titles. Capcom has consistently supported Nintendo hardware since the days of the NES, so some fans may be surprised to learn that Resident Evil 7 is not in development for the Nintendo Switch.
This is according to Resident Evil 7 producer Masachika Kawata, who spoke to Express Online about the Nintendo Switch. However, even though there are currently no plans to bring Resident Evil 7 to the Nintendo Switch, Kawata seems optimistic about the hardware, so there’s a chance the game could be ported to the system later on.
“I’m looking forward to the possibilities of the system itself, but we have no plans at the moment regarding Resident Evil on Switch.”
While some fans may be disappointed to learn that Resident Evil 7 is not currently in the works for Nintendo Switch, it makes sense for Capcom to be cautious about the device. After all, the Wii U was a sales disappointment, so Capcom may be waiting for the Nintendo Switch to develop a larger install base before porting AAA games to the device. This “wait and see” approach makes sense from the perspective of third-party publishers, but it makes Nintendo’s promise of strong third-party support less believable.
One of the many causes attributed to the Wii U’s disappointing performance is a lack of third-party support, so Nintendo is trying to shake off the image that its console is only for first-party games. Even so, it seems like many third-party publishers are wary of the Switch, as the system is launching with a mere six games on day one, and the bulk of the titles on the horizon seem to be coming directly from Nintendo itself.
If Nintendo wants to compete with the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One, it will need to secure big third-party games on its platforms, which would include Resident Evil 7. So far, with games like Resident Evil 7, Borderlands 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and more skipping the Switch, things aren’t looking good for the new console’s lineup of third-party games.
Before the lack of Resident Evil 7 on Switch is considered a big deal, though, the game needs to prove itself. Resident Evil 7 is making sweeping changes to the franchise’s established formula, such as using a first-person perspective, and it remains to be seen if fans will be receptive to the changes. With the game set to launch in just a couple of days, we’ll find out soon enough if Nintendo Switch fans should be upset that the creepy Baker family won’t be gracing their console of choice.
Resident Evil 7 will launch on January 24, 2017 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
