There's been a very troubling problem with several of Nintendo's recent major releases, and if that doesn't change, then it could spell trouble for the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has delivered some of the most legendary games of all time over its lengthy history, and it certainly hasn't missed a step during the Switch's life either, with consistently excellent releases like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey.

With the Switch 2 confirmed to be releasing later this year, Nintendo will certainly be looking to continue its run of dominance with many more big games still to come. However, those plans may need some adjusting if a certain recent trend in Nintendo's game releases isn't addressed. Nintendo has been choosing not to properly credit studios responsible for developing several of its major releases, and with mounting pushback from fans and developers alike, it's quickly becoming a potentially major problem.

Nintendo Keeps Not Revealing Developers Of Its New Games

Fans Have To Play The Games To Find Out Who Made Them

Nintendo frequently outsources the development of its first-party titles to smaller studios, whether they be among those wholly or partly owned by Nintendo or an outside contractor. However, for several of its recent releases, Nintendo has chosen not to publicly reveal which studios have been responsible for that development work. It's difficult to pinpoint when it started, but it's been a common practice for several years, going back to the reveal of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond when the game was announced with no additional information about which studio was responsible.

During the lead-up to the launch of Princess Peach: Showtime! in early 2024, discovering the identity of the game's developers was a major source of discussion online. As reported by Eurogamer, when asked directly about the developers of Showtime, a spokesperson for Nintendo answered, "The development team will be credited in the game credits." It's not clear why Nintendo continually declines to disclose the identity of its development partners, but it seems to be a deliberate policy the company has adopted over the last several years.

Nintendo's Recent Remasters Don't Credit The Original Staff

Developers Are Having Their Names Removed From The Credits

More troubling than this trend of choosing not to reveal the developers of its games before launch, however, is Nintendo's recent decision to remove any credit for the original developers of games that have been remastered. The problem first reared its head with the Metroid Prime Remastered in 2023 when Nintendo received criticism for not including the names of the Retro Studios staff who worked on the original version in the credits of the remaster, instead opting for a group credit to "original development staff." Zoid Kirsch, a former employee of Retro Studios, voiced his displeasure on X:

Despite hopes that the backlash may have caused a change, the recent Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has only continued the trend. Rather than highlighting the original game's developers by name, the game's end credits only acknowledge that the remaster is based on work by Retro Studios. Seeing the work of an entire studio be retroactively removed from a game it made is concerning, and it could have consequences for the Switch 2.

How This Could Hurt The Switch 2's Library

Studios May Not Want To Work With Nintendo

The Switch 2 has finally been revealed, and while only a handful of games are confirmed for the Switch 2, that's likely to change in the coming months. If there are plans for Nintendo to outsource some of its heavy hitters for the new hardware, it could have problems if the other studios are worried about not being properly credited for their work. Many in the industry have been open about their displeasure with the lack of proper credit on Nintendo games, and it could end up causing a stink that keeps studios away from working with Nintendo.

All that is to say, nothing of how this is all playing out against the backdrop of a major downturn for much of the gaming industry. Majorly hyped releases are flopping, companies are changing direction, and game developers are the ones paying the price as headlines of studio layoffs have become an unfortunate norm in the gaming world. Coming at a time when people working in game development need to fill out their resumes more than ever, not receiving the proper credit owed is particularly stinging.

If Nintendo doesn't adjust this questionable policy of not providing proper credit to the men and women who make its games, it may find itself becoming unpopular within the industry. The Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to be a major success if it can launch with a strong library of original titles and updates to the classics of yesteryear, but the studios that will be making those games deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts.

Source: Tom Phillips/Eurogamer, Zoid Kirsch/X