Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct caught me off guard in a lot of ways. We already know about several upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch, both first and third party ones: Fire Emblem Warriors, Super Mario Odyssey, Skyrim, NBA 2K18, WWE 2K18, Rocket League, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, LA Noire, and so on. Who would have thought that they still had a few titles (including two major 3rd party developed ones) up their sleeves?

But that they did – two games by Bethesda are coming out on the Switch: a port of Doom (their 2016 PS4/XB1 release) and Wolfenstein II (soon to be released on PS4/XB1). Despite the presentation concluding with the much-awaited Super Mario Odyssey, Bethesda’s pair of titles essentially stole the show. To a long time Nintendo fan, this announcement means so much more than just two great titles that will be available on the Nintendo Switch – this feels more like a significant turning point, a sign of things to come.

I don’t own a Switch yet and prior to this Nintendo Direct, I didn’t have plans of buying one this year. I have several issues with the console, and one of them has to do with the current and upcoming 3rd party developed software for the Switch. Yes, Nintendo has third party support – we’ve already seen several of these get released and there are more to come. It’s the lack of relevant 3rd party titles that’s giving me pause – the AAA cross platform releases.

While I’m happy to have the option of playing Skyrim or NBA 2K18 on a Nintendo console (something that hasn’t been available for years), I can’t defend the Switch against naysayers who point out that Skyrim is just a port of a six year old, last gen game or that NBA 2K18 is likely a watered down version of what will be released on current gen consoles – kind of similar to when the Wii U was getting PS3 and XBox 360 titles. These titles weren’t really enough to convince some that the Switch won’t be another niche console – a good console, but still niche.

Killing demons with your BFG – anywhere you want, once Doom hits the Nintendo Switch.

Doom and Wolfenstein II though? They’re the kind of titles that I’ve been waiting for since the Switch was announced. Doom shows that the Switch can play PS4 games; it’s only a year old and say what you want about it being a watered down version, a PS4 game that you can play on the go and continue at home without needing additional accessories/devices is worth it. Wolfenstein II hasn’t even been released yet and is one of the most anticipated titles announced during this year’s E3; Switch owners are going to get that too.

What’s more important though is that Bethesda, a Western video game developer, is investing in the Nintendo Switch as early as now. Sure, Doom was only announced yesterday but it’s coming out before the end of the year – development on its Switch port didn’t just start last month. Bethesda has been at it for quite some time, working on their three Switch titles, showing that they (1) believe that these titles will sell on the Switch and (2) that it is possible for developers to make versions of their current gen titles for the Switch. If more studios follow suit, then the Nintendo Switch is going to be really competitive against Sony’s and Microsoft’s consoles, boasting of both strong first party Nintendo games and of AAA third party cross platform titles.

Naysayers have been saying NintenDOOMED for years. I don’t think this is what they meant.

Doom coming out for the Switch just in time for the holidays is also very important for the Switch’s first year. I mean, imagine this – if you get a Switch this Christmas, you can potentially have an initial game library of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, and Doom (amongst others). Did the PlayStation 4 or XBox One boast of such a good collection of titles as early as their first year of release? I wasn’t going to get a Nintendo Switch this Christmas, but now that I know that Doom is coming and Wolfenstein II to follow next year, I’m rethinking my plans of how to spend my holiday bonus now.

What do you think about Doom and Wolfenstein II coming out on the Nintendo Switch? Is the Nintendo Switch a justifiable purchase now? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment or two below!