Summary
One of the surprise releases for Nintendo Switch this year isDetective Pikachu Returns, a sequel to the 3DS gameDetective Pikachuthat had reportedly been in development before all talk of it went silent. Revealed as part of a Nintendo Direct in June, the new game is now in players' hands as of October 6, and manyPokemonfans are enjoying experiencing the series' unique world inDetective Pikachu Returnsand its crime-solving gameplay segments.
Following up on theDetective Pikachumovie starring Ryan Reynolds, the new Switch title starring Tim Goodman and his wise-cracking Pikachu partner is already in a good position to interest fans who liked the film. However, it has plenty of stiff competition this month, releasing alongside other games such asSonic Superstarsand even Nintendo’s ownSuper Mario Wonder. However, this may be a purposeful move on behalf of either The Pokemon Company or Nintendo itself to helpDetective Pikachu Returnssnag some easy sales during the coveted holiday season.
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Detective Pikachu Returns is the Perfect Easy Present for Pokemon Fans
It’s easy for gamers to look at the stacked month of October and think thatDetective Pikachu Returns' release date was poorly timed, but the decision was likely made on purpose. While the 3DS game was successful enough to warrant a sequel, possibly in part to the movie’s success at the box office,Detective Pikachuas a video game isn’t entirely one of Nintendo’s bestsellers. Considering the other big release for the Switch this month, along with how evenPokemon’s ownScarletandVioletDLC began rolling out last month, it’s likely understood by the companies publishing the game that it won’t make the sales chart in a big way in the first few weeks.
This putsDetective Pikachu Returnsin a curious positionfor the next few months as the lack of sales can be used as great justification to discount the game during big sales periods such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and any other holiday sales that the Nintendo eShop will try to pull off in the weeks leading up to Christmas. AsDetective Pikachu Returnsalready retails for around $40 dollars, any discount at all may entice potential buyers.
What might be the ace in the hole of this potential plan is thatPokemonis arguably one of the most successful IPs that Nintendo has. No matter if players watch the anime, play the games, or just playPokemon GO, there are numerousPokemonfans who will likely get something related to the series for the holidays. As a result, that means there’s a good number of potential customers who want to get somethingPokemon-relatedfor someone as a gift for the holidays. This is where seeingDetective Pikachu Returnson sale might make for an easy purchase. Nintendo’s not known to hand out discounts on its titles that often, though.
After all, even thoughDetective Pikachu Returnslacks the “Pokemon” name in the title, Pikachu itself is a rather iconic household name to where it can be recognized by itself with ease. In fact, with how manyPikachu lovers there are amongPokemonfans, the name “Pikachu” itself will likely be enough for customers to see it and take it as a gift for a fan of the Mouse Pokemon.
Sadly, not many fans might be happy with gettingDetective Pikachu Returnsas a gift as the game itself is arguably rather lackluster. It seems to be getting mixed to average reviews with critics, and theconclusion ofDetective Pikachu Returns' biggest mysterymay be disappointing to some players. However, if potential buyers are in a rush to get something that a friend or loved one likes dealing withPokemon, it’s likely that’ll be the key that’ll makeDetective Pikachu Returnsa great product for Nintendo to have on the market for the next few months.
