Nintendo Switch eShop Update: Cleansing Shovelware, Hurting Indies?
Nintendo has rolled out a significant update to the Nintendo Switch eShop, aiming to refine the user experience ahead of the much-anticipated Switch 2 launch. But is it a win for everyone?
The core change involves how games are ranked on the eShop. Previously, rankings were based on the number of units sold over the past two weeks. This often led to the charts being dominated by heavily discounted titles, shovelware, and copycat games – a phenomenon some fans derisively called "eSlop." Now, the system prioritizes games based on dollar sales over the past three days.
Less Shovelware, More AAA?
The immediate effect has been a shift towards full-price, triple-A titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons dominating the charts. This means less sifting through low-quality games to find something worthwhile.
The Indie Game Dilemma
However, this new approach presents a potential problem for indie games. Since indie titles are typically cheaper and frequently on sale, they're at a disadvantage when ranked by revenue. Initial observations suggest a significant drop in indie game visibility, with only a few exceptions like Stardew Valley making it into the top rankings.
This shift could make it harder for smaller developers to get their games discovered, potentially impacting their sales and overall success on the platform. One of the images below shows a view of top-selling games. According to GVG, the update changes the pages to show games with the “highest sales in the past three days”.
Other Changes and Considerations
The update also brings changes to the "Current Offers" page, aiming to highlight more relevant and popular games. These changes are thought to combat the prevalence of 'eSlop' that users encounter upon opening the eShop. But it remains to be seen if this is truly the case.
Looking Ahead
While the effort to combat shovelware is commendable, questions remain about the impact on indie developers. Will Nintendo continue to tweak the eShop algorithm to provide a more balanced playing field?
What do you think of the eShop changes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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