According to Kotaku, it was recently announced that the Japanese mobile game VOEZ will be launch title for the Nintendo Switch in Japan. The announcement comes from Flyhigh Works, one of the game’s developers, and goes into more detail about the game. It is a rhythm game that involves tapping the screen of your device in rhythm with the notes that appear on the screen.
One of the most interesting things about this announcement is that in the FAQ section it is confirmed that this game will not be compatible with the Switch’s TV mode, making it only playable in handheld mode. It also will not use the Joy-Con controllers and instead will be only operational via the Switch’s touch screen capabilities. This could potentially pave the way for all sorts of mobile games being able to get Switch ports, something that the Switch’s competitors, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, would not be able to replicate.
This also opens the door for third-party developers to decide if they want a game they are developing to use just TV mode, just handheld mode, or both. This will likely make it easier for third-party developers to develop and port games to the Switch, which will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to the Switch after the Wii U became the worst-selling Nintendo console ever. The Wii U likely sold less because of its lack of much third-party support, which was due to the Wii U’s unusual mechanics, making it difficult for third-party developers to create games for the console.
The Switch comes out this Friday, March 3, and will cost $299.99. VOEZ launches the same day in Japan. The trailer is below.