Nintendo announced a new OLED model for its hybrid Switch console earlier this month, which offers a number of improvements but seemingly missed the mark for fans who were anticipating a rumored Switch Pro. Leaks prior to the Switch OLED reveal suggested a Switch Pro would include 4K resolution support and better performance, which would have been a boon since the console's current capabilities sometimes struggle to run its ambitious library. Even without performance buffs, there are still plenty of games that can and should release during the Switch OLED era to take advantage of its features, with one obvious choice being Pikmin 4.
The Pikmin series has not been one of Nintendo's best-sellers throughout its history, but that is partially due to the success of the games' release consoles. Pikmin and Pikmin 2 were both GameCube games, leaving them on a system that underperformed especially compared to its follow-up: the Wii. Meanwhile, Pikmin 3 suffered a similar fate on the Wii U, which was a failure especially in light of the Nintendo Switch that replaced it. However, Pikmin 3 Deluxe was the fastest-selling entry in Japan, proving the benefits of giving the series another shot. Pikmin 4 has long been in development behind the scenes, and the Switch OLED offers a perfect excuse to bring its vision to light.
The Pikmin Renaissance
The announcement of Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Switch was a surprise, as Nintendo seemed to randomly reveal its existence on Twitter in August 2020 - following the equally uncharacteristic announcement of Paper Mario: The Origami King via social media earlier that year. After the ongoing coronavirus pandemic shut down businesses worldwide, affecting the video game industry as much as any other, it made sense for Nintendo to pivot away from larger events like Nintendo Directs to make announcements. However, given the Switch OLED model was revealed on Twitter following the company's E3 2021 Direct, this tool will likely stay in Nintendo's repertoire for a while longer.
Even though Pikmin 3 Deluxe was a surprise, its existence and overall improvements to the formerly Wii U-exclusive title were welcomed. Some did not feel the re-release warranted a full $60 price tag, but it came packed with the original title's DLC as well as new story content, additional difficulty modes, local co-op, and more. It also benefitted from the jump off the Wii U, which was impressive in its own right as Nintendo's first HD console, but was much more restrictive. The Switch is arguably far better equipped to show off Pikmin 3's rich world, and it can do so through a monitor or on-the-go.
However, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is not the only recent activity seen for the fan-favorite RTS franchise. A Pikmin mobile game by Pokemon GO developer Niantic was announced in March 2021. Given the outlandish success Pokemon GO has experienced since 2016, it's safe to assume Pikmin will benefit from residual developer recognition despite being far less popular than Pokemon. If the spin-off is more successful than Hey! Pikmin on the 3DS (both in terms of sales and capturing the series' innate charm), that combined with Pikmin 3 Deluxe's success puts Nintendo in a perfect position to finally get out the long-anticipated Pikmin 4.
Why the Switch OLED is Perfect for Pikmin
Some games spend a lot of time in development, and the particular challenges of creating interactive entertainment certainly warrant this extra effort. However, Pikmin 4 has been discussed by Shigeru Miyamoto since 2015, well after the initial release of Pikmin 3 in 2013. At E3 2017, the legendary developer also confirmed that Pikmin 4 is separate from Hey! Pikmin, yet nothing has been seen of it so far.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe was a great showcase for how beautiful a Pikmin game can look even on a handheld console. Thus, the Switch OLED model offers a great reason to capitalize on the series' current momentum. While there are not many internal improvements to the system, its more prominent features are perfect for Pikmin. Its larger, more vibrant OLED screen should help a sequel's graphics shine more than ever; able to capture bigger environments with a greater depth of color no matter where someone prefers to play. Not only that, but the OLED model's improved speakers would add onto the possibilities for ambient sounds that sell the conceit of being a few inches tall in an abandoned, insect-run planet Earth.
Ethernet ports included with the Switch OLED's dock could also be beneficial for Pikmin 4. The series has increasingly moved toward multiplayer experiences over its 20-year history. Pikmin 2 added a second character to control and Pikmin 3 added a third, with both entries including more robust multiplayer modes for battling and cooperative play. It's not farfetched to imagine Pikmin 4 incorporating four intergalactic explorers, and the game could be built with more online functionality to make this accessible.
Now's the Time for Pikmin 4
Metroid Dread is being billed as a sort of showcase title for the Nintendo Switch OLED model. Both the game and new system model release on October 8, 2021, including bundled packages. The fact Metroid Dread exists at all is good news for Pikmin 4, as the game is considered "Metroid 5" and continues the 2D adventures of Samus Aran nearly 19 years after the release of Metroid Fusion in 2002. With Nintendo willing and able to bring that game back from seeming abandonment, no doubt it could do the same for Pikmin 4 - especially thanks to Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Niantic's mobile game.
Ultimately, Pikmin 4 would have been a smart choice for the Nintendo Switch even if the company announced neither its OLED model nor the fabled Switch Pro. Pikmin 3 Deluxe proved a Pikmin game can be successful at delivering a beautiful world to fans and newcomers alike on the hybrid console. All the Switch OLED model does is provide just one more reason why now is the time to take Pikmin 4 off the backburner. If the game would be great regardless of the hardware it releases on, it may as well release as another showcase for a Switch model priding itself on a more vibrant experience.
Pikmin 4 is reportedly in development.