1-2-Switch

1-2-Switch is a 2017 party video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was originally released as a launch title for the system.[2] The game uses the system's Joy-Con controllers, with players facing each other performing various minigames.[3][4] By the end of 2022, it sold over 3.74 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the platform.

1-2-Switch
Home menu icon, illustrating the "Table Tennis" and "Quick Draw" minigames
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Producer(s)Kouichi Kawamoto
Composer(s)Maasa Miyoshi[1]
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseMarch 3, 2017
Genre(s)Party
Mode(s)Multiplayer

A sequel, Everybody 1-2-Switch!, was released in 2023.

Gameplay

1-2-Switch is a party video game in which players do not usually rely on what is happening on-screen, but rather make use of audio cues and the functionality of the Switch's Joy-Con controllers to play in several different games. It features 28 different minigames, most of which involve two players, who each use one of the Joy-Con controllers and are often encouraged to look at each other during gameplay. Aside from tutorial videos for each game, players mostly rely solely on audio cues and feedback from the Joy-Con's rumble feature to indicate how well they are performing.

Development

After Nintendo announced the game at the Nintendo Switch event in January 2017, Nintendo showed off six of the minigames to the public.[3] The game was also unveiled to show off Nintendo's innovative Joy-Con capabilities, through the HD Rumble and IR Motion Camera features.[5]

As a way to promote the milking minigame and the Nintendo Switch, several representatives of Nintendo of America took part in a cow milking competition at a dairy farm in Woodstock, Vermont.[6] Grey DeLisle appears on the cover, albeit with her nose being doctored to look larger.[7]

Reception

1-2-Switch received "mixed" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8]

Upon the release of its initial trailer, several commentators compared the game to the WarioWare series.[15][16] Ben Skipper of the International Business Times made note of the game's sexual innuendos.[17]

Nintendo's decision to release the game separately from the system was criticized by several commentators, arguing that the game would be better off as a pack-in game, similarly to Wii Sports, although Nintendo stated that they opted to allow consumers to select a game to purchase rather than bundling one and increase the Switch's price so as to not disinterest consumers and compromise the console's sales.[18][19][20] Cory Arnold of Destructoid criticized the lack of a true single-player mode, and went as far as to say that the minigames were worse than what was included in Wii Sports, arguing that they lacked any sort of progression.[21]

Sales

By April 2017, Nintendo reported that 1-2-Switch had shipped nearly a million copies worldwide.[22] By March 2018, that number had risen to over two million.[23] By June 2019, total sales reached 3.01 million.[24] The 2023 CESA Games White Papers revealed that 1-2-Switch had sold 3.74 million units, as of December 31, 2022.[25]

Accolades
YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2018 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D Nominated [26][27]
Game, Music or Performance Based Nominated

Sequel

In June 2022, Fanbyte reported that a sequel to 1-2-Switch was in development. Tentatively titled Everybody's 1-2 Switch, the sequel was described as inspired by The Jackbox Party Pack series, featuring a collection of minigames that can be played with either traditional control methods or a smartphone. The game was reportedly received extremely poorly by playtesting groups, and while it was internally delayed for additional development time, empty game cases were already produced. While some within the company suggested including it as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, Nintendo executives planned to release the title as a standalone US$60 release.[28]

Everybody 1-2-Switch! was officially announced on June 1, 2023, and was released on June 30, 2023.[29]

References
  1. "2018 Nintendo seminar promotional material" (PDF). Geidai.ac.jp. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. Workman, Robert (January 12, 2017). "1-2 Switch Announced For Nintendo Switch". WWG. ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  3. Byford, Sam (January 13, 2017). "1-2-Switch is Nintendo's weirdest party game yet". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  4. Sanchez, Miranda (January 12, 2017). "1-2 Switch Announced for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  5. Seedhouse, Alex (January 13, 2017). "1-2-Switch Will Let Nintendo Switch Liven Up Parties". Nintendo Insider. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  6. Hongoltz-Hetling, Matt (March 30, 2017). "Billings Farm Challenges Nintendo to Milking Competition". Valley News. Newspapers of New England. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  7. Grey DeLisle-Griffin [@GreyDeLisle] (March 6, 2017). "So excited to be featured on the #nintendoswitch box! They photoshopped my nose a tad bigger than it is...but still a HUGE HONOR!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Twitter.
  8. "1-2-Switch for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  9. Whitaker, Jed (March 7, 2017). "Review: 1-2-Switch". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  10. Marchiafava, Jeff (March 2, 2017). "The Switch Gets Its System Soiler - 1-2-Switch - Nintendo Switch". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  11. Dayus, Oscar (March 2, 2017). "1, 2, Switch Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  12. Pearce, Alanah (March 2, 2017). "1-2-Switch Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  13. McFerran, Damien (March 2, 2017). "1-2-Switch Review". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  14. Koopman, Daan (March 8, 2017). "1-2-Switch Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  15. Roberts, David (January 13, 2017). "1 2 Switch is a WarioWare-esque game where you face your opponent directly". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  16. McFerran, Damien (January 13, 2017). "Nintendo Introduces 1-2-Switch, A Party Game Which Asks You To Ignore The Screen". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  17. Skipper, Ben (January 13, 2017). "Nintendo Switch launch game 1-2 Switch's cow-milking mini game is udder filth". International Business Times. Newsweek Media Group. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  18. Frank, Allegra (January 13, 2017). "1-2-Switch is not the killer app the Nintendo Switch needs". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  19. Martin, Matt (January 13, 2017). "Nintendo Switch: hands-on with Nintendo's unique and pricey new console". VG247. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  20. Madsen, Hayes (January 13, 2017). "7 Baffling Switch Decisions That Nintendo Is Making (Page 5)". Twinfinite. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  21. Arnold, Cory (January 20, 2017). "1-2-Switch is not the next Wii Sports". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  22. Makuch, Eddie (April 27, 2017). "Nintendo Confirms No Major E3 Event This Year, Reveals 1-2-Switch Shipment Numbers". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  23. Arif, Shabana (April 26, 2018). "Super Mario Odyssey Hits 10 Million Sales". IGN. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  24. "IR Information: Sales Data - Top Selling Title Sales Units (Switch)". Nintendo, Co. Ltd. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  25. 2023CESAゲーム白書 (2023 CESA Games White Papers). Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. 2023. ISBN 978-4-902346-47-3.
  26. "Nominee List for 2017". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  27. "Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  28. Khan, Imran (June 7, 2022). "The Wild Story Behind Nintendo's Unannounced 1-2 Switch Sequel". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  29. Yang, George (June 2, 2023). "Nintendo Announces Everybody 1-2 Switch for Launch at End of June". IGN. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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