Amid layoffs from their publishing division, Dreamhaven and FuzzyBot announced today on the Nintendo Direct that their action-RPG/farming sim Lynked: Banner of the Spark would be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark has been out for a while on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Originally released earlier this year in May, Lynked: Banner of the Spark is finally making its way to Nintendo consoles. Pitched as a light action-RPG that blends roguelite action and life-sim elements, Lynked seems like it’d be the perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. As someone with extensive experience playing the game, I have to say, I find it hard to believe it runs as well as the trailer makes it out to run on the Switch. Often, the game will struggle to run well on my PlayStation 5 Pro.
This release comes just a few days after Mike Morhaime, former Blizzard co-founder and current Dreamhaven CEO, announced layoffs at Dreamhaven. Though Morhaime mentions the publishing wing was the most affected, it implies that others outside of publishing were affected as well. It seems things are starting off kind of rocky for Dreamhaven. Morhaime had this to say about the Nintendo Switch release:
“As long-time Nintendo fans, it’s incredibly exciting to bring Lynked to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. The way Lynked combines action and town building makes it a perfect match with the platform, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new communities of players into the experience.”
Lynked: Banner of the Spark’s announcement comes with the promise of being optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2, including access to things like GameShare via GameChat, allowing two players to join the host’s adventure as Buddy, a Unibot. Joy-Con Mode is also available, allowing players the option to use their Joy-Con 2 controllers as a mouse. FuzzyBot Creative Director Max Spielberg (yes, that Max Spielberg) had this to say about the release:
“Bringing the magic of Lynked to Nintendo Switch means players can take our bright world, expressive characters, and co-op adventures with them anywhere. The Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch features not only enhance the fun, but also integrate the spirit of Nintendo’s interactive and community-focused philosophy into Lynked, making it a must-have game for any Nintendo fan.”
Despite issues I’ve had with the performance of the game, Lynked: Banner of the Spark is a lot of fun and best experienced in co-op. My thinking is that unless you’re an achievement-hound like I am, the Nintendo Switch should be a great home for the game.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark Availability
Lynked: Banner of the Spark is now available on all major platforms, including Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Keep an eye on MonsterVine for more coverage involving Dreamhaven, Nintendo Directs, and Lynked: Banner of the Spark.
